WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and SportsMadison teen wins national trumpet competition

His resume starts like many other high schoolers.

16 years old-- a junior at East High School in Madison and has taken an interest in music, in one particular instrument.

Ansel Norris really is "Someone You Should Know."

John Aley has taught many students in his 29 years as Professor of Music at the University of Wisconsin.

For the past 3 years, Mr. Aley has taught this young man, 16 year old Ansel Norris.

"He's an extraordinary talent, Ansel is a true quick study," said John Aley.

Ansel started playing trumpet in the 6th grade.

Since then, he says he's just studied to get better.

"He relates what he needs to do the physical/intellectual part of playing the trumpet, but it then goes through this filter and what comes out: a real beauty of sound and real expression, and it's lovely to listen to," said John.

Ansel's incredible talent hasn't gone unnoticed.

He's won a number of awards this year.

John says: "Winning the high school award with the National Trumpet Competition, placing as one of the Bolz finalists with that big concert that money is so graciously given for, the Madison Symphony plays for. Let's see what else has he done? Oh, he also won one of the Jack Kent Cook Scholarships associated with From the Top, a Wisconsin Public Radio program."

Ansel loves to play just about anything.

"Every time I play a piece it feels like the best piece that there ever was," said Ansel. "It's like, man this piece is the greatest and then you move on to the next month's and you're like oh my god this piece is the greatest."

He grew up in a family of violinists.

His grandpa's trumpet sparked his interest in brass.

"He was on a Navy ship in W.W.II and he had this trumpet from where he used to play, he just gave it to me," said Ansel. "I had no idea how to play it. But I mean I had one, so why not. It feels a lot easier to express myself on the trumpet because all the energy, the sounds are coming from me not the strings or a bow."

Practicing 3 hours a day now, Ansel works on perfecting his technique and any trouble spots.

"Like going from a low note to hit a high one, octaves, stuff like that," said Ansel. "That always bugs the crap out of me cuz I can never get it 100% of the time, there's one out of 10 where I miss the octave and stuff like that, it's terrible (laughs) something I need to work on."

Ansel hopes he can inspire younger kids who are even slightly interested in an instrument.

"I think that if they are even a little bit interested in it they should just keep at it because the world could always use more musicians, that's something we'll never have a shortage of," said Ansel.

Ansel graduates high school next year.

He hopes to hit a high note and get into the college of his dreams.

"The top of the list is Juliard because I saw their trumpet ensemble perform at the National Trumpet Competition and it absolutely blew me away, I couldn't believe it, just seems like a place I'd really like to go. Juliard is like the most competitive school in the nation, it's crazy," said Ansel.