Wilfrido Galarraga – Schagerl Artist

[vc_row][vc_column width=“2/3″][vc_column_text]How did you get to know the Schagerl company?

I got to know the Schagerl brand of instruments through the national system of youth and children’s orchestras of Venezuela. I was in a seminar with maestro tomas Clamour and the Venezuelan brass ensemble, there they assigned me my first Schagel vienna trumpet in 2005. With this trumpet I played with the Venezuelan brass ensemble led by Maestro Tomas Clamour, with the Simón Bolivar symphonic orchestra conducted by maestro Gustavo Dudamel, and I was also able to perform my undergraduate recital in 2010 at the Simón Bolivar music conservatory.
I got to know the factory as such in 2008 on a tour to Austria in 2008 with the Simón Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela. At the Schagerl factory, all trumpeters in the orchestra were given the opportunity to test various types of trumpets.
I have visited the factory about 5 or 6 times since 2008, with the Simón Bolivar symphonic orchestra, with the Venezuelan brass ensemble and with the Simón Bolivar trumpet ensemble. From that time to the present, I have been able to see the progress and development of the instruments in each of the visits.

Which Schagerl instruments do you play ?

Trumpet in C Vienna Dorada
C Horsdorf Heavy Silver Trumpet
Trumpet in B flat Horsdorf Silver Plated
Trumpet in B flat Horsdorf Heavy Gold
Trumpet in B flat Roman Empire without bath
trumpet in E flat London brass silver series
T-200L academic pocket B flat trumpet

And for hobby:
Schagerl Alto Saxophone without bath A-1CB
Schagerl Soprano Saxophone curved gold Superior Acedémica SC-1L

Who influenced you in your career?

Both in Caracas, which is my hometown, and in Barlovento, where my maternal and paternal family is, I had musical influence. My father played a lot of Latin music (Salsa at home, and my brothers played the cuatro that they learned from my uncles in Barlovento. At school my brother played the drum, I followed in his footsteps and entered the Fe y Alegría school student in La Vega (Caracas). There I played the drums of parranda and Christmas gifts, I sang in the school choir and I was a soloist in the choir, I also learned to play the mandolin a little, my teacher in that school was Professor Zenon. The school had a link with the orchestra system. At age 10 I received classes in music theory, sweet faluta and singing at the Simón Bolivar music conservatory. From that time on I wanted to play the trumpet since I was influenced by my uncle Nestror Ruiz (Trumpeter from Barlovento). At the age of twelve I began my studies of music in the orchestra system again, but this time at the Montalban nucleus, there I received classes in music theory, singing and began to study the trumpet.
In Caracas I was doing my academic studies in the orchestra system, but my vacations were always in San José de Barloveno. My uncle Nestor Ruiz may he rest in peace (Trumpeter and Teacher) he gave me trumpet classes, he gave me books on trumpet technique and also instruments and accessories, He also took me to play in the region’s groups (group of partying dicembrina and in the precessions of Easter). Besides that my uncle was an influential teacher in my career, from a very young age I saw how a whole mass of people moved with his instrument next to the trombonist Chuo in the parrandas (December parties eb Barlovento. My uncle played in the week-long processions Santa la first trumpet demonstrating a complete range. He also played salsa with various groups from the windward region, Venezuela and internationally. He also recorded records with various groups in the country.
Something that also influenced me was the fact that I saw the national children’s orchestra of Venezuela on television in 1996. This orchestra was found in Brazil during the visit of Pope John Paul II. That orchestra in which I began to be a part since 1998 was and is a great influence for me.
Wynton Marsalis, Arturo Sandoval, James Morrinson, Hans Gansch, Tomas Gansh, Maurice André, Dizzie Gillespie, Louis Armstrong among others … they are trumpeters that I have admired all my life, and they have been and continue to be for me.
Part of the influence is also the classes received by the Venezuelan and international trumpet teachers in the national system of orchestras founded by maestro José Antonio Abreu. Among the teachers we can mention: Maribel Llamosa, Edwin Gonzales, Eduardo Manzanilla, Luis Melos, Jairo Hernandez, Leonardo Mendez, Rafael Zambrano, Alfredo Dadona, Ivan Sanz, Allan Cox, Omar Guerra, José María Ortí Soriano, Antonio Martí, Thomas Clamor, Vladimir Kafelnikov, Michael Tunnel, Marc Ress, Gabor Tarkovi, Martin Kreissner, Lucas Beno, among others.
Each teacher of the system is and has been an influence on me: Ulises Ascanio, Jesus Ignacio Perez Perazzo, Alejandro Orellana, Maribel Llamosas, Laura Quijada, Rodolfo Sanglimbeni, Marcos Carrillo, Andres Ascanio, Gustavo Dudamel and of course the Maestro José Antonio Abreu.
I also thank my colleagues: Gian Carlos Castro, Gaudy Sanchez, Francisco Pacho Florez, Tomas Medina, Leafar Riobueno, Victor Caldera, Luis Alfredo Sanchez, Freddy Cardenas, Andres Gonzales, Francisco Grillo, Cesar Juares, William Rada, Josmar, Angel Peña , among others. As well as students who are now colleagues: Roderick Alvarado, Grehry Barceló, Erick Álvares, Eugenio Carreño, Oscar Rodriguez, Omar Villamizar, among others.

A short description of your career would be appreciated.

I began to study the trumpet in the montalban nucleus at the age of 12 in 1997. In 1998 I began to play with the Venezuelan national children’s group (Actual Simón Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela) and went on to study at the Simón Bolivar music conservatory until the year 2010. Most of my career has been spent in the national orchestras system. Played in the Montalban Children’s Orchestra, Venezuelan Children’s Orchestra, Andrés Bello Youth Symphony Orchestra, Caracas Youth Orchestra and I have been playing in the Simón Bolivar Symphony for 16 years. At the same time, he played in chamber music groups within the same orchestral system such as: Montalban Brass Quintet, Caracas Brass Brass Quintet, Penta Brass Brass Quintet, Brass Ensemble of the Venezuelan National Youth Orchestra, Venezuela Metal Ensemble (Current), Simón Bolivar Trumpet Ensemble (Current). I have also played with the Simón Bolivar Conservatory Band, Symphonic Rock Orchestra, Simón Bolivar Latin-Caribbean Orchestra.
Outside the system, I have played with the Orquesta Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho, Orquesta Sinfónica Venezuela, Orquesta Municipal de Caracas.
In the world of popular music I have played with the dance orchestra (Elena and her trajectory, Naty and her orchestra, Caribbean Magic and also in groups for weddings.
With these words I want to thank Karl Schagerl and his entire team for their great support in the provision and financing of various instruments, as well as in the presentation of alternatives in terms of trumpets, mouthpieces and accessories that have facilitated my musical work in the different groups both inside and outside the orchestra system.
Karl Schagerl’s help goes beyond the mere use of his instruments. The classes received by members of the brand such as Gabor Tarkovy, or touching and receiving information from teachers Thomas Gansh, Gabor Tarkovy, James Morrinson, Raul Junquera is an added value. In addition, royalties from cd, dvd of artists belonging to the brand, cases, flannels among other utensils. In addition to supporting the Simón Bolivar Trumpet Ensemble on all their tours, concerts and presentations.

Visiting the Schagerl factory in 2010, the support received by Karl Schagerl in terms of instruments in 2013 and seeing James Morrinson play live are unforgettable moments for me.
Thanks to the support of Mr. Karl Schagerl, my daughter started studying the soprano saxophone a couple of years ago, now my nine-year-old daughter already plays the alto saxophone. Also, Mr. Karl gave me a pocket trumpet for my daughter when she was a baby.
To conclude, I would like to say that Mr. Karl and his team have provided me and many Venezuelans with instruments that are tools that allow us to educate ourselves, develop ourselves, and be busy.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=“1/3″][vc_single_image image=“5129″ img_size=“400×566″ onclick=“link_image“][/vc_column][/vc_row]