ORONO, Maine — When Kyle Goupille first decided that he wanted to play an instrument, he chose the trombone. But he was in fifth grade and, at that time, too short to reach all the slide positions on the trombone.
“My mother wisely pointed out that there are just three valves on the trumpet — and (that I had) very short arms,” recalled Goupille.
Now in his fourth year as a music performance major at the University of Maine, the lanky 6-foot-2 musician with very long arms doesn’t regret choosing the trumpet. He loves its versatility, the fact that it can be found in all types of bands and all styles of music. The trumpet is also a great solo instrument, said Goupille, who will showcase his skills as the featured soloist in the UMaine Symphonic Band’s spring tour.
The spring tour this year starts March 29 in Hampden and East Machias, with other concerts March 30–April 1 in Pembroke, Woodland, Mars Hill, Easton, Houlton and Lincoln.
In a 7 p.m. concert March 30, the Symphonic Band will perform at Presque Isle Middle School, Goupille’s alma mater.
“It’s going to be cool to share a stage with my old band in Presque Isle. I’ll play a solo with the band this year, with the solo competition winner. It’ll be fun to see my old teachers, old friends and family who come out. They’ll get a taste of what I’ve done here for the last four years,” he said.
Goupille was deciding where to go to college when he and his family visited UMaine’s School of Performing Arts and met music professor and trumpeter Jack Burt.
“It was definitely the most personal audition experience I had,” said Goupille, who was “blown away” and grateful for the down-to-earth, accessible UMaine professors, and the quality of the School of Performing Arts facilities.
As a UMaine student, Goupille found that the instruction was perfect for him. The classes weren’t too big or too small, and he had a lot of interaction with professors through classes and bands and ensembles, as well as one-on-one instruction. He also found a great number of opportunities to perform — Jazz Band, Symphonic Band and University Orchestra.
As a teenager, Goupille never thought of playing music professionally and had already decided that teaching music was the most he could hope for. His experience at UMaine has made him rethink that assumption.
“Getting here and seeing all the performance opportunities, I’ve discovered that it’s possible to play for a living. I had no idea it was possible to play music for a living at this level. That’s opened up my aspirations,” said Goupille, who still hopes someday to teach, especially in a public school.
At UMaine’s 215th Commencement on May 13, Goupille will get his bachelor’s degree — and he will perform the National Anthem at both of UMaine’s graduation ceremonies.
He plans to pursue a master’s degree in trumpet performance.
