About
Derek Wolfe is an Albany based trumpet player and educator. He is proficient in many styles of music, including Classical, Jazz, Afro-Cuban, and Pop. During his time in undergraduate study at the Crane School of Music and graduate study at the Mead Witter School of Music he performed as principal and section trumpet of the school symphony orchestras and wind ensembles, as well as lead trumpet in the school jazz ensembles and latin ensemble.
As an educator Derek has taught private lessons in both trumpet and clarinet. In his teaching Derek strives to cultivate an atmosphere of safety, positivity, and individuality. Each student has different interests and needs, and as such will have an individualized lesson plan and goals.
Derek has been seen performing with orchestras from the midwest and northeast, subbing as a section trumpet for the Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Glen Cortese and principal trumpet for the Madison Symphony Orchestra under the direction of John DeMain. He also performs in the Capital Region of New York as lead trumpet for the Trojan Horns brass band.
Derek received his BM in trumpet performance from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and his MM in trumpet performance at the Mead Witter School of Music at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the studio of Jean Laurenz. He has previously studied with Dr. Buddy Deshler, Clark Hunt, Dr. John Ellis, Matthew Schwartz, and Steve Lambert.