Higa, Travis
Originally from the island of Oahu, Hawaii, Travis Higa began his musical studies playing ukulele at the age of 7. Since then, he has become proficient in the trumpet and is a recent graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a Bachelor’s of Music in Education. While at UNLV, Mr. Higa performed as principal trumpet in the Wind Orchestra, Symphonic Winds, Symphony Orchestra, and Brass Band. Studying trumpet with Professor Steven Trinkle at UNLV, Mr. Higa has been a two-time recipient of the Max DiJulio Award (2009 & 2011), attended music festivals such as the Nogata Summer Music Festival (2009), UNLV’s Feste Fanitni I & II (2010 & 2011), and the University of North Carolina, School of the Arts Trumpet Summer Camp (2010). He has also had the opportunity to be a guest brass instructor at Oita Tomei High School in Oita, Japan (2009) where they were awarded the gold medal prize in the All Japan Band Association: Oita Band Competition. Also at UNLV, Mr. Higa had the privilege to study conducting with Mr. Takayoshi “Tad” Suzuki. Currently, Mr. Higa is a first year graduate student at the University of Montana where he is studying trumpet and conducting with Dr. James Smart and Dr. Kevin Griggs.