Name: Pierce Yamaoka

From: Fresno, California

My inspiration: Mario Guarneri, Kris Kwapis, Sam Gellaitry, Snarky Puppy and so many others…

Education: B.M. Trumpet Performance, San Francisco Conservatory of Music; M.M. Trumpet Performance, Indiana University

I play and teach: Trumpet

My other artistic/musical endeavors: I perform with a variety of ensembles that include brass trios/quartets/quintets and jazz ensembles.

Personal Teaching Statement: My teaching philosophy is to strike a balance between creating engaging and fun lessons while instilling solid fundamentals in technique, musical awareness and literacy.

Biography: Trumpeter Pierce Yamaoka recently finished his Master’s Degree at Indiana University where he was the recipient of the Charles Gorham Trumpet Scholarship and studied with Edmund Cord and Kris Kwapis. Pierce also holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. During his time in Indiana, Pierce performed with the Indianapolis Brass Ensemble, Lafayette Symphony Orchestra and was a substitute musician for the Columbus and Terre Haute Symphony. Prior to studying in Indiana, Pierce led a varied performing career with the Fresno Philharmonic, Sequoia Symphony, San Francisco Composer’s Chamber Orchestra and the Sequoia Brass Quartet. As an educator, Pierce worked closely with the Youth Orchestras of Fresno as a brass coach and Executive Assistant for the organization and maintained an active teaching studio throughout the area. Following his Master’s program, Pierce taught at the Cathedral School for Boys and enjoyed freelancing throughout the Bay Area.

Since relocating to New York City, Pierce is currently on faculty at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music and enjoys being an organizer for Protestra, a coalition for musicians who want to raise awareness and social consciousness about societal issues through music.