Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
John Korak is Professor of Trumpet at SIUE where he heads the brass area and directs the University Concert Band. He earned his doctoral degree in trumpet performance from the University of North Texas, and has performed with such groups as the Mexico City Philharmonic, Texas Baroque Ensemble, Dallas Bach Society, Texas Brass Ensemble, St. Louis Brass Band, Texas Wind Symphony, and the Saint Louis Symphony.
Presently principal trumpet in the American Kantorei Orchestra, Dr. Korak has been a featured performer with the SIUE Wind Symphony at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church in London, England, the American Cathedral in Paris, France, and at the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles in Chiayi City, Taiwan. He was a featured artist at the International Music Festival in Nagaoka, Japan, and was a member of the Texas Baroque Trumpet Ensemble at the European Trumpet Days Conference in Bad Säckingen, Germany. He has performed at International Trumpet Guild conferences in Bangkok (Thailand), Göteborg (Sweden), Sydney (Australia), and throughout the United States, including a performance at the ITG Conference in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with the SIUE Trumpet Ensemble. He recently performed as a featured artist with the Bach Society of St. Louis in a performance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Cantata no. 51, Jauchzet Gott in Allen Landen.
John is the author of two publications with Balquhidder Music: Giuseppe Concone, The Complete Solfeggi and Bel Canto Studies, and is the book reviews editor of the International Trumpet Guild Journal.