Biography
Luis Engelke is Professor of Trumpet at Towson University and holds the position of Principal Trumpet with the Lancaster, Kennett, and Mid Atlantic Symphony Orchestras, Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, and the Endless Mountain Music Festival. He performs well over one hundred engagements annually as a soloist and orchestral/chamber musician and serves as Music Reviews Editor for the International Trumpet Guild Journal. His past solo albums A Brazilian Collection; Songs, Remembrances, and Impressions; and Sounds of the Chesapeake have received critical acclaim, including Global Music Awards. His anthology of Brazilian trumpet solos published by Balquhidder Music contains first editions of significant works from his home nation. Engelke’s most recent solo album Revelation, is a collection of his own original compositions for trumpet and fixed media (audio and video) inspired by recent world events. Each of the eclectic movements are published individually and as a book by Art of Sound Music. A past board member for the International Trumpet Guild (ITG) and past Vice President for the Musicians’ Association of Metropolitan Baltimore (Local 40-543 of the American Federation of Musicians), he is the recipient of the local’s Distinguished Service Award. Engelke is a Yamaha Performing Artist/Clinician, and his own music has been performed around the world and at international conferences and venues.
A former member of Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira and Concert Artists of Baltimore, Engelke has performed with more than fifty professional orchestras internationally including the symphonies of Allentown, Baltimore, Delaware, Harrisburg, Maryland, Reading, Richmond, Phoenix, San Diego, York, Williamsburg, and Sydney (Australia), as well as the Thailand Philharmonic, Annapolis Opera Orchestra, and Baltimore Bach Orchestra. He has been featured as soloist with the Endless Mountain Festival Orchestra, Rome Festival Orchestra, Orquestra Eintracht, Naval Academy Band, Gulf Coast Symphony, Frederick Symphony, Lancaster Symphony, and Lancaster British Brass Band, and performed with such diverse musicians as Andrea Bocelli, Sierra Boggess, Celtic Woman, Irish Tenors, Il Divo, Manheim Steamroller, and The Moody Blues, as well as Brazilian legends Paulo Moura, Ivan Lins, Sivuca, and Zé da Velha. Engelke recorded trumpet solos for soundtracks for the films Villa-Lobos: Sua Vida de ±Ê²¹¾±³æã´Ç, Stories ofthe Land, and Elefteria. He has performed as a soloist in North America, South America, Asia, Europe, and Australia and appeared on more than fifty commercially released recordings for the Pro-Arte, Decca, Innova, Aurora, Canyon, and several other labels.
Engelke’s more than three hundred publications include articles in the International Trumpet Guild Journal, Euro-ITG Newsletter, Jazz Educators Journal, College Music Symposium, NACWPI Journal, The Double Reed, The International Musician, and Triad. In addition to Balquhidder Music, Art of Sound, EC Schirmer, Hickman Music Editions, and Triplo Press in the USA and Topp Brass in Switzerland have published his compositions, arrangements, and editions. He has worked to enhance the repertoire for solo trumpet with both his personal commissions and as chair of the ITG’s Commissions Committee, bringing to light new international works by Clarice Assad, Michael Daugherty, Antônio Guerreiro, R. Carlos Nakai, Wang Ning, Lakshminarayana Subramaniam, Omar Thomas, Nestor de Hollanda Cavalcanti, and Julian Wachner. Many organizations have supported his research and performance through scholarships and grants, including the following: CAPES-Fulbright, Ford Foundation, League of American Orchestras, Music Teachers National Association, ITG, and Rádio Mec. He has taught at Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Conservatório Brasileiro de Música, Arizona State University, Ohio State University, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and Florida State University Music Camps. A frequent lecturer and guest artist, he has presented master classes and recitals throughout the world.