Trumpeter Ansel Norris has distinguished himself as a soloist, orchestral and chamber musician of enthusiasm and diverse taste. He currently resides in Naples, Florida, where he enjoys an eclectic musical career with the Naples Philharmonic. Ansel comes to Naples via Rice University, the New World Symphony, and Northwestern University, from which he received a Bachelor’s degree in Music in 2016. He hails from Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Ansel finds additional inspiration as a soloist, and in 2019 he was the first ever American prizewinner in the International Tchaikovsky Competition’s Brass division. Prior to this he was twice the first-prize winner at the National Trumpet Competition, a YoungARTS Gold Award recipient and a winner of the New World Symphony’s Concerto Competition, among others. Playing as soloist with orchestras is a special pleasure for Ansel, and he has enjoyed performances in front of the Mariinsky Orchestra, New World Symphony and his hometown Madison Symphony Orchestra, to name a few. Also a chamber musician, Ansel won a Bronze Medal at the Fischoff International Competition with his friends from the Lincoln Chamber Brass.
Ansel is deeply grateful for the mentors who encouraged him to search for his voice. These include Barbara Butler, John Aley, Charles Geyer, Thomas Rolfs, Christopher Martin, Stephen Burns, his mom, and too many others to name. Ansel loves playing basketball, reading, hiking, singing, playing ping pong, practicing yoga, and lots of other things he hasn’t tried yet. He hopes to explore all of these interests, in addition to many great musical opportunities, with a curious mind and an open heart.