Trumpeter, GR Player, and GR Consultant Steve Haefner

I am from Menomonee Falls, Wi where I started playing in 6^thgrade. When I started marching band practice in 9^th grade I made a decision that I wanted to play for a living. From that point I practiced a minimum of 3 hours a day 7 days a week. Then I started lessons with the former Principal trumpet of the Milwaukee Symphony, Richard Metzger. That was the best decision I ever made. Mr. Metzger had me buy a C trumpet in my sophomore year and I stated playing in the MSO youth Symphony. I was principal trumpet in the 2^nd orchestra but I played in the 1^st also so every Monday I had 6 hours of rehearsals. To continue my 3 hours of practicing I had my mom take me, on her way to work, to my local Menomonee Falls high school early when only janitors where there. I had worked out a deal for them to let me into the band room early so I practice before school started and during EVERY SINGLE study hall through high school. During Sophomore I was hired to play the Messiah and performed, ‘The Trumpet Shall Sound’. I played on my high school Bach short model D trumpet that I had PHIL MELK re-cut the slides so the intonation was corrected. I also started getting church work during holidays.

During my next 2 years I had joined the Bach Chamber orchestra, the Concordia chamber orchestra, Milwaukee wind Ensemble and the Youth Symphony. So my plate was getting quite filled. It was in the Bach Chamber orchestra that I met Pat Badger, Principal Trumpet of the Racine Symphony, and she got me in to the Concordia Ensemble. I learned professionalism from her especially when I came late to a rehearsal and was very quickly reprimanded. That day I learned a valuable lesson, In my senior year I had purchased a Piccolo trumpet. My trumpet teacher said get a Schilke so that’s what I got. That year I was hired to play the Jesus Christ Superstar. The ending that was the Superstar theme was written up much higher key wise so I had to use the Pic for it. During this time I audition for the MSO sub list. The audition had the Pic part from Pictures at An Exhibition on the list. I received Excellent on that excerpt but being a stupid kid from high school, when the committee asked me to play something again I talked which pretty much ended since there was a no talking rule behind a screen.  My teacher brought me the comments and that day I learned another valuable lesson. SHUT UP during Screen auditions.

I have to also say that another role model of mine was Mr. Ulichny, my high school band director who was on the sub list for the MSO in sax, flute, clarinet. This man pushed me to pursue everything outside of the high school. This brings me back to another great lesson I learned. During my Freshman year in high school during a rehearsal I noticed a bloody nose so I crossed my knees and leaned way forward in my chair so I could tilt my head up. WELL my director, at the time it was Mr. Januciak , went after me which  got me mad, and I  let him know it. Well that cost me a trip to the principle’s office but the real lesson from my Mr. Metzger who said, “If you’re in the chair you do your job one way. If you can’t do it health wise then you should have left the rehearsal because of being sick.

During my senior year I learned the Bach Brandenburg concerto #2. When I auditioned for Eastman school of music I played this as my last piece. It was at Eastman that I took lessons from Charlie Geyer. He was a huge and still is a huge influence to me and we became golfing partners at his local course in Victor, NY. I learned many lessons from this wonderful man about much more than just trumpet playing. It was at Eastman that I received a Performers Certificate for performance excellence. At Eastman I was hired to play in a couple of community orchestras and in the faculty Chamber orchestra at Geneseo NY.

The reason I have included so many things I did was I want all young players to realize that if you want to play you better, do everything you can. You don’t ever care about MONEY. Most of the stuff I did was free. From Eastman I won 3^rd trumpet in Tulsa Philharmonic Orchestra and I have been in Tulsa ever since. I am currently 2^nd trumpet in the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, Principal Trumpet in Light Opera Oklahoma Festival, and  2^nd trumpet in Breckenridge music festival. In 08 I was Principal trumpet in the Breckenridge music Festival. I am heavily involved as contractor in Tulsa for many churches. I am Trumpet Instructor at Oral Roberts University. In the past I taught at Tulsa University andOklahoma State.

Steve Haefner

In 2003 Steve became a substitute player in the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Appearing with the MSO three times, he had the opportunity to play 2nd trumpet to Dennis Najoom. Most recently Mr. Haefner became a substitute player with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. He played In Honolulu's opera production of Puccini's 'Turandot'. In 2005 Steve played 2nd trumpet to Dennis Najoom in Copland's 3rd Symphony in the MSO.