Steve Wright • Clinic Services

Since 1968, upon joining the famed Airmen of Note in Washington, D.C., Steve Wright has appeared across the United States as a trumpet soloist & clinician at High Schools, Colleges and Jazz Festivals. Currently an assistant professor at Gustavus Adolphus College, Wright teaches trumpet, Jazz Ensemble and Music Arranging, as well as courses in Jazz History, Music Technology & Careers in Music.

Steve Wright often appears as guest soloist on the new Accent Artist trumpet, flugel and piccolo trumpet . Performances in the last several years have included a premier of the Nobel Symphony at Gustavus and solo performances with the Gothenburg Brass Band. He has performed at jazz festivals at the Bemidji Jazz Festival, Sun Prairie Jazz Festival and in May of 2002 was a guest soloist with the Edina (MN) High School Concert & Jazz bands. He appeared as trumpet soloist with the Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra in June of 2002 at St. Scholastica College in Duluth, MN. He performed the Fasch Trumpet Concerto and premiered his new composition "Three Pieces for Trumpet & Orchestra", a jazz oriented work featuring both trumpet and flugelhorn. In 2003, he has soloed with several school groups, professional jazz groups and the Orchestra Hall Big Band. His top college jazz ensemble, the Gustavus Jazz Lab Band, was featured on Garrison Keillor's "Prairie Home Companion" show, which broadcast from the campus in April of 2003. Steve was the jazz coordinator of the jazz week at the International Music Camp for four summers (see links).

 

Sample Concert and/or Clinic Options:

Solo with Concert Band

Concerto for Trumpet & Wind Ensemble ~ Steve Wright

Dramatic Essay ~ Clifton Williams

La Virgen de la Macarena ~ Mendez

Solo with Jazz Ensemble

Anything I've Written!

(see jazz ensemble compositions...)

Trumpet Clinics

Basics of Tone Production, Technique & Range development

Developing a Warm-Up/Practice Routine

Big Band Lead Trumpet Playing & Jazz Phrasing

Master Classes ~ Recital Literature and/or Jazz Improvisation

Music Industry

Music Publishing

Artist Promotion

Contracting ~ Booking Your Gigs

Recording ~ Performance & Production

Making and Producing Your Own CD

Music Retailing

 

Endorsements

"Steve Wright has been one of the fixtures at our jazz festival over the past ten years. His brilliant playing coupled with his acumen as an educator make him the perfect clinician. He always has insightful comments for our bands and combos. Steve knows how to focus a group of students on the details that will take them to "the next level". Students want to know that their clinicians are also players and Steve is one of the best. He interacts with students through his playing in a way that makes them want to practice - what more could you ask for?"

Steve Sveum - Sun Prairie High School (WI) (Prize Winning Jazz Program)

 

"I have used trumpeter Steve Wright twice as a clinician/soloist for my jazz festival because he has that important ability to give students information to improve their performances. In addition, Steve's trumpet soloing is a rare blend of lead trumpet chops and an artist's sensitivity. I strongly recommend Steve Wright to those looking for the consummate professional for their school festival."

Dr. Steven Konecne • Professor of Music • Director of Jazz Studies • Bemidji State University (MN)

 

"My association with Steve Wright dates back nearly thirty years. Throughout that time, I have had the opportunity to work with Steve in many genre, from big band to symphony orchestra.

During that time, I have found Steve to be a dedicated, sincere and exceptional talent, as a trumpet player and as a composer & arranger.

As a member of the trumpet section in the Minnesota Orchestra before retirement, I had a first hand opportunity to observe Steve's musical ability. On many occasions he was engaged to play with the orchestra when the trumpet part called for a featured soloist on an extended jazz number. He always played with great virtuosity and confidence in technique, ideas, tone and range. Steve also played lead trumpet a number of times doing shows such as Ray Charles, Doc Severinsen and Henry Mancini. He is a well rounded musicians as was evident in his final Doctorate performance at the University of Minnesota."

Ron Hasselmann • Associate Principal Trumpet (retired) - Minnesota Orchestra

"I have know Dr. Steve Wright for almost 15 years. He was the first private trumpet instructor I ever had. I learned a great deal from him, as his emphasis on laying a"foundation" for playing trumpet has stuck with me for years. As a trumpet instructor, he placed great emphasis on warm-up and appropriate practice. As my playing progressed, he taught me how to truly make the music come alive by focusing on phrasing and overall musicality.

Dr. Wright was also my jazz band director in college and taught me a lot about the basics of playing jazz - style & phrasing. He also put great emphasis on improvisation, an area that I was not comfortable with as a young college student, but by the time I left Gustavus Adolphus College, I was confident that I had a solid background in trumpet and jazz.

I am proud to say that Dr. Wright is now a colleague of mine in the music education world. Recently, I attended an MMEA workshop of his on playing trumpet "lyrically". I have put his ideas from this clinic session to good use with many of my own young students.

Steve Wright is an incredible educator as well as a gifted musician. He present his thoughts and ideas on playing trumpet and performing jazz in a way that students of any age can understand and he does it with positive energy! I feel privileged to have had him as my teacher!"

Peggy Reynolds • Former Band Instructor - Hastings (MN) Middle School

 

"Dr. Steve Wright, an excellent player and teacher. • Having graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1997, I still call on Dr. Wright for unanswered questions. Dr. Wright's ability to teach life skills through jazz at Gustavus has helped me and other I have worked with. Unlike many professional musicians I have worked with, he has no airs about him. High school students are an extremely tough crowd, but I have witnessed my students turn to butter in his hands. He is captivating, musically and personally. He brings to the table a rare sincerity and work ethic. He continually strives for his very best, and his best is nothing short of exceptional."

Lee Peterson • 2002-2004 MMEA Jazz Chair • Director of Bands - St. Francis High School (MN)

 

To book Steve Wright for a Clinic and/or Concert, Please Contact Us:

E-Mail • Phone: 952-933-4496

 

Copyright © Steve Wright Music Endeavors 2002-2008
All Rights Reserved