Biography
Trumpeter Jim Lake is active as an orchestral performer and recording artist. Jim was recently the featured trumpet soloist with both the Metro Chamber Orchestra and One World Symphony. He has also just completed recording a new CD for Koch Records, with Chris Brubeck and the Gramercy Brass Orchestra of New York. Recent concert appearances include performances at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Rose Theater, at Carnegie Hall with the New England Symphonic Ensemble, at Lincoln Center with the Pan-Asian Symphony, and throughout the New York City area with the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra, the Gramercy Brass Orchestra, One World Symphony, the Ibex Chamber Orchestra, and the Metro Chamber Orchestra. Jim's recordings for television include the Olympic-style theme music for Major League Baseball’s World Baseball Classic, aired internationally on ESPN. For that project, Jim recorded the solo trumpet and all the trumpet section parts in the studio, accompanied by the Bulgarian Philharmonic.
Other live orchestral appearances include playing principal trumpet in orchestras at Aspen, Cape Cod, Houston, New York, and Italy. Jim performed with Jens Nygaard and the Jupiter Symphony, at Carnegie Hall with Jaime Laredo & the New York String Orchestra, and in Connecticut with the Norwalk Symphony. Other recordings include the world premier recording of Ned Rorem's opera “Miss Julie,” on the Newport Classics label, film music by John Califra for ABC’s worldwide Millennium Eve broadcast, and the pop group Hem’s debut CD, “Rabbitsongs,” rated by VH1 in the top ten albums of the year.
Jim has played principal trumpet in many musicals, and performs frequently in opera orchestras. In Italy, he was principal trumpet of the Rome Festival Opera Orchestra. He's performed at the Metropolitan Opera’s opening night gala, and continues to play in the DiCapo Opera Orchestra. In addition to his work in the orchestra pit, Jim has appeared on stage trumpeting his way through the role of the wordless but tuneful narrator in a show by the comedy duo Cary and Gallo. He has worked as solo trumpet at the Helen Hayes Performing Arts Center, performed numerous baroque oratorios, and been a member of Long Island's Brookhaven Choral Festival orchestra for several seasons.
Jim is a respected chamber musician, especially in the realm of new music. He has premiered many works, including an electronic jazz oratorio by Daniel T. Denver, and several ballets by Ken Pierson. He performs with the Allegro Brass, and is co-leader (along with his spouse, trumpeter Angela Gosse) of the Arcadia Brass Ensemble, a chamber group that performs in and around New York City.
In addition to his trumpet activities, Jim serves as organist and Music Director at Sacred Hearts & St. Stephen Church in Brooklyn. He earned his Master’s degree as a scholarship student at the Manhattan School of Music, and is a graduate of Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music in Houston. His trumpet teachers include renowned chamber musician Chris Gekker (Orchestra of St. Luke’s), David Bilger (Philadelphia Orchestra), James Wilt (Los Angeles Philharmonic), Mauro Maur (Rome Opera) and Edward Treutel of the Juilliard School. Jim has studied organ with Dr. Jennifer Pascual of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.