Trumpeter Ansel Norris has distinguished himself as a soloist, orchestral and chamber musician of enthusiasm and diverse taste. He was twice a first-prize winner at the National Trumpet Competition's solo division, a YoungARTS Gold Award recipient and a first prize winner in Chicago's Luminarts competition, among others. In 2016 he gave a provocative solo recital in a bold new format—a performance of Schubert's "Die Schone Müllerin" with the text of the poems delivered verbally in between each song. He has been inspired by the relationship of music to storytelling, and finds particular relevance in the palette of moods and colors that gave life to romantic art song. This is a medium he has become fascinated with and intends to continue to explore as he moves forward. In 2019 Mr. Norris joined the Naples Philharmonic in South Florida and he enjoys a diverse role as an orchestral and chamber musician. He has a great love for the sound of the orchestra and has given performances with the Chicago and Boston symphonies, spent two summers as a fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center and completed a two-year period as a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.. In 2016 he graduated from Northwestern University. He feels very grateful for the mentors who have pushed him along the way, including his mom, Barbara Butler, Charles Geyer, John Aley, Thomas Rolfs, Christopher Martin, Stephen Burns, Mark Gould and Robert Sullivan, to name just a few. Mr. Norris has interests in playing basketball, reading, cooking, hiking, playing ping pong, doing yoga and playing video games, in no particular order. He hopes to explore all of these interests, along with his music, with a curious mind and an open heart.