Artist of the Week: Brady Judd

Warwick Valley High School senior Brady Judd was recognized at this week’s Board of Education meeting for the academic and athletic achievements he compiled to earn recognition as a 2025 Orange County Interscholastic Athletics Association Scholar-Athlete of The Year. This profile, however, originates with WVHS music teacher Megan Shafer, who nominated Brady for his contributions to the arts, particularly his talents and leadership role as part of the high school’s wind ensemble.

“Brady, from the time I knew him as a freshman, has just always impressed me so much,” Ms. Shafer said. “He started in wind ensemble right away – first year – which very few people do. He’s been our first chair trumpet player for two years. And he’s just such a considerate and positive young person to begin with.”

Brady demonstrated an affinity for music when he was a first grader at Sanfordville and began taking private piano lessons that year with Mary Poulman, whose influence on his skills and approach to practice Brady said cannot be overstated.

“She has made a huge impact on me, along with my parents, of course, who support everything we do, and Ms. Shafer, 100%,” Brady said.

By the time fourth grade began, Brady was excited to pick up an instrument and join the district’s music program. He worked with Warwick Valley music teacher Ashley Head, ultimately choosing the trumpet. Brady progressed through the middle school band program, leading to his previously mentioned impressive arrival into the high school program. Brady knew that you had to audition for the high school wind ensemble and he challenged himself to go for it!

“I just knew I wanted to be in the wind ensemble, so I was practicing for it all that summer. I even asked my middle school band teacher, Mr. [Ryan] Muehlbauer, to help me out, which he did,” Brady said, adding with a smile, “So, I got in, but freshman year, obviously, I was last chair.”

Ever the hard worker, Brady jumped to third chair in his sophomore year and assumed his role as first chair and section leader as a junior. He’s also kept up his piano practice all these years and will accompany the wind ensemble for the first time during its spring concert, on a song entitled Hot as Blue Blazes.

“I didn’t even know about the piano playing at first,” said Ms. Shafer. “And he’s great! So, we arranged for him to finally play here at school and accompany the wind ensemble for a piece.”

As first chair trumpet, Brady assumes a leadership role in the wind ensemble that has many similarities to another role he plays at Warwick Valley, one that he’s probably more well-known for – co-captain of the Wildcats wrestling team.

“I became a co-captain of the wrestling team last year, my junior year, and this year I’ve been co-captain with my brother Hudson, which has been great,” Brady said. “And, yeah, it does sort of feel like being a captain, or the leader, in the trumpet section. Any time the younger players in our section need help with something, I'm there; I can help them out.”

On the wrestling mat, Brady was 35-10 and maintained an average of over 100% during his varsity season, which led to his OCIAA scholar-athlete nod. His academic efforts have set him squarely among the top of his class. He’s already accepted to the University of Delaware, and will be studying finance. And where does that leave grooving and grappling?

“They have a club team, so I'm thinking about [wrestling],” Brady shared. “I'm also thinking about bringing a little keyboard to have in my dorm, too, so I can play piano whenever I want.”   

Brady said that when he heads off for college in August, he’ll be taking valuable lessons he’s picked up and applied over the years along with him. They’re the same words of wisdom he’d offer to younger musicians and wrestlers.  

“Like my kindergarten teacher always told me, ‘You have to practice, practice, practice,’” he stated simply. He recalls that even when his freshman year audition resulted in last chair, he didn't let it discourage him. “I still had my friends in band, and I still had goals that I was focused on. I knew in freshman year, that I wanted to be first chair trumpet by my senior year, and that if I just kept my head in it, kept practicing, I would prevail eventually.”