Jeffrey Korak
Trumpet
Lisa and Chris Barton Chair
Jeff Korak has been a member of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra (CSO) as Second Trumpet since 1999. He has performed on the Columbus Symphony’s classical subscription series as soloist three times, twice performing the Vivaldi Concerto for Two Trumpets as well as the CSO’s premiere performance of John Adams’ Tromba Lontana.
Jeff has held positions with symphony orchestras all over the United States and countries in Europe, including Norway and Spain. Positions in the United States include the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra, New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, and Santa Fe Opera. Mr. Korak also performs regularly as a guest with orchestras across the United States and occasionally in Canada.
Jeff enjoys playing chamber music and is a member of the Columbus Symphony Brass Quintet, which performs all over Central Ohio and has raised over $10,000 for Central Ohio food banks.
Jeff earned his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Texas in 1990, where he studied with world-famous pedagogue and performer Dr. Leonard Candelaria. Jeff continued his education at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, where he received a Master of Music in 1991 and studied with long-time member of the world-famous Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Vincent Cichowicz. As a student, he was the winner of several solo and mock orchestral competitions for the International Trumpet Guild and International Women’s Brass Conference.
Jeff began playing trumpet in 5th grade in Albuquerque, NM. After his family moved to the Dallas, TX area in 1979, Jeff continued his studies on trumpet and was awarded positions in the Texas All-State Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. During this time, he performed at the acclaimed Montreux Jazz Festival and North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland as Lead Trumpet with the Lewisville High School Jazz Ensemble.
Jeff enjoys working with students in his home studio and is a frequent guest clinician at universities in Ohio, across the country, and in Canada. He is currently a Yamaha-sponsored Performing Artist.
