Introducing the Soldiers of Soldiers Tale: David Koch, Trumpet

David Koch just earned his master’s degree from the Schulich School of Music at McGill University, studying under Paul Merkelo. Mr. Koch has performed with Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, has played principal trumpet with Orchestre Symphonique de Sherbrooke, and the Flint Symphony, and is the Principal Cornet of Griffon Brass Band. Mr. Koch earned his bachelor’s degree at Grand Valley State University in Michigan, and was the winner of both the 11th International Trumpet Seminar Solo Competition and the 10th CIMVO Conference Solo Competition in L’Olleria, Spain as well as the second place winner of the 2017 International Trumpet Guild Orchestral Excerpts Competition. He spent the summer of 2017 in Santa Barbara, California at the Music Academy of the West.

Are you originally from Montreal? If not where are you from and how did you wind up here?

I am from Jackson, Michigan, a small city about an hour away from Detroit. I ended up in Montreal as a surprise when my undergraduate trumpet teacher announced he was moving to McGill University. I did a late audition and ended up moving to Montreal in August 2015.

Do you have a favourite composer and why?

I would have to say Strauss is my favorite. I absolutely love the tone poems for how "heart on sleeve" they are. Mahler is a very close second, with his Second and Third Symphonies tied for best in my opinion. I also have been very into the Prokofiev ballets recently.

Do you have a funny or strange story from performing?

I have many. I think the most absurd one was at an outdoor pops concert with the Jackson Symphony, the train came in to the station right behind the concert shell blowing the whistle as the orchestra played Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet. I could barely hear myself playing the trumpet while this was happening!

How did you wind up playing your chosen instrument?

This one is interesting. My brother played trumpet when I was growing up, and there are photos of me "playing" the trumpet as a very little kid. But when it came time to pick an instrument I REALLY wanted to play the drums. My mom wouldn't have that, so I chose the flute. There was a trumpet in the house, so my mom convinced me to try that and if I didn't like it I could switch over. I guess the rest is history...

Come check out David and more incredible musicians on August 29th at 8pm at La Sala Rossa for Verisimo's presentation of L'Histoire du Soldat. Tickets are available at the link below!

L'Histoire du Soldat Tickets