Trumpet Section Leader Joshua Fesmire Receives Toni Christine Masini Scholarship

The NC State Department of Music named trumpet section leader, Joshua Fesmire, as the recipient of the 2022-2023 Toni Christine Masini Memorial Scholarship.

“To be permanently immortalized in the NC State Department of Music as a recipient of such a high distinction will hold my appreciation forever,” said Fesmire. “Again, a thousand thanks to the Masini family for making such a scholarship possible.”

As the largest music scholarship offered at NC State, the Masini scholarship commemorates Toni Christine Masini, a first chair flute and piccolo in the Wind Ensemble and active member of the marching band during her time at NC State. The scholarship preserves Masini’s memory each year by recognizing a student who demonstrates academic and musical excellence and outstanding leadership in the marching band.

Fesmire is a current senior majoring in history and minoring in political science and music performance. As a first-year student, he immediately joined the Power Sound of the South® and Wind Ensemble and has continued his involvement in both ensembles throughout his time with the Pack.

“I remember coming out of the audition room [for the marching band] and thinking the instructors and the older members of the band would never know who I was,” recalled Fesmire. “350 members was almost five times the size of my high school band, and to completely restart with no friends in the band—let alone among the staggering 54 people in the trumpet section—was very daunting. However, I was delighted to learn that the culture within the band was immediately very inviting.”

Along with the marching and wind ensemble, Fesmire’s on-campus involvement includes being a member of the Brickyard Brass Quintet, the department’s chamber ensemble program, and the symphony orchestra. After graduation, he plans to attend graduate school for a Master’s in Public Administration and hopes to continue performing music as a graduate student wherever his education continues.

“Now, after having been a section leader for two seasons, I understand that being helpful and being a leader to those in the band is not only beneficial for the ensemble as a whole, but to the lives of the individuals involved as well…I want to display that, as an individual in this massive community, you are valued, and you matter,” said Fesmire.

Toni Masini’s parents, Bob and Mickie, and other members of the Masini family formally presented the scholarship award to Fesmire during halftime of the Texas Tech football game on September 17, 2022.

The Department of Music offers various scholarships for its programs, including renewable performance scholarships. Learn more on our scholarships page.