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Trumpet Celebrity Interviews

[ a celebration of the artistry of ALL styles of Trumpet ]





K A R L   S I E V E R S


Karl Sievers, DMA
Professor of Trumpet, OU School of Music
Principal Trumpet, Oklahoma City Philharmonic
Bach Artist: see "Trumpet Corner" at www.Selmer.com
Board of Directors, International Trumpet Guild

Karl Sievers grew up in Louisville, KY. His primary teachers were Delbert Hoon and Leon Rapier, who were both members of the Louisville Orchestra. Karl went to college at the School of Music at Indiana University, where his primary teacher was William Adam. He also gained many valuable insights into trumpet playing and professional music making from IU Professor of Jazz, Dominic Spera. While at IU he completed his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Trumpet Performance, and began work on the DMA. During this time at IU, Karl began to realize the wisdom of being broadly skilled in terms of participating in Jazz and Classical idioms, a conviction which has greatly benefited his career to this day. Karl's education continued with the completion of the DMA at the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri Kansas City.

Professionally, Karl has enjoyed a very busy career, having played in the orchestras of Indianapolis, Charlotte, Dayton, the Cincinnati Ballet, and presently as the principal trumpeter of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. In addition, his commercial playing resume is quite vast, having been on literally thousands of recording sessions, and having played lead trumpet for countless touring shows and other headliners.

Teaching is Karl's passion, and he presently enjoys the position of Professor of Trumpet at the School of Music at the University of Oklahoma, in Norman, Oklahoma.

Karl plays a Bach medium large bore 37 Bb trumpet with the gold brass bell, in lacquer, and a 1 1/2C mouthpiece with the 24 backbore. His C trumpet is the Bach large bore, with the 229 bell and the 25H leadpipe, in silver. On C trumpet Karl also uses a 1 1/2C mouthpiece with the 24 backbore, but prefers a 24 throat.

To contact Karl for bookings as a clinician and/or guest artist, contact him at the University of Oklahoma School of Music, 500 West Boyd, Norman, OK 73019




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Would you like to add your email at this point?

KSievers@ou.edu


Was your family background musical?

no, but my parents took me to concerts all the time. all kinds of
music. and we had a lot of music in the home on the record player, etc...



What made you decide to play trumpet?

I loved the sound, looks, image of it

At what age did you start?

9 yrs.

On leaving your education, have you always been a full time musician?

Yes


Please describe your early experiences of semi / pro work.

I was doing club dates when I was about 14, and was in a youth orchestra
nd a really good brass quintet from age 12.


Who were your teachers?

Delbert Hoon, former member, Louisville Orchestra, from age 9 - 16
Leon Rapier, former principal trumpet, Louisville Orchestra, age 17 - 18
Billl Adam, Indiana University, age 18 until present

What Orchestral experience have you had?

tons in Youth Orchestra and at IU, plus extra with Indianapolis,
incinnati, Dayton, Kansas City, Charlotte. Also, 7 years as
principal/co-principal in the Cincinnati Ballet Orchestra, plus 4 years
and counting as principal in the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, plus tons of
smaller stuff and chamber work.>


What session (Jingles / TV) experience have you had?

7 years, 6 days per week, full time lead player on internationally
broadcast PTL Club Christian TV show, plus thousands of hours in the
recording studio.


What small group / ensemble experience have you had?

Lots of Brass Quintet, other chamber work, and lots of small group jazz
experience too.


Other playing experiences?

countless Broadway shows (touring shows), plus "Vegas" entertainers on
our, and other touring groups.

have you a solo recording available?

yes, not commercially available, but to anyone who would want one.
also, MP3 files on my web site.

Any funny / interesting on the road type stories?

too many to mention, but lots of good memories playing with "The
Lettermen" on tour in the 70's and 80's off and on. Flushing the toilet
into a then-new-concept wireless mic during, "the most beautiful sound
I've ever heard, Maria . . . flush" over the PA at a coliseum. Tomatoes
in leadpipes, etc., throwing food at the bus going down the interstate,
lucky to still be alive....


Any news on new projects?

My quintet will do a recording later this year, otherwise, busy doing my
daily thing


Any funny / interesting stories about other famous trumpet players?

none I could share


Favourite four albums?

TOP Live
Brahms Piano Concerto #2
TOTO IV
Bruckner IV

Favourite two movies?

Blazing Saddles
Young Frankenstein

Favourite three foods?

Creamed Crud on Chinese Noodles (family recipe)
Fried Chicken
a really good apple

Non-musical hobbies / points of interest you enjoy?

Martial Arts / woodworking

Do you take days off from playing? (How does it affect you?)

almost never. it affects me badly! I lose it too quickly - and much
prefer being at my best

Any chop problems / solutions you've personally had you can share?


tons. I have had to really work to develop what I've got, which is
where Mr. Adam came in. He taught me to solve, and to go with the
creative/aural, and to get my air going.

Three Trumpet tips you wish to share with the readers.

1) stay in the aural/imaginative, not in the critical
2) keep your air energized and moving all the time
3) study the work of great musicians

End of interview sentiment.

Guys like Bill Adam and Arnold Jacobs are right. Study all you can from
them. Be the artist first, the technoid is not important. Be a good
person. Be professional. Like yourself.




Thank you very much indeed for sharing your thoughts with the
' Trumpet Web Community '6th Feb 2003.


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