Chris Gekker

Chris Gekker is distinguished university professor of trumpet at the University of Maryland School of Music. He has been featured as soloist at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Chris was born in Washington D. C. and grew up in Alexandria, Virginia. During his high school years Chris performed the Hummel Trumpet Concerto with the U. S. Navy Band in Constitutional Hall..  He began performing with the Rochester Philharmonic during his studies at the Eastman School of Music, and during his senior year he performed as a member of the faculty Eastman Brass Quintet. Upon graduating in 1976 he became associate principal trumpet of the Kansas City Philharmonic. In 1981 he joined the American Brass Quintet and remained a member until 1998. Chris is principal trumpet with the Washington Ballet Orchestra, Washington Concert Opera, and the PostClassical Ensemble. He served as principal trumpet of the National Philharmonic for twenty-five seasons.

Chris has been committed throughout his career to education and community service. In 2013 the Maryland Classics Youth Orchestra awarded him the Chester J. Petranek Community Award. His Articulation Studies, 44 Duos, Endurance Drills, Piccolo Trumpet Studies, 24 Etudes, Slow Practice, and Focal Point Exercises are available from Charles Colin Publications, and are sold worldwide. Chris’s principal teachers have included Emerson Head, Sidney Mear, Adel Sanchez, and Gerard Schwarz.

For more information, pictures, recordings, and videos, please visit his website, http://www.chrisgekkertrumpet.com.