Elijah Denecke

The 47th Annual International Trumpet Guild Conference
MINNEAPOLIS, MN

Elijah Denecke

Session: Reexamining the Repertoire: French Women Composers of Solo Trumpet Music at the Paris Conservatory (Piano: Dean Peiskee)

Currently the Visiting Assistant Professor of Trumpet at Purdue University Fort Wayne, Dr. Elijah Denecke was previously employed as adjunct trumpet instructor at the College of Central Florida (Ocala, FL), as well as teaching assistant for Dr. Christopher Moore at Florida State University. He now maintains an active performing career across the United States with many professional orchestras including the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Vermont Symphony Orchestra, Boise Philharmonic, Ocala Symphony Orchestra, Gainesville Symphony Orchestra, Valdosta Symphony Orchestra, Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, Knox-Galesburg Symphony Orchestra, the Gainesville Brass Quintet, and the Prairie Wind Ensemble. Additionally, he has performed with the Tallahassee Swing Band and the Garden State Jazz Orchestra, as well as with notable jazz musicians Wayne Bergeron, Randy Brecker, Marshall Gilkes, Dave Pietro, Doug Stone, and Steve Lippia. Denecke also performed and traveled with Chicago-based Ska’s the Limit for three years. In 2015 the band opened for a sold-out crowd in the Castle Theatre (Bloomington, IL), sharing the stage with popular ska band Reel Big Fish.

As a lover of contemporary music, Denecke actively premieres new works for trumpet. Most recently, his brass quintet (Big Bend Brass) commissioned a new work entitled “We’re All A Little Mad Here” by fellow Florida State University Alumnus Aaron Houston. In Spring 2019, he premiered the following – “All are sleeping on the hill,” a work based on Edgar Lee Masters Spoon River Anthology for voice, trumpet, and piano by Emmanuel Danielson; “What Would You Have Me Do,” an electronic work written for trumpet and electronics, by Andrew McGowan; and “Seven Scenes from a Garden,” a large work for 23-piece wind ensemble, by Brendan Sweeney. In 2018, he premiered Entrada (o salida) Concertante as trumpet soloist, a new work written by Colombian composer Mauricio Arias-Esguerra. He is also working on a series of “characteristic” etudes that will help students develop specific aspects of their playing.

Recently, Denecke defended his doctoral treatise entitled “Reexamining the Repertoire: French Women Composers of Solo Trumpet Music in the Paris Conservatory” and presented his research on this topic at the 2022 International Trumpet Guild Conference in San Antonio, Texas. He has been published in the International Trumpet Guild quarterly journal for various CD and book reviews and published a full article in the Student Corner entitled, “Stoking the Fire: How to Maintain Accountability during Covid-19.” He has also presented masterclasses and recitals at various universities around the country.

Denecke completed his undergraduate degree in music education with a minor in jazz performance at Illinois State University with Dr. Amy Gilreath and his master’s degree in trumpet performance from University of Florida with Dr. Randolph Lee. In addition to playing and teaching trumpet, Denecke served as the middle school band and choir director in Carthage, Illinois. In his spare time, Eli enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with his wife, Hannah.

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