Michael O'Keefe, trumpet

Michael O’Keefe is a passionate and dedicated trumpet soloist, ensemble musician, and teacher based in St. John’s, NL. He performs regularly at the St. John’s Kiwanis Music Festival, the Basilica-Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, and in recitals at Memorial University (MUN). O’Keefe has performed at the National Arts Centre with the Denis Wick Canadian Wind Orchestra and at the Vatican with the St. Bonaventure’s College Wind Ensemble. He has also performed extensively as Principal Trumpet of the Newfoundland Symphony Youth Orchestra.

In 2013, O’Keefe was awarded the MUN Alumni Association Entrance Scholarship, valued at $25,000, and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in trumpet under the guidance of Dr. Alan Klaus. In 2015, a faculty panel named him runner-up in the competition for the Dorothy and David Peters Scholarship in Music, which is awarded to the first year student who displays “the best aptitude, ability and passion for concert music performance”. O’Keefe’s name also appears on the Dean’s List of the top 10% of students.

O’Keefe has had the honour to participate in lessons and masterclasses with some of North America’s premier trumpeters including David Bilger (Philadelphia Orchestra), Dr. Christopher Moore (Florida State University), Pace Sturdevant (National Arts Centre Orchestra), Richard Simoneau (Symphony Nova Scotia), and Katie Sullivan (Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra).

Michael can be heard on a number of recordings, including the ECMA nominated debut album by Steve Maloney and the Wandering Kind. He can also be heard on the Music at Memorial concert series with the MUN Chamber Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Brass Ensemble. For more information, please visit www.linkedin.com/michaelpokeefe