Episode #108 - Chris O'Hara

Episode #108 - Chris O'Hara

Author: Bob Reeves Brass Mouthpieces September 7, 2023 Duration: 1:32:16

Chris O'Hara is an internationally renowned trumpet soloist, a chamber musician, and educator.  His playing is described as "virtuosic and impressive in every way" (Chicago Music Examiner), and "a treat beyond measure" (Arlington Advocate), and the International Trumpet Guild Journal hails him as a "true master of [the] instrument." Already in his young career, Chris has performed over 3,000 featured artist events covering 48 states and 12 countries across North America, Europe, Great Britain, and Asia.  His performance schedule has taken him to notable venues such as the Italian Brass Week, Ravinia Music Festival, the Tanglewood Music Festival, the Norfolk Music Festival, the Festival de Camara de Musica in Aquacalientes Mexico, the Nagoya Conservatory of Music, the Newport Music Festival and Millennium Hall in Japan. Chris currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Trumpet at Elmhurst University and Concordia University.

Chris is a clinician for Conn-Selmer Company and Denis Wick and has presented countless master classes and clinics at public schools and the world's finest colleges and universities.  He can be heard on recordings on the Paraclete and AAR labels.  His latest  releases, johann sebastian BACH with organist Mark Engelhardt, On Tour, Vol. 1 with the Alliance Brass, and the award-winning Now, O Now with the Illumine Trio can be found on the Rowjack label.  His performances have also been broadcast on NPR, NBC, WGN, the Hallmark Channel, and more. Chris serves as Adjunct Professor of Trumpet at Elmhurst University. 

 

You can find Chris on his Instagram and TikTok, as well as his music on Art of Sound Music.


There's a whole world of sound that happens before the music reaches the audience, a space filled with the clatter of valves, the whisper of breath, and the shared stories of a unique community. The Other Side Of The Bell-A Trumpet Podcast invites you into that world, offering a backstage pass to the realities of brass life. Hosted by the team at Bob Reeves Brass Mouthpieces, this series goes far beyond simple gear talk. Each episode feels like a conversation in the practice room, blending practical trumpet tips that address the daily hurdles players face with deep-dive interviews featuring the musicians themselves. You'll hear firsthand stories about the craft, the unexpected challenges of performance, and the personal journeys that shape an artist's sound. This podcast is built on decades of specialized knowledge, translating the nuanced experiences of embouchure, articulation, and endurance into accessible insights. Whether you're a student navigating your first orchestral audition or a seasoned professional refining your approach, the discussions here are grounded in real-world application. It’s about the person behind the instrument as much as the instrument itself, creating a genuine resource for anyone passionate about the trumpet. Tune in for a blend of technical wisdom and personal narrative that only comes from a lifetime spent listening from the other side of the bell.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Other Side Of The Bell - A Trumpet Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Episode #84 - Danny Falcone [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:05
Daniel Falcone began working professionally in Las Vegas at age 15. The son of Vincent Falcone, musical director, pianist and conductor for Frank Sinatra, he literally grew up on stage. Starting in high school, Daniel ba…
Episode #83 - Morris Northcutt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:32
Morris Northcutt's playing has been described as artistic, lyrical and expressive with a beautiful, smooth, and rich tone. At home in all musical styles from swing to Broadway to classical, this Global Music Award Winner…
Episode #82 - Karl Sievers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:51
Dr. Karl Sievers enjoys a successful and varied performance career, having performed in countless studio sessions, on live television, in jazz ensembles, chamber music of all kinds, solo recitals, and in symphony orchest…
Episode #81 - Matthias Höfs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:10
When he was six years old, Matthias Hoefs declared the trumpet "his instrument, because it shines so nicely". He received his musical education from Professor Peter Kallensee at the Hamburg University of Music and Theatr…
Episode #80 - Jim Manley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:44
Jim Manley figures he had spent around 10,500 plus nights playing his trumpet around town in his hometown of St. Louis since the 1970's. His recordings have gathered critical acclaim as well and have traveled all over th…
Episode #79 - Bria Skonberg [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:01
Bria Skonberg is a trailblazing triple threat trumpeter, singer and songwriter. Born in British Columbia, Canada and now residing in New York City, the Juno Award winner for Best Vocal Jazz Album has performed hundreds o…
Episode #78 - Christopher Still - Honesty Pill [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:45
Honesty Pill founder Christopher Still joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic as Second Trumpet in 2007. Before coming to California, he was the Principal Trumpet of the Colorado Symphony. He has also held the positions of…
Episode #77 - David Elton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:21
David Elton is principal trumpet of the London Symphony Orchestra since December 2017 and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra since 2011. David is also a trumpet professor at the Royal College of Music in London, and a member…
Episode #76 - Gary Guthman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:07
Gary Guthman, originally from Portland Oregon, started his career at the age of nine. As a young teen, Gary was a member of the nationally acclaimed "Seldom Six" Dixieland Band, comprised of 12 to 14 years old who travel…
Episode #75 - Tom Clary of Clary Woodmutes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:03
Tom Clary is a freelance trumpet-player/composer/arranger/woodworker/mute-maker and sometimes-attorney living in Memphis, Tennessee. Tom was born in Northern Ireland, grew up in South Arkansas and moved to Memphis, Tenne…