Baltimore-based trumpet player Jonah Kappraff has established himself as a uniquely gifted combination of performer and pedagogue. Throughout ten years of performing and teaching in Boston, MA, and five years in central Pennsylvania, Jonah had the pleasure of performing with many of finest ensembles in the country and developed a reputation as a dedicated, insightful, and creative trumpet instructor. Since 2020, Jonah has been established himself as a valued member of the Baltimore and Washington DC freelance community.
Jonah's training took him from his childhood in New Jersey, where he studied with David Larson of the NJ Symphony, to the Oberlin Conservatory in 2001, where he studied with the LA studio regular, Roy Poper. Following the completion of both a Bachelor's in trumpet performance and Music Education, Jonah began a Master's degree in trumpet performance at Boston University, where he studied with international soloist, Terry Everson. Subsequent studies with legendary pedagogue Steve Emery greatly shaped Jonah's playing and approach to teaching trumpet.
A versatile musician, Jonah specializes in orchestral, solo, and chamber music performance, in addition to musical theater and commercial styles. Jonah has participated in the Scotia Festival of Music, the Hot Springs Music Festival, the Oberlin in Italy opera festival, and the Monadnock Music Festival, and has served as principal trumpet of the American Wind Symphony and the MasterWorks Music Festival. As a freelance musician in Boston, Jonah performed with the Marsh Chapel Collegium Musicum and the Lexington Symphony, and was a member of the Modern Brass Quintet. In addition to working in dozens of musical theater pits, he also performed with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Odyssey Opera, the Boston Pops, the Boston Ballet Orchestra, and the Lorelei Ensemble. Jonah has collaborated regularly with avant-garde clarinetist and composer, Evan Ziporyn, and serves as principal trumpet of his Ambient Orchestra, which has toured nationally and internationally presenting David Bowie’s Blackstar conceived as a cello concerto featuring cellist Maya Beiser. In Pennsylvania, Jonah performed with the Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra, Penn’s Woods Music Festival, and the Williamsport Symphony, as well as the York Symphony, Northeast PA Philharmonic, and the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra. Recently, Jonah performed Copland’s Quiet City with the MIT Symphony orchestra and was the featured soloist with the Penn Central Wind Band, performing Robert Russell Bennett’s Rose Variations. Jonah also performed J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto no. 2 with both the Allegretto Chamber Orchestra of Lancaster and the Nantucket Baroque Festival.
As a recitalist and clinician Jonah has presented solo concerts and masterclasses at Keene State College, MIT, Bucknell, Lycoming College, and Harvard University, as well as around the Greater Boston area. A devoted music educator, Jonah has over fifteen years of private teaching experience, having worked with young beginners through adult comeback players. Jonah currently serves on the faculty of the Peabody Preparatory division and his robust private studio has included members of the major Massachusetts and Maryland youth orchestras, District and All-State bands, and award-winning competitors in the National Trumpet Competition. Additionally, Jonah has conducted high school and college wind bands, and coached brass chamber music at summer music camps and high schools in the U.S. and Belgium.
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Photo's by Ars Magna Studio
As my students continue, I place a strong emphasis on solo and chamber repertoire in addition to broadening the student's sensitivity to the interconnection between the instrument and their entire body. I am fortunate to have studied with many teachers from differing pedagogical backgrounds. This has served to nourish my love of teaching and especially the challenge of diagnosing common playing issues. My positive, creative, and individually tailored approach to working with individual students has proven successful across all age ranges, from the youngest beginner, through high school and college students, as well as the adult come-back player.
For more information about my teaching style, please download my Student Handbook.
For a summary of what I offer, please see a pdf of my trifold Teaching Brochure.
CURRENT STUDENTS please visit the MEMBERS ONLY page for assignments and listening tracks.
Our son began studying with Jonah in 4th grade, and has been working with him for 7 years. Jonah is one of the most gifted teachers I have ever seen: patient, skillful, creative, and kind. His ability to find out what each student needs both musically and in his/her personal approach to learning an instrument is truly a gift. —Sheree G.
Despite having not played the trumpet in ages (I am 37 years old), I told Jonah on my first lesson that my goal was to play the trumpet like Arturo Sandoval. Instead of freaking out and running away from the challenge of taking an “old” student with impossible goals, he embraced the challenge. Of course, I am still light-years away from Sandoval, but I cannot say how useful Jonah’s teaching and mentoring was. Jonah had to rebuild my trumpet skills from scratch. Our first lessons were about breathing, sitting position, embouchure, and other basic but important things, as most of what I knew was really rusty. Almost without noticing it, my sound started improving and I gained confidence in playing. I felt like Daniel-Son from the Karate Kid. During the lessons, Jonah would use many analogies to simplify complex ideas about playing techniques, and would take time to sneak in important music theory as we played. Besides being an amazing teacher, Jonah is an extraordinary musician. I will never forget his invitation to watch him play in the orchestra of the “Defiant Requiem” at the Boston Symphony Hall. Unfortunately, I was Jonah’s student for only a year, as we both moved to different states. But I would surely recommend him as a great music teacher and mentor to anyone who loves music. — Eduardo U.
As a teacher, I take an active interest in the aspirations, musical interests, and unique playing habits of each student. For the beginning trumpeter, the establishment of proper fundamentals is essential for further growth and I understand that each lesson is an opportunity to build a solid foundation. The first year is dedicated to a balanced approach to the development a sound concept, efficient breathing, and the basics of music, while staying sensitive to young players' eagerness to learn music that brings them satisfaction.
Testimonials
Although our son took lessons with Jonah for only one year, what an enriching experience it was, full of learning and progress! Jonah’s teaching style is both gentle and challenging—and his love for music is an inspiring example for young musicians embarking on their own life paths. It was a joy to see our son’s enthusiasm and commitment to the instrument grow, as well as his understanding of the rewards of discipline, whatever the endeavor. He always looked forward to his lessons and thrived under Jonah’s perceptive guidance. We are happy to enthusiastically recommend Jonah as a teacher to every lucky trumpet student he has room to fit into his schedule! — Suki C.
Jonah was our son Caleb’s teacher for six years. When Caleb started working with Jonah he was a nine year-old beginner who had a hard time standing still and focusing. Jonah’s patient and encouraging approach kept Caleb engaged and motivated. Six years later Caleb is a member of one of Boston’s top youth orchestras and was selected to participate in Boston University’s Tanglewood Institute. At each stage along the way, Jonah developed Caleb’s interest in music as well as his skills as a player. He is a smart, kind and creative teacher, effective with both beginners and advanced players. We could not recommend Jonah more highly. — Eve B.
Upcoming Events
2024
March 31 Easter at Emmanuel Episcopal Church
Baltimore, MD
April 11-14 Matilda, the musical
McDonogh School, Owings Mills, MD
April 20-21 Alexandria Symphony Orchestra
On The Town & Shostakovich
Schlesinger Arts Center, Alexandria, VA
GW Masonic Memorial, Alexandria, VA
April 28 Maryland Winds
Stage and Screen
Chrysalis, Merriweather Park
Past EVENTS
2019
January 19 York Symphony Orchestra
Shostakovich & Sibelius
York, PA
February 10 Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra
Bee is for Bach
State College, PA
February 12 Williamsport Symphony
Beethoven & Bruckner
Williamsport, PA
February 28 David Bowie's Blackstar, in concert
w/ Evan Ziporyn and Maia Beiser
Boston, MA @ Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
March 15 Ambient Orchestra
An Ambient Primer @ Adelaide Fringe
Adelaide, South Australia @ Elder Hall
March 16 David Bowie's Blackstar, in concert
w/ Evan Ziporyn and Maia Beiser
Adelaide, South Australia @ Elder Hall
March 17 David Bowie's Blackstar, in concert
w/ Evan Ziporyn and Maia Beiser
Adelaide, South Australia @ Elder Hall
May 4 York Symphony Pops
Sports Orchestrated
York, PA
June 1 York Symphony Orchestra
Ein Heldenleben
York, PA
June 22 Penn’s Woods Music Festival
Festival Orchestra Concert
State College, PA
June 29 Penn’s Woods Music Festival
Festival Orchestra Concert
State College, PA
October 12 York Symphony Orchestra
Tchaikovsky & Rachmaninoff
York, PA
October 15 Williamsport Symphony
Williamsport, PA
December 6, 8. 10 Bucknell Choirs
Bucknell Candlelight Service
Lewisburg, PA
December 14 Williamsport Symphony Pops
Williamsport, PA
2018
January 20 York Symphony Orchestra
Respighi, Pines of Rome
York, PA
February 13 Williamsport Symphony
Dvorak & Bernstein
Williamsport, PA
March 10 & 11 Susquehanna Valley Chorale
Brahms' Requiem
Sunbury, PA
March 17 Williamsport Symphony Orchestra
Williamsport, PA
March 31 Fromm Players @ Harvard
Resistance and Hope
Cambridge, MA
April 6 Williamsport Chamber Choir & Orchestra
Rutter: Gloria
Williamsport, PA
May 15 Williamsport Symphony Orchestra
Musical Pictures
Williamsport, PA
June 9 York Symphony Orchestra
Pops Concert
York, PA
July 27-29 CAC Student Summerstage
Man of La Mancha
Williamsport, PA
August 4 Williamsport Symphony
Summer Pops
Muncy, PA
October 12 David Bowie's Blackstar, in concert
with Evan Ziporyn and Maia Beiser
Roanoke, VA @ Virginia Tech's Moss Arts Ctr.
October 13 David Bowie's Blackstar, in concert
with Evan Ziporyn and Maia Beiser
Burlington, VT @ Flynn Theater
October 16 Williamsport Symphony
Passion & Nature
Williamsport, PA
November 1 David Bowie's Blackstar, in concert
with Evan Ziporyn and Maia Beiser
Austin, TX @ UT Autin's Bass Concert Hall
November 7 David Bowie's Blackstar, in concert
with Evan Ziporyn and Maia Beiser
Stanford, CA @ Bing Concert Hall
November 16 MIT Symphony Orchestra, dir. Adam Boyles
Copland: Quiet City, with Ben Fox
Cambridge, MA
November 30, December 2, 4 Bucknell Choirs
Bucknell Candlelight Service
Lewisburg, PA
December 2 Harrisburg Choral Society
Messiah
Harrisburg, PA
December 15 Williamsport Symphony
Holiday Gathering
Williamsport, PA
2017
February 14 Williamsport Symphony
Mahler, Symphony no, 2 Resurrection
Williamsport, PA
March 3 Ambient Orchestra
Tribute to David Bowie, with Evan Ziporyn
April 30 Allegretto Youth Chamber Orchestra
J.S. Bach, Brandenburg Concerto no. 2
Lancaster, PA
May 5 Northeast Pennsylvania Philharmonic
Mozart's Requiem and Dvorak's New World Symphony
F.M. Kirby Center, Scranton, PA
May 16 Williamsport Symphony
Season Finale concert, featuring Ravel's Daphnis and Chloe, Suite no. 2
Williamsport, PA
May 20 York Symphony
Carmina Burana
York, PA
June 28 Penn Central Wind Band
Stars, Stripes, and Sousa!
Lewisburg, PA
July 21 Penn Central Wind Band
Robert Russell Bennett's Rose Variations, for Cornet and Band
Lewisburg, PA
October 17 Williamsport Symphony
Williamsport, PA
October 20 Bach @ Bucknell
J.S. Bach, Cantata 80
Lewisburg, PA
December 1, 3, 5 Bucknell Choirs
Bucknell Candlelight Service
Lewisburg, PA
2015
October 17-18 Susquehanna Valley Chorale
Mendelssohn's Elijah
Sunbury, PA
November 5 Paragon Ragtime Orchestra
Scottsbluff, NE
November 7 Paragon Ragtime Orchestra
Vernon, WI
November 11-14 Lycoming College Theater
Cabaret
Williamsport, PA
November 21-22 New Hampshire Master Chorale
J.S. Bach's Magnificat
Concord & Plymouth, NH
December 4, 6, 8 Bucknell Choirs
Bucknell Candlelight Service
Lewisburg, PA
December 12-13 Susquehanna Valley Chorale
Candlelight Christmas
Sunbury, PA
2016
January 26 Nittany Valley Symphony
Mediterranean Holiday
State College, PA
January 29 David Bowie Tribute
Philip Glass' Symphonies no. 1 (Low) and 4 (Heroes)
Cambridge, MA (MIT)
February 16 Williamsport Symphony
Moments of Reflection
Williamsport, PA
April 9 Lycoming College 7:00pm
Guest trumpet recital- French trumpet music
Williamsport, PA
May 1 Bucknell University 4:00pm
Guest trumpet recital- French trumpet music
Lewisburg, PA
May 4 NJIT String Orchestra
Copland- Quiet City
Newark, NJ
July 8-10 RiverStage Community Theater
Gershwin- Of Thee I Sing
Danville, PA
July 29 Nantucket Baroque Concert, St. Paul's Church
Music by Handel and Bach, including the
Brandenburg Concerto no. 2
Nantucket, MA
August 26 WSO Brass Quintet
Williamsport Welcomes the World
Williamsport, PA
August 27 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with York Symphony
York, PA
September 2 WSO Brass Quintet
First Friday, Williamsport
Williamsport, PA
September 24 York Symphony
John Williams' Birthday Celebration
York PA
October 22 Bucknell Choirs
J.S. Bach's Magnificat
Weis Center for the Performing Arts, Lewisburg, PA
December 2, 4, 6 Bucknell Choirs
Bucknell Candlelight Service
Lewisburg, PA
December 10-11 Susquehanna Valley Chorale
Candlelight Christmas
Sunbury, PA
To contact Jonah, please send email to:
Jonah.Kappraff[at]gmail.com