Hometown:
Portland, Oregon
Education:
Eastman School of Music, Bachelor of Music (2026)
Bio:
Ted Ekstrand is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in trumpet performance at the Eastman School of Music, studying with Andrew McCandless and Wes Nance. At Eastman, he has performed as principal trumpet with various ensembles, including the Eastman Philharmonia, the Eastman Wind Ensemble, and the Eastman Brass Guild. He also regularly performs with professional orchestras such as the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the Madison Symphony Orchestra.
What inspired you to become a musician?
My parents both love music, so it has been around me all of my life! Both of my parents sang in choirs, and my dad owns a giant CD collection that he is very proud of.
Name your favorite composers and/or pieces:
Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss are two of my favorites! Both of these composers have beautiful writing in their trumpet parts, demanding a huge range of styles and timbres.
What is an interesting fact about you and/or your instrument?
I also regularly perform on the baroque trumpet! This instrument has existed for hundreds of years, and it features no valves, so it can only play the notes of the harmonic series.
When taking a break from music-making, what is your favorite thing to do?
I love to go out hiking in nature!
Why did you choose the NRO?
Ever since my first experience in youth orchestra, I knew that I wanted to play in an orchestra for the rest of my life. Attending the NRO is an incredible opportunity for me to play with a high level ensemble that performs more repertoire than any other summer festival. By performing so much repertoire with the NRO, I will be more prepared for the pace and level of a professional orchestra. In addition to these countless professional reasons, the NRO is also located in a beautiful area of the country, and I cannot wait to explore the nature in the region with my new friends at the NRO!