Good music comes in many styles
David Magoon graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music with a Music Education and Trumpet Performance double major. He has performed and continues to perform with many local orchestras including Festival City Symphony, Kenosha Symphony, Racine Symphony, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Wisconsin Philharmonic and the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra.
He has also performed in the local orchestras for national touring acts Mannheim Steamroller, YES, Dennis DeYoung (STYX) and The Three Tenors. He also performs with the Milwaukee Festival Brass and Madison Brass Band on soprano cornet.
David’s other musical interests include being a founding member of the Milwaukee Renaissance Band (informed performances on replica period instruments) and the Mister Lucky Syndicate (jazz, swing, R&B, pop). David’s day job is with U.S. Bank as a senior technical support specialist.
What do you enjoy most about playing?
The satisfaction when all of the work and practicing comes together.
What's on your iPod?
The Tallis Scholars, Tower of Power, Bon Jovi.
What advice would you give to young musicians?
Listen to everything you can. Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, contemporary, rock, jazz, pop, rhythm & blues, country, western, reggae, musical theater, opera, choral, vocal, instrumental, etc. Listen to as many different artists and groups as you can. Ask your friends and musical colleagues what they like. I was surprised by how much is out there and that I really liked a lot of it.
What are your other musical interests?
Performing early music on replica instruments, playing big band jazz and musical theater on electric bass.
Who was your most influential music teacher?
Sgt. Major Robert Ferguson, U.S. Army Band Pershing’s Own. He was a phenomenal player and started me on the piccolo trumpet back in high school. That exposure and time on the instrument paid enormous dividends in college as there were so few high trumpet specialists at that time. I was able to take advantage of a lot of very good musical and professional networking opportunities because I had the right equipment and enough experience.
What is your favorite musical memory?
Playing with the Harvard University orchestras back in my college days. The orchestras were very good and filled with smart, competent, fun people, none of whom were music majors.
