Dr. Crotts Named Yamaha Corp. Trumpet Performing Artist

Dr. Chip Crotts

Yamaha Corporation honored Jacksonville State University's Dr. Chip Crotts as a Trumpet Performing Artist.

Crotts, assistant professor of music, is among a small group of professional trumpet players and educators chosen for the honor and will represent the corporation nationally through performances and clinics this fall.

As a Yamaha Performing Artist, Dr. Crotts will be featured on the company's Global Artist website and will become part of a respected worldwide network of Yamaha staff and artists dedicated to quality in all aspects of music. Yamaha Performing Artists are members of an elite group that includes active, gifted, and articulate musicians.

Yamaha artists help make a two-dimensional product come alive by validating its purpose through performance and association. These artists inspire many to become musicians, and the connection between artist and product is critical. YCA has the distinction of managing more artist relationships than any other musical manufacturer in the world, working with more than 3,500 artists and musicians. These musicians shine across the spectrum of musical genres and their abilities are unique.

This year will also be eventful for Crotts and the JSU jazz program, as he will be taking JSU Jazz I to the Alabama Music Educator's conference as the feature university ensemble this year. During the same weekend, Crotts will also be busy as the 2006 guest director of the Alabama All-State Jazz Ensemble.

Crotts will be featured the following week as a guest trumpet soloist with North Cobb High School at the Georgia Music Educator's Conference in Savannah, Ga.

  Crotts is director of jazz studies at JSU, which includes three big bands and several combos, as well as classes in improvisation, theory, and applied jazz lessons. The trumpet program maintains a strong reputation throughout the Southeast, and the combined studios of Dr. Crotts and Dr. John Merriman consistently maintain more than 30 majors per year.

Crotts has been an on-call trumpet artist for the Disney Company and has performed and recorded throughout the U.S. and Europe. In addition, Crotts has toured and performed with artists such as Ray Charles, The Temptations, The Manhattan Transfer, and Maynard Ferguson. Chip is in frequent demand as a freelance musician throughout the Southeast and is a first call lead player for many national touring companies and artists.

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