Michael Widjaja hails from Sioux City, Iowa, and graduated from Sioux City East High School. He is completing a Bachelor of Music in Music Education at The Hartt School in Hartford, Connecticut.

During his undergraduate studies, Michael served as President of Hartt's National Association for Music Education Collegiate Chapter (NAfME) and as Collegiate Student Co-Chair for the Connecticut Music Educators Association (CMEA). In these roles, he organized professional development opportunities for music education students, most notably bringing in esteemed clinicians Dr. John Feierabend and Dr. Peter Boonshaft.

Michael received the inaugural Glen Adsit Award at The Hartt School, honoring the late wind ensemble conductor and CBDNA president, Glen Adsit. This award, accompanied by a Yamaha trumpet donated by anonymous benefactors, recognizes an exemplary undergraduate trumpet player in need of an instrument.

CMEA Collegiate Professional Development with Dr. Boonshaft

2024-2025 Hartt NAfME Executive Board with Dr. Feierabend

National and International Festivals

Michael has performed at esteemed festivals and institutions across North America. In 2024, Michael attended the Pacific Region International Summer Music Academy (PRISMA) in British Columbia, Canada, where he received coaching from Larry Knopp and Marcus Goddard of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. That same year, he was selected for the Credo National Festival at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Orchestra Hall, working with Steven Franklin of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and performing alongside principal players from top U.S. symphony orchestras.

In 2025, Michael served as an orchestral fellow for the National Music Festival in historic Chestertown, Maryland, on a full scholarship, performing in chamber concerts and major symphonic works. Following the festival, he is spending nine weeks at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in the Manistee National Forest in Michigan as a counselor and staff member, performing with professional faculty in the Festival Orchestra, Band, and chamber ensembles.

In 2022, Michael attended the Boston University Tanglewood Institute as a member of the Young Artist Wind Ensemble, performing under the batons of H. Robert Reynolds and David Martins. While at Tanglewood, he received intensive coaching from renowned trumpeters Karin Bliznik, Terry Everson, Ben Wright, and David Krauss. In 2023, Michael worked with the Principal Trumpet of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Esteban Batallan, and was part of the Pre-Professional Trumpet Ensemble at the 2023 International Trumpet Guild Conference in Minneapolis.

Symphony Center, Orchestra Hall

Symphony Center, Rehearsal of Mahler 1

Frank Ticheli, Professor Emeritus of Composition, University of Southern California

David Martins, Professor Emeritus of Music, University of Massachusetts Lowell

PRISMA Trumpet Section, Powell River, BC

High School Achievements

Michael's early achievements set the foundation for his musical journey. In 2022, he became an inaugural member of the National Youth Wind Ensemble in Washington, D.C., performing under Col. Jason K. Fettig, Director of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, and Dr. Kevin Sedatole, Director of Bands at Michigan State University. He was also a quarterfinalist in the high school solo division of the 2022 National Trumpet Competition in Newark, Delaware.

A proud recipient of a trumpet position in the 2021 NAfME All-National Symphony Orchestra, Michael was one of only six students selected nationwide, becoming the first Iowan wind player to hold this distinction. Michael's high school achievements in the Iowa All-State process include earning a trumpet position in the 75th Iowa All-State Orchestra (2021), two cornet positions in the Iowa All-State Band (2019-2020), and serving as split-lead and section trumpet in the 4A Iowa All-State Jazz Ensemble (2021-2022). Throughout these experiences, he had the opportunity to perform under the batons of renowned conductors and composers Dr. Peter Boonshaft and Dr. Andrew Boysen Jr.

Michael was also a member of the award-winning show choir The Headliners for three years, playing trumpet and participating in regional competitions, contributing to the group's recognition in the competitive circuit.

2021 NAfME All-National Symphony Orchestra

2019 Iowa All-State

Vision and Personal Life

Michael has a strong love and passion for expanding the wind band repertoire. He hopes to pursue a master’s degree in conducting and be a part of commissioning high-quality band literature that is representative of many cultures and backgrounds.

Beyond trumpet performance, Michael has established himself as a versatile musician. He has worked as a tenor section leader and soloist at South Congregational Church in Hartford, First Church of Christ in Wethersfield, and currently at the Church of St. Peter Claver in West Hartford, adding to his experience as an ensemble musician.

When not surrounded by music, he loves being surrounded by the second-best thing: nature. He enjoys exploring walkable and transit-friendly cities, running outside, cooking a mean and hearty Vietnamese pho, and spending time with his family of 12: his siblings Rachel, Abraham, Martha, Joanna, Michal, and Abigail; his mother and father; and dogs Bambi, Harley, and Java.

First Church of Christ, Christmas Concert

The Family!

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