Summer Symposium: June 15th-22nd, 2026
Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

Re-imagine a positive, constructive, creative approach to your playing.

Prepare for recitals and auditions; reinvigorate your technique; challenge your assumptions; receive feedback from world-class artists.

Special Topics: Power and Range, Flexibility, Audition Preparation, Excerpt Development, Constructing a Routine, Conception and arranging of commercial horn lines

Artists: Phil Smith, Nathan Warner, Nadje Noordhuis, Marie Speziale, Brandon Craswell, Summer Camargo

Private Lessons: Three lessons (one with each core artist)

Guaranteed participation: Multiple masterclasses, trumpet ensemble, daily warmup classes,
symposium forums, and more

Core Artists

Nathan Warner
Brandon Craswell
Nadje Noordhuis

Staff

Keith Walker

APEX is North America’s premiere in-person trumpet symposium.

TRANSFORM your mindset

INVIGORATE your practice

EXPERIENCE world class artists 

CONNECT to a community of enthusiastic participants

A P E X is North America’s premiere in-person summer trumpet symposium. From the majestic heights of Tennessee’s Smokey Mountains, a stone's throw from Knoxville, participants hone their creative voices in a stunning mountaintop lodge. Participants enjoy private lessons, topic lectures, non-traditional interactive masterclasses from world-class artists, time for individual practice, and trumpet ensembles all taking place in a positive, supportive, and collegial environment.
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See photos of the lodge here!

The program was founded in the Summer of 2020, initially conceived as an online platform for students. A P E X is now an in-person destination experience for trumpeters, bringing participants into the sphere of some of the world’s most successful and innovative artists from around the world. A P E X serves as a challenging program for emerging professionals, college music majors, developing amateur players, budding young artists and comeback players alike.

Participants receive:

  • Non-traditional, interactive masterclasses with world-renowned guest artists
  • Three private lessons with core artists
  • Fundamentals classes, focusing on upper register, endurance, efficiency, articulation, flexibility, and jazz vocabulary/style
  • Recital and audition preparation
  • Orchestral Excerpt coaching
  • Solo literature coaching
  • Core faculty-led morning warmups
  • Access to exclusive Facebook Group upon signing up for community and support from other participants and core artists
  • Homemade, allergen-conscious meals
  • Lodging with options for private/shared rooms
  • Evening social activities
  • One ticket for group trip to Dollywood Theme Park