William Takacs, Principal (19)

Trumpet, Principal

William Takacs has been principal trumpet of the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra since 2002. In 2006 he performed as soloist with the symphony, performing Edward Gregson’s Trumpet Concerto and again in 2010 performing Aaron Copland’s Quiet City with his wife, oboist Karen Takacs, who is also a member of the Amarillo Symphony. He is also principal trumpet of the Amarillo Opera and Chamber Music Amarillo and frequently performs with the Amarillo Little Theatre. He has also performed with the New Mexico Philharmonic, Toledo, Pensacola, and Tallahassee Symphony Orchestras and as guest principal trumpet for the New Sigmund Romberg Orchestra’s 1999 performance tour of Taiwan and with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Trujillo (Peru). He has had the privilege of performing with some famed artists in the music industry including the Temptations, Mannheim Steamroller, the Canadian Brass, Allen Vizzutti, Doc Severinsen, Bobby Shew

He has also given performances and/or masterclasses at many institutions including Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma State University, University of Oklahoma, Western Michigan University, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Valdosta State University, Stetson University, University of Central Florida, and the Conservatorio Regional de Musica de Trujillo (Peru) and has performed across the United States, Europe, South America, Asia, and Australia, including multiple performances at the annual International Trumpet Guild Conferences. He has won numerous performance competitions, including the 1999 National Trumpet Competition at George Mason University in Washington D.C., and was one of only five semifinalists selected worldwide to participate in the 2000 Ellsworth Smith International Trumpet Competition held in Bad Sackingen, Germany, sponsored by the International Trumpet Guild. He also served as an intern in the Philadelphia Orchestra music library for four years while earning his Bachelor’s degree.

An advocate for new trumpet and brass literature, he serves as a new music reviewer and also as a new book reviewer for the International Trumpet Guild Journal. He also serves as a judge for the prestigious annual National Trumpet Competition.

As Professor of Trumpet at West Texas A&M University, he teaches trumpet majors and directs the trumpet ensemble which is regularly a semifinalist in the trumpet ensemble division of the National Trumpet Competition. He also performs with the WTAMU Faculty Brass Quintet. Prior to his appointment at WTAMU, he was the instructor of trumpet at the University of West Georgia. He has also served as Artist-in Residence as a member of the Skyline Brass at Iowa State University, Drake University, Grinnell College, Simpson College, and Des Moines Area Community College and has taught at Florida State University and Bowling Green State University.

His diverse education background includes a Bachelor of Music degree from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Music degree from Bowling Green State University, and the Doctor of Music degree from Florida State University. He has also studied with David Bilger, principal trumpet of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Mark Hughes, principal trumpet of the Houston Symphony, and Malcolm McNab, Los Angeles studio musician who has performed on over 2,000 iconic film scores such as Jurassic Park, E.T., and the Indiana Jones Trilogy, to name a few.

Dr. Takacs is a Performing Artist for Bach Trumpets, a division of the Conn-Selmer Instrument Company. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, exercising, traveling, and spending time with his wife Karen and his two sons, Liam and Marshall.