Colin Oldberg

Hailing originally from Colorado Springs, Colorado, Colin Oldberg enjoys performing and teaching throughout the Chicago-land area. In addition to his contributions to Axiom Brass, Colin is an avid orchestral performer, and just recently finished a one-year position as Principal Trumpet of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Elsewhere, he has had the honor to perform with such distinguished groups as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the St. Louis Symphony, the Grand Tetons Festival Orchestra, the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra, the YouTube Symphony Orchestra, and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.  As a frequent substitute for the Chicago Symphony, Colin has performed under the batons of Bernard Haitink, Pierre Boulez (including a Carnegie Hall tour in 2009), and Riccardo Muti.  Colin can be heard in Maestro Muti’s inaugural recording as Music Director with the Chicago Symphony of Verdi’s Requiem, which went on to win a Grammy in 2010.

In addition to his orchestral endeavors, Colin has enjoyed the opportunity to perform as a soloist in a variety of ensembles.  Recently, with the Hong Kong Philharmonic, he performed the Haydn Trumpet Concerto with conductor Ken Lam of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.  Before that, and again with the Philharmonic, he was honored to work with renowned Japanese composer and conductor Joe Hisaishi; Colin performed the trumpet solo version of Laputa: Castle in the Sky, one of Maestro Hisaishi’s most famous film scores. In May of 2011, Colin performed Arutunian’s Trumpet Concerto with Northwestern University’s Symphonic Wind Ensemble, under esteemed conductor Mallory Thompson.  He also appeared as a soloist with the Northwestern University Brass Ensemble in 2010, performing Anthony Plog’s Concerto for Trumpet and Brass Ensemble. 

In 2009, Colin was selected from a pool of over 3,000 applicants to perform in the YouTube Symphony Orchestra, the first ever ensemble created using an Internet-based audition system.   The group met at Carnegie Hall for three days of intensive rehearsals culminating in a spectacular concert conducted by Principal Conductor Michael Tilson Thomas.

Colin has also enjoyed teaching during each stage of his career.  In Hong Kong, he was an adjunct Professor of Trumpet at the Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts, which is one of China’s leading conservatories.   He has also taught many masterclasses to students of all ages, both in Hong Kong and in the U.S.  Colin received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music in Trumpet Performance from Northwestern University, where he studied with Barbara Butler, Charles Geyer, and Christopher Martin.