INTERNATIONAL - Bemidji State University

Page 46 | International Trumpet Guild Program
cHrISTopHero’HARA
Chris O’Hara is an internationally renowned trumpet soloist, a chamber musician, and an educator. His playing is
described as “an awesome display of pure talent and musicality” (Park Rapids Concert Association) and “a treat beyond
measure” (Arlington Advocate).
Already in his young career, Chris has performed over 2,000 events covering 47 states and 11 countries across North
America, Europe, Great Britain, and Asia. His performance schedule has taken him to notable venues such as the
Ravinia Music Festival, the Tanglewood Music Festival, the Bethlehem Musikfest, the Boston Early Music Festival, the Festival de Camara de Musica in
Aquacalientes Mexico, the Nagoya Conservatory of Music, and Millennium Hall in Japan.
Before embarking on a solo career, Chris exclusively dedicated his efforts to the art of chamber music. At the age of 16 in his home town of Bensenville,
Illinois, he had already formed his first brass quintet; in 1995, he was honored by WGN television for his efforts with this ensemble. Then, at 17, he formed
his second brass quintet, the internationally acclaimed Synergy Brass Quintet. As founder of the Synergy Brass Quintet, he has been a regular guest on
NPR’s The Front Row, performed with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, The Boston Pops, and Natalie Cole, and has recorded several albums available on the
AAR record label. Chris continues to dedicate much of his time to chamber music through a wide range of ensembles.
As an advocate for new music, Chris has commissioned several works including Robert Martin’s Four Places in New York for two trumpets and Karl
Henning’s The Angel Who Bears a Flaming Sword for solo trumpet. During the 2010/11 concert season, Chris will perform the world premiere of a new work
for trumpet and wind ensemble by R. Christopher Teichler and the world premiere of a new work for flugelhorn and wind ensemble by Robert Bradshaw
at the 2011 International Trumpet Guild Conference. He can also be heard on the premiere recording of Samuel Adler’s “Transfiguration: An Ecumenical
Mass” on the album A Prophecy of Peace. In addition to performing, Chris is an avid arranger having arranged and edited over one hundred works for brass
quintet, brass and organ, trumpet ensemble, and solo trumpet.
Chris has served on the faculties of the Shenandoah Arts Academy (Winchester, VA), the Boston University Tanglewood Institute (Lenox, MA), The Festival
de Musica de Camara (Aguascalientes, Mexico), and the International Institute and Festival at Round Top (Round Top, TX). He is currently the Brass
Department Chairman of the South Shore Conservatory (Hingham, MA) where he founded the South Shore Conservatory Trumpet Workshop, a summer
music seminar for talented New England trumpet students. Chris is also a clinician for the Conn-Selmer Company and Denis Wick mouthpieces, mutes,
and accessories and has presented countless master classes and clinics at public schools and the world’s finest colleges and universities. Chris performs
exclusively on Bach Trumpets, the Conn Vintage One Flugelhorn, and Denis Wick mouthpieces and mutes. He can be heard on recordings on the Paraclete
and AAR labels and has appeared on National Public Radio, NBC, WGN, the Hallmark Channel, and more.
roLfoLSoN
Dr. Rolf Olson is Director of Bands and Professor of Trumpet at the University of South Dakota where he directs the
Symphonic Band, Brass Choir, Colton Jazz Ensemble, and teaches Conducting and studio trumpet. He also performs
with the USD faculty ensembles, South Dakota Brass Quintet and South Dakota Jazz Quintet. Previous to USD Olson
taught public school music in the South Dakota communities of Arlington and Vermillion, and taught at Augustana
College in Sioux Falls, SD.
Olson is an active trumpet player, performing regularly with the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, the Sioux Falls
Big Band, and the Dalesburg Cornet Band of which he is cornet soloist and musical director. He has performed with
numerous high school bands and in May of 2001 performed at the International Trumpet Guild Convention in Evansville,
IN. In November of 2003 Olson performed the South Dakota premier of Robert Bradshaw’s Sonata for Trumpet & Piano.
He has also played professionally with the Carson & Barnes Circus Band, Gene Pitney Orchestra, and Myron Floren. His
primary teachers include, William Pfund, Marshall Scott, and Harold “Doc” Krueger.
Olson is an active guest clinician/conductor, having directed the Dakota Wind Ensemble, the 2005 South Dakota Middle School All State Band, the
Northwest Iowa Honor Band, and numerous other band festivals and jazz festivals in South Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa. He is active as a clinician/
adjudicator for all types of instrumental music festivals including adjudicator for the South Dakota All State Band auditions. Olson is co-founder of the
South Dakota All State Jazz Festival and served for many years as Treasurer for the South Dakota Unit of the International Association of Jazz Educators
(IAJE). Olson is involved with church music as a choir director and trumpet soloist.
Olson earned the Doctor of Arts degree in Trumpet Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, a Master of Music
degree in Trumpet Performance from the University of South Dakota, and a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Augustana College. He is a
member of the International Trumpet Guild (ITG), Music Educators National Conference (MENC), Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), South Dakota
Bandmasters Association (SDBA), South Dakota Alliance for the Arts (SDAA), and Vermillion Area Arts Council. He has been elected to Phi Beta Mu and Pi
Kappa Lambda Honor Societies.