By Samantha Cohen

Justin Bland returned from Denmark and stepped on the University of Maryland campus, but this time with years of trumpet-playing experience and to host a meet-in-greet and perform parts of an upcoming recital. 

Other than showcasing early music tunes ranging from uplifting to melancholy with other musicians, Natalie Rose Kress, invited Bland as part of an early music initiative on campus to get early music and baroque instruments into the hands of student musicians. 

UMD does not have an early music department, Kress, a violinist getting her doctorate in early music performance and pedagogy at UMD, said. She started an initiative to get instruments from colleagues and music stores for students. 

“When I discovered [Bland] was a UMD alumni, I had to bring him back and play with him,” Kress said.

Bland, who graduated in 2008, earned his Bachelor of Music in trumpet performance. Since then, Bland and his instrument have traveled across the globe.

Bland’s musical journey began in fifth grade in his elementary school band. He was always interested in playing an instrument. His mother chose the trumpet for him and later was introduced to the baroque trumpet at UMD. 

Growing up, it was clear Bland would become a successful musician. 

“[He was] committed to learning about music, playing music, the whole essence of the whole experience,” Dennis Gordon, Bland’s uncle said. “I can remember going over to visit him and I would walk in the door, he’d be sitting at the keyboard and he’d have on earphones.”

After hearing a song only once, he could play it note for note. 

By the time Bland reached high school, he wanted to major in music and become a professional musician. 

Some of his biggest influences include Wynton Marsalis, an American trumpeter and composer and Niklas Eklund, a Swedish trumpeter. 

Bland also plays the recorder and is a countertenor, which was highlighted at the recital in addition to the baroque trumpet, which predates the modern trumpet, and has a different mouthpiece and a longer tube that creates a different sound.

At Memorial Chapel, his loved ones filled the seats, including family, friends and Chris Gekker, Bland’s former trumpet professor. 

After 26 years of teaching, Gekker has taught many gifted students, but has been inspired by Bland, he said.

“It was obvious when I started teaching him that he had taught himself so much,” Gekker said. “Justin has always had this very vocal, expressive, nuanced way of playing the trumpet.”

Students can either have a professor who guides their focus to one area or who allows for more freedom, Bland said. 

“It’s not just for me, [Gekker] allows all of his students to kind of explore their interests,” Bland said. 

Gekker’s encouragement to explore his interests was helpful for Bland’s growth as a musician.

“I think that having that flexibility and the ability to nurture what you’re really good at, as long as you’re still getting all of your fundamental things…was really important for me,” Bland said.

After graduating from UMD, Bland received his Master of Arts degree from Case Western University and his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. 

After completing his Doctor of Musical Arts in trumpet performance in 2014, Bland moved to Denmark in 2016 to travel to neighboring countries to perform.

Working as a complete freelance musician comes with an element of stress, Bland noted, but the stress never holds him back from his passion. 

“I’m doing what I really love to do, which actually motivates me to work really hard,” Bland said. “If you can find a way to combine what you’re good at with what you like…you’ll be able to make your living.”

A music career is different depending on where you live and moving to Europe has given Bland several “memorable experiences.” 

“The arts are kind of looked at differently in Europe versus the states. Overall, I feel like it’s more comfortable to be a musician when you’re in Europe,” said Bland. 

Bland was never interested in the standard orchestral path, which is one of the main routes schools and conservatories train their students for. 

With a unique passion, Bland took the road less traveled. 

“Find a way to really look at your strengths,” Bland said. “Don’t be afraid to try to find a way to be a musician, even if it’s not a more standard career path.”

Featured Image: Justin Bland plays the baroque trumpet during his meet-and-greet session at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. Photo by Vivian Renkey.