John Adler: trumpet, jazz studies

A native of Reno, Nevada, assistant professor of trumpet/jazz studies John Adler joined the faculty at Virginia Tech in 2006 after completing his doctoral coursework from the University of Miami, a degree that he completed in 2009. John also completed a double major in music performance and jazz studies, from the University of Nevada-Reno and a MM in music performance from the University of Oregon. Dr. Adler’s principal teachers include Dr. Larry Engstrom, George Recker, and former principal trumpet of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Craig Morris.

Dr. Adler has performed and given master-classes and recitals across the country and received numerous awards, including DownBeat magazine’s “Best Classical Instrumentalist” in 2003. Additionally, he was one of three Americans invited to compete in the prestigious Maurice Andre Trumpet Competition held in Paris, France in 2006. He has been a soloist with orchestras across the country performing trumpet concerti by Telemann, Arutunian, and Neruda, as well as Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto #2, and Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto #1. In February 2010, Dr. Adler will be featured with the New River Valley Symphony playing Sergei Vassilenko’s Concert Poem in C Minor.

John is also a strong advocate of the performance and commissioning of new music. In January 2009, he recorded his first solo CD titled “Confronting Inertia”, containing seven new works commissioned for the project, which features classical trumpet works by jazz composers. The music integrates improvisation and compositional aspects commonly associated with jazz into the more traditional trumpet/piano format. Confronting Inertia is scheduled to be released in October 2009 on Origin Classical (originclassical.com), a record label based out of Seattle, Washington.

In addition to his experience as a classical trumpet soloist, Dr. Adler has significant orchestral experience, including performances with the Reno Philharmonic, the symphony orchestras of Eugene, Miami, and Roanoke, the Palm Beach Pops, Opera Roanoke, and the Oregon Festival of American Music Sinfonia Orchestra.

He is also an active chamber musician, in 2009 Adler performed as a guest of the Kandinsky Trio playing Eric Ewazen’s Trio for Trumpet, Violin, and Piano and was part of the Kandinsky Trio’s BEAT DOWN featuring the Kandinsky Trio, soloists, and beat box artist. Additionally, Adler performed Stravinsky’s L’Histoire Du Soldat with the Virginia Tech Chamber Players. Dr. Adler is also a member of the Virginia Tech Faculty Brass Trio, which has performed throughout the Southeast.

As a jazz musician and composer, John has shared the stage with numerous jazz greats including Maria Schneider, John Hollenbeck, Tim Ries, Conrad Herwig, and Bobby Shew. He has also played lead trumpet with the Jaco Pastorious Big Band, the Grammy Award Winning University of Miami Concert Jazz Band, the Reno Jazz Orchestra, and the Denis Noday Big Band. Additionally, he can be heard as lead trumpet on PULSE, a big band record featuring the music of Dan Cavanagh, which was released on Oa2 records in November of 2008. Adler is also a founding member of the contemporary jazz chamber group Seven Minus that has played across the Northwest. After self-releasing You Shall Know Our Velocity in 2004, the group is planning to record a second CD in February 2010. John’s primary teachers/mentors in the jazz area include Steve Owen, Larry Engstrom, Alex Norris, Greg Gisbert, James Miley, and Whit Sidener.

Since arriving at Virginia Tech, John’s duties have included teaching the trumpet studio of around 15 students, music majors and non-majors alike, teaching a sequence of courses in Jazz Improvisation, and coaching/directing numerous ensembles and chamber music in various styles and mediums. He is currently the head of the Jazz Studies program at VT and directs all jazz related ensembles including the Virginia Tech Jazz Ensemble. Shortly after arriving at VT in 2006, he created the VT Trumpet Ensemble, which has numerous performances to its credit.