Trumpeteer Emmanuel Echem and Flutist Ashley Crawford honored for excellence in commercial and classical music
Belmont recognized two accomplished alumni in February for their outstanding contributions to music. Emmanuel Echem (‘16) received the Curtain Call Award honoring commercial music alumni, while Ashley Crawford ('14) was presented with the Encore Award celebrating achievement in classical music.
Echem, a Nashville-native trumpeter whose performances span from the Montreal Jazz Festival to Radio City Music Hall, has established himself as a capable lead and section player with a soulful improvisational style drawing comparisons to trumpet masters Clifford Brown, Freddie Hubbard and Roy Hargrove. His compositional work combines jazz sensibilities with groove-oriented approaches, exploring genres from funk to West African afrobeat. He was presented with the University’s annual Curtain Call Award at a special event Feb. 5.
“Living in Nashville, where a musician can make a comfortable living solely as a player, and being surrounded by people constantly creating music and sharing ideas was absolutely a great source of motivation,” said Echem. “The single most valuable thing I got out of my Belmont experience was a broad introduction to skills I've since developed to proficiency – arranging for horn section, music notation and production.”
Alex Graham, associate professor of saxophone and coordinator of commercial music, said Echem could be heard practicing on the lawn or outside of the classrooms on a daily basis during his four years at Belmont. “His pursuit of excellence has never stopped, and he now finds himself on tour or in the studio with artists such as Eric Church, Lauren Daigle and Joss Stone,” Graham explained. “Emmanuel represents the type of musical integrity that we hope all of our students will reach for.”
Crawford received her award Feb. 22 following a performance with the Belmont Wind Ensemble at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, where she performed the first movement of Michael Mower's jazz-influenced Flute Concerto. Under her trademarked brand "Flutebae," Crawford has helped propel flute into mainstream music and media, performing at venues like the Staples Center and collaborating with artists from the Gaither Vocal Band to Soul Sessions. She appears as a featured artist on the Grammy-winning "Best Roots Gospel" album, "The Urban Hymnal," by the Aristocrat of Bands.
“My time at Belmont was rigorous and competitive, but it instilled in me the resilience and creativity needed to carve out my distinct path in music,” said Crawford. “The training and knowledge I gained allowed me to seamlessly navigate different genres, opening doors to opportunities and stages beyond my wildest dreams. Receiving the Encore Award is a full-circle moment that reflects the love, respect and dedication I've carried for my alma mater throughout my career.”
As Tennessee State University's flute professor and co-founder of the Nashville African American Wind Symphony, Crawford leads the woodwind area of TSU's music department while conducting the Nashville Philharmonic Flute Ensemble. Her community work and outreach earned recognition in Belmont's 2022 Top 100 Entrepreneur Awards, and she has appeared as a guest clinician for prestigious organizations including the National Flute Association and Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference.
“Ashley's work at TSU and in the Nashville area has vitally impacted our community and contributed deeply to our local music culture,” said Associate Professor Dr. Barry Kraus. "She is a wonderful person and an amazing artist whose playing transcends traditional genre boundaries.”
Both Echem and Crawford exemplify Belmont's legacy of fostering versatile musicians who excel across genres while making meaningful contributions to Nashville's vibrant music community. The Curtain Call and Encore awards celebrate not only their artistic achievements but also their ongoing commitment to advancing music through performance, education and innovation.
Learn More
Study Music at Belmont