2026 Trumpet Festival of the Southeast

Ashley Hall-Tighe is an internationally renowned musician, educator and certified life coach. With her exuberant and relatable approach and her passion for building authentic and meaningful connections, Ashley enjoys engaging audiences as a soloist and ensemble musician, facilitating coaching courses, working with individuals in her private coaching practice, and leading professional and personal development workshops. 

Ashley’s work as a soloist has taken her around the world. From the Sydney Opera House to the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing, China, she radiates an “energetic joy” (Rochester Post Bulletin) through her “warm tone, stunning technique and expressive artistry” (Cincinnati Enquirer). Performing as a soloist both with ensembles and as a recitalist, 2024 highlights include solo performances with the Roanoke Symphony and Rock Hill Symphony as well as recitals in Hong Kong, Australia, and throughout the United States. From August 2023-May 2024, Ashley was a touring member of Canadian Brass, performing concerts around the world and entertaining audiences in the iconic and light-hearted style for which the group is known. 

Ashley released her debut solo album with pianist Ana Maria Otamendi, Upcycle, in the fall of 2024. This collection of transcriptions for trumpet and piano was created by Ashley’s husband Nathaniel Tighe, and it honors the artist’s common European classical roots while presenting a vision of what might have been possible if the modern trumpet was a solo instrument at the time these works were conceived. As an educator, Ashley combines her passion for whole-person development with a methodical approach to trumpet improvement.  Her teaching on respiratory mechanics, strategic practice planning, upper register development, as well as her personal stories of growth make her one of the most sought-after guest clinicians and educators on the trumpet.

Ashley is an Associate Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation and trained with Co-Active Training Institute and Graydin.  In her private coaching practice Ashley offers individual coaching sessions that empower artists to unlock their potential and align their values with their creative lives.  She is a Certified Start with Heart Facilitator through Graydin and leads professional development coaching courses for institutions seeking cultural transformation. Ashley is married to trumpeter/singer/arranger and pediatric anesthesiologist Dr. Nathaniel Tighe. They currently reside in Cincinnati, OH with their two children, Morgan and Kevin and dog, Pippa. Ashley Hall-Tighe is a Yamaha Performing Artist.

Hailed in the International Trumpet Guild Journal as “one of the best up and coming jazz musicians on the globe,” 24-year-old Kellin Hanas is a trumpeter, composer, educator, and comedian based out of New York City and Chicago. A recent graduate from the Manhattan School of Music, Hanas has studied with jazz luminaries such as Ingrid Jensen and Scott Wendholt. She can be seen touring with celebrities such as Emmy and Golden Globe award winner Darren Criss, fashion icon Isaac Mizrahi, the 11x GRAMMY winning vocal group The Manhattan Transfer (with the DIVA Jazz Orchestra), as well as singer Michael Feinstein.

After debuting her quintet in 2022 at the Birdland Jazz Club in NYC, Hanas and her band now perform her music around the United States. Most recently, Hanas was named the first place winner in the Jazz Division of the 2024 International Trumpet Guild Ryan Anthony Memorial Trumpet Competition, and was the winner of the 2024 Laurie Frink Career Grant. She has performed in venues such as Carnegie Hall and Jazz at Lincoln Center, working alongside jazz greats such as Sean Jones, Wycliffe Gordon, and Christian McBride. Currently, Hanas is the trumpet player for the smash hit musical “Heathers” in NYC.

Alongside her music, Hanas adds a unique touch of comedy into her shows, having amassed a following of over 200,000, and millions of views online through her music and comedy. She hopes to continue connecting with others and spreading joy. Kellin is a Bach/Conn Selmer artist.

Trumpet artist Stephen M. Wadsack is an enthusiastic and multifaceted artist-educator, arts administrator, and academic researcher. With a career that has taken him around the globe, Wadsack seeks to connect meaningfully with others through shared experiences of both the stage and classroom alike.

In 2024, Wadsack was appointed as Brass Area Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Trumpet at the Bailey School of Music. Beyond his responsibilities in the applied trumpet studio, Wadsack leads weekly warmup classes, coordinates the School of Music’s brass chamber ensembles, leads Brass Area symposia, and coaches award-winning student chamber groups. Numerous former students have won positions in the arts and in arts-adjacent fields, ranging from teaching positions to orchestral appointments, touring positions, military band appointments, instrument repair jobs, and everything in-between. In 2024, Wadsack was recognized for excellence in teaching, mentorship, and scholarship with the College of Liberal Arts Outstanding Faculty Award at Wright State University, where he formerly served as the professor of trumpet and Director of Jazz Studies.

Stephen enjoys an active performance schedule on a national and international level, appearing with symphony orchestras, as a recitalist, as a chamber musician, and as a jazz musician. Recent engagements include appearances as a soloist in Greece, performances with the national tour of the “Book of Mormon” musical, and numerous solo performances in the United States from Alaska to Maine. Wadsack has also performed and taught at dozens of universities, conferences, and music festivals worldwide, most recently appearing at the Corfu International Trumpet Festival, multiple International Trumpet Guild Conferences, and the Historic Brass Society’s 4th International Symposium at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Outside of musical pursuits, Stephen enjoys connecting with friends, family, and current/former students. He is very passionate about the outdoors, hiking, fly fishing, and traveling to new places (especially National and State Parks). At home, Stephen regularly enjoys hosting his friends, all things coffee, and even brewing his own beer. He is also particularly proud of his Wyoming heritage (Go Pokes!). Stephen is happily married to his "adventure partner," Casey, a licensed social worker and mental health professional. Together, they have collaborated to present free interactive and educational concerts for children, as well as exploring the intersection of trauma-informed research with applied music study.

The Bailey School of Music at Kennesaw State University’s Geer College of the Arts consists of more than 250 dynamic, creative, and talented music students, complemented by over 80 dedicated faculty members and professional staff. Together, we focus on inspiring passionate musicians, scholars, and educators who will continue to enrich our community's artistic experiences. At the Bailey School of Music, students benefit from the resources of a major public university and access to numerous arts and opportunities in the Atlanta area, while maintaining an emphasis on personalized instruction. We are excited to welcome you to our campus community and thrilled to announce our new Artist Diploma program in Trumpet Performance, beginning in Fall 2026!