By Bradley Mariska

A monthly column promoting the Austin Symphony Orchestra, its musicians, and upcoming events. This month’s column is written by Bradley Mariska, ASO Board Member, and Director of Bands at Austin High School.

Sunday, Oct. 25 is certain to be a full-circle moment for the Austin Symphony Orchestra. Not only will the ensemble be opening their 2015-2016 season in the newly renovated Knowlton Auditorium, but they’ll also be collaborating with a professional trumpet player who got his start on that very stage: Austin native Jacob Dalager.

While the variety of orchestral masterworks featured in “Pictures at the Orchestra” are themselves worthy of a Sunday outing, it is Dalager himself who makes the concert truly unmissible — the full-time performer plays with the Rochester (New York) Philharmonic Orchestra, Symphoria (Syracuse, New York), and Washington D.C. Chamber Orchestra. Dalager also maintains a private trumpet studio in D.C., where he recently settled with his wife, Hannah.

This litany of esteemed ensembles may give you a sense of how difficult it can be to juggle the schedule — and, according to Dalager, the paychecks– of a professional musician. Yet he takes it in stride, answering the call whenever possible. “I might have a drought for a few weeks,” he says, “but then have more gigs than I can handle the next week.” Austin residents will be the beneficiaries of one such answered call on Oct. 25.

Dalager’s path to Washington, DC is varied and far-reaching, including stints with orchestras in Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan, and degrees in performance from St. Olaf College as well as one of the most prestigious music conservatories in the country, The Eastman School of Music.

But in an interview, it was the start of that path — his early musical training right here in Austin— that Jacob discussed at length. He lost no time mentioning what many long-time Austin residents take for granted, and what I myself noticed upon moving to Austin several years ago: that is, there is an unusual amount of musical talent in this small town. A crazy amount. Is there something in the water?

Says Dalager, “Austin is unique among small towns in regards to its strong emphasis on music education. I was always told that growing up; it seemed to be true then, and after several years spent outside Austin now, I can confirm that it is definitely true. What other town with a population under 25,000 has thriving general music, choir, band, orchestra, and jazz band programs in school, music boosters, music club, multiple recital and concert series, a theater like the Paramount, numerous vocal groups, church music, and a semi-professional orchestra? None that I’ve ever heard of!”

Dalager had something of a front row seat to Austin’s deep musical bench. His mother, Holly, is a music teacher and extraordinarily talented oboist, and his grandmother Phyllis— herself a pianist and organist — also played trumpet for fun, giving Dalager his first trumpet the summer before fifth-grade band began.

Dalager cites influence beyond the home, crediting several music teachers in helping him with trumpet and developing an appreciation for orchestra music. His first teacher was Tim Davis, who helped young Jacob establish solid fundamentals. Dalager also worked extensively with Aimee Chalmers, Sue Radloff, and Phil Burkhart throughout middle and high school, and he remembers vividly how “Phil Burkhart’s passion for music was contagious.” Adding to the full-circle nature of the upcoming performance at Knowlton, all four of these influential and talented teachers will accompany Dalager as members of the Austin Symphony Orchestra. Longtime music educators Conrad Muzik and Brian Johnson added to the influence of the budding trumpeter.

As the band director at Austin High School, I find it humbling to see alumni pursuing their dreams as professional musicians. Jacob is an amazing role model for our students, and not just because he’s a professional musician; we don’t expect each and every one to take the same path. By playing once again on the stage of his formative years, Jacob proves that, should they choose to pursue a musical dream, our students have a truly sound foundation on which to build.