The Trumpet Players
Mike Burnette - Trumpet
Mike has been playing trumpet since junior high school. He studied music management at James Madison University, and played for several years at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA. Mike plays part-time in several community bands in Maryland, and is a regular in the Olney Big Band.
Mike Burnette is Ben Grisafi’s favorite within the Olney Big Band, despite the two not yet having met. Ben’s interest in Mike was kindled while listening to our Generations CD and hearing Mike play Stardust. Ben says, “I played in the sax section of Billy Butterfield’s big band. Billy played that opening solo on Artie Shaw’s classic rendition of Stardust, which Billy played all the time when I was with him. But I NEVER heard a better trumpet solo on Stardust than the one Mike Burnette laid down on the OBB’s Generations CD.”
Glenn Ochsenreiter - Trumpet
Born and raised on Long Island, NY, Glenn graduated with a BA from Dickinson College (Carlisle, PA) and is a marketing executive in retail, high tech and trade associations.
Glenn played trumpet and baritone from fourth grade through high school, but then went 25 years without playing before joining the Olney Concert Band in 1998. He remembers hearing big band music from an early age as his parents played recordings of the great bands, which they enjoyed in person in New York City in the late 30s and 40s. As a teenager, Glenn developed his own affection for this wonderful music that never seems to lose its freshness. He became a founding member of the Olney Big Band when it was spun off from the concert band where he continues to play trumpet.
Glenn views playing with the Olney Big Band as an honor and a pleasure, and is particularly in awe of the abilities of the other trumpet players.
Robert E. Redding - Trumpet
Bob’s musical experience began more then 80 years ago as a 5 year old farm boy in Indiana where he played piano at his rural church. He began playing cornet in grade shcool, but switched to trumpet his senior year in high school. Bob attended the Ohio State University where he played in the football and concert bands. Bob also headed up a five piece jazz band called the “Ohio State Collegians” and for two summers in 1938 and 1939 traveled to Europe playing on shipboard to entertain passengers. Bob has played in many groups, sit-in sessions at Preservation Hall in New Orleans, and even had the privilege of playing “Taps” at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider at Arlington National Cemetery. Bob also managed the music program for the Grand Lodge and Scottish Rite Masons in Washington, D. C.
Rich Sonnenschein - Trumpet
Rich was born in New York City, grew up in the North Miami, FL, area, and began studying piano at age 8.
Back in the 1960s, seventh grade marked a pivotal point in his musical career: picking an instrument. Had his name fallen earlier in the alphabet, the school oboe might have been the instrument destined for him, but he had to resort to Plan B: the Trumpet!
A fond memory from his youth is his mother’s playing the music of her day (before Dad got home from work!), thus introducing him to the styles of Bunny Berrigan, Harry James, and Billy Butterfield.
Many years later, in 1985, Rich got wind of a new concert band – the Olney Concert Band – that had formed, and met at his neighborhood high school. He dusted off his horn, and hasn’t put it down since.
In the intervening years, while continuing to play with the concert band, Rich branched out with a few different Big (swing) Bands. For him, playing with the Olney Big Band has been a most gratifying experience, bringing Big Band music to his community and beyond.
Jeff Summers - Trumpet
Jeff began playing trumpet at age 9. Ever since, he has been hooked. He practiced throughout his high school years, playing in the Maryland State Jazz Band as a junior and the Maryland State Band as a senior. Jeff’s original intentions were to play in a service band, but he was influenced by his school band director to pursue teaching as a career. Today, he is the band director at Westminster Middle School. Along the way jeff has played with Holland-America Cruise Line, The James Bazen Big Band, La Firma, and most recently Doc Scantlin’s Imperial Palms. He has played horn at venues such as Blues Alley, The Kennedy Center, and The Rainbow Room in New York City. Yet, as strange as this sounds, playing right here in Olney has been much more enjoyable.