Jacob Dalager

Jacob Dalager is a freelance trumpet player, composer, and educator in the Washington D.C. area. He is an instructor at the Catholic University of America, Frostburg State University, Frederick Community College, and the International School of Music, while simultaneously pursuing his D.M.A. at CUA under the tutelage of Chris Gekker, MSG Graham Breedlove, and Andy Balio. He is principal trumpet of the Washington Chamber Orchestra, frequent guest with the National Philharmonic, Post-Classical Ensemble, and Symphony of the Potomac. Dalager is a founding member, principal trumpet, and arranger for the Parkway Brass. He also is a member of the touring world fusion rock band, Black Masala, and the Wammy award-wining reggae outfit, Shamans of Sound. In 2016, he made his U.S. concerto debut with the Austin Symphony Orchestra and is excited to be returning again in October 2019 to perform his original concerto, 3ɟutures for trumpet and orchestra.

Prior to moving to D.C., Dalager lived in upstate New York and performed with the Rochester Philharmonic and Symphoria. From 2012-2014, he lived in Singapore and performed with the Singapore Symphony, National Taiwan Symphony, Malaysia Philharmonic, Metropolitan Festival Orchestra, and The Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. He was a soloist with the Jesselton Philharmonic, and Te Deum Chamber Orchestra. Other highlights include concerts with the Moscow Ballet, Kitaro, James Morrison, and at the Singapore International Jazz Festival and World Youth Jazz Festival.

He was a semi-finalist in the 2012 National Trumpet Competition, winner of the 2009 MTNA State Competition and Schubert Club Competition Second Prize. Dalager graduated from the Eastman School of Music in 2012 with an M.M. in Trumpet Performance and Literature and an Arts Leadership Certificate. Jacob graduated Magna Cum Laude from St. Olaf College in 2009, where he soloed with the Band and Orchestra and received Departmental Distinction in both Trumpet Performance and Music Theory/Composition.

As a composer, Dalagers pieces have been commissioned and performed by the Austin, Symphony Orchestra, Parkway Brass, St. Olaf Band, Ancia Saxophone Quartet, Lyrica Chamber Orchestra, and The Shamen. He was a finalist for the ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composers Award in 2011. At St. Olaf College, Dalager studied composition with Drs. Timothy Mahr and Justin Merritt, and he continues to study with Dr. Robert Baker at Catholic University. His music has a tonal foundation with rich jazz- and blues-influenced dissonances and a driving rhythmic undercurrent inspired by world music traditions.