Award-winning Nu talent

Ryan Svendsen is not your typical frat guy.

Thanks to his outstanding musical accomplishments, the third-year trumpet performance student recently received Sigma Nu’s national award for Talent of the Year.

After the Sigma Nu Live contest Svendsen originally entered in via video submission was canceled, Jeff Freigher, Sigma Nu’s national newsletter editor, suggested Svendsen apply his trumpet skills to the Talent of the Year Award application instead. Svendsen took this advice and soon was notified that he had won the award. In July, Svendsen flew to Austin, Texas to perform in front of the Grand Chapter, which included over 2000 representatives from Sigma Nu chapters across the nation

“It was really nice being honored because I got national recognition in my fraternity,” Svendsen said.

Svendsen first started playing the trumpet in sixth grade, when his public school had students choose instruments to play in band. Although he first chose trumpet because its three valves made it look easy, Svendsen soon discovered it was actually one of the most difficult instruments to play. He not only stuck with it, however, but grew to excel in many genres of trumpet performance.

In the past few years, Svendsen has had opportunities to perform with the likes of Herbie Hancock, Ryan Shaw, Robert Randolph and the Dave Matthews Tribute Band. These gigs weren’t just handed to him on a silver platter, either. It took many dedicated hours spent in practice rooms as well as the ability to put himself out there.

For his gig with Robert Randolph, Svendsen memorized every major trumpet lick on his CD before showing up backstage before a concert.

“I went up to him and said, “˜Let me be your live trumpet,'” Svendsen said.

Randolph told Svendsen he had landed the gig after Svendsen played a few of the licks he had memorized, backed by astonished laughter from Randolph.

While being a music major at UCLA has taught Svendsen a great deal about performing on the trumpet, in the end, Svendsen credits his determination and persistence to the number of gigs he’s been able to book in recent years.

“I’ve found out things aren’t going to come to you. You have to go out and get them,” Svendsen said. “You aren’t taught here how to get gigs, you’re taught how to perform in them, so I have to take that into my own hands. I don’t know the proper way of doing it; I don’t know how people get these gigs, so why not ask? And it’s worked a lot of the time.”

Svendsen’s fraternity brothers in Sigma Nu are also reaping the benefits of Svendsen’s abilities. Not only did he gain the UCLA Epsilon Pi chapter national recognition, but whenever live music is needed at the Sigma Nu house, Svendsen is there to entertain. Whether he’s performing for a Christmas party at the house or inviting his brothers on a road trip to San Diego for the Dave Matthews Tribute Band concert he played in, Svendsen is including his fraternity in his success.

“Its not something you see from someone who’s in a house normally,” said Zander Fryer, a third-year electrical engineering student and president of the Epsilon Pi chapter. “You don’t see (fraternity members) being a professional blues trumpet player, so it’s a pretty unique skill. A lot of the guys think it’s pretty cool.”

The benefits go two ways. Epsilon Pi may get the gift of live music, but Svendsen has received inspiration from his brothers.

“My brothers are really supportive of my talents,” said Svendsen. “If anything it has connected me with more people to play for and encouraged me to develop my music.”