The Power of Sound | Trumpet Mania Finale with Louis Dowdeswell

Almost fifty young trumpet players, a professional big band and one of the most recognisable British virtuosos of the instrument – the finale of Trumpet Mania 2026 promises to be a true celebration of the trumpet. The stage of the Mieczysław Karłowicz Philharmonic in Szczecin will bring together students of the Prof. Marek Jasiński Primary and Secondary Music School, Szczecin-based musicians and Louis Dowdeswell – an artist whose work spans jazz, classical, film and popular music.

Louis Dowdeswell is one of the most recognisable British trumpeters of his generation. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in London, he is also an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music. He has worked with, among others, the London Symphony Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Concert Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, while as a studio and live musician he has performed alongside artists from a wide range of popular music genres. His trumpet can also be heard on the soundtracks of major film productions, including No Time To Die, Barbie, Aladdin and Don’t Look Up.

The Szczecin concert will take place just a few days after the release of the artist’s latest album, Out of Print. Recorded in collaboration with arranger Callum Au, the album features new arrangements of ten works drawn from the classical repertoire, written for big band and an expanded brass section. The album will be performed for the first time on 2 November at London’s Cadogan Hall, and Dowdeswell will subsequently present some of this material at the Trumpet Mania finale in Szczecin.

He will be joined by the Trumpet Mania Festival Big Band, led by Tomasz Licak. A particularly special element of the concert, however, will be the participation of the youngest generation of musicians. All the trumpet students of Szczecin’s OSM – almost fifty young instrumentalists – will take to the stage, alongside the school’s popular music ensemble. The shared performance by students, professional musicians and a world-class soloist perfectly reflects the festival’s ethos, which from the outset has combined concerts with education, masterclasses and the development of young talent.

Trumpet Mania is an international festival dedicated to the trumpet, bringing together what happens on stage with education and opportunities for different generations of musicians to meet. The third edition features concerts, masterclasses and a National Trumpet Competition, giving young instrumentalists the opportunity to work with acclaimed artists and perform alongside them. For one week, Szczecin becomes a meeting place for pupils, students, teachers, professional musicians and trumpet enthusiasts.