Trumpet performer, educator, and leader, David Hart has dedicated his career to advancing creativity and excellence in music education and performance. Director of Jazz at The Harker School in San Jose, California, Dr. Hart leads three jazz ensembles, the 6th grade orchestra, and supports the school’s instrumental program across campuses. He is co-founder and Co-Artistic Director of the Harker Concert Series, bringing world-class artists to the community, and serves on the faculty of the Stanford Jazz Workshop, where he directs the Giant Steps Big Band and co-leads the Mentorship Program.
Teaching and performing internationally, Hart has presented masterclasses and clinics throughout the United States, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, and Myanmar. Previously, he served on the faculty at Mahidol University in Thailand, where he established the first jazz trumpet studio and guided the Mahidol Jazz Ensemble to international recognition. He has performed at major festivals including the Monterey Jazz Festival, San Francisco Jazz Festival, Thailand International Jazz Festival, and Stanford Jazz Festival, sharing the stage with artists such as Horace Silver, Gerald Wilson, Dena DeRose, Bill Dobbins, the 8-Bit Big Band, Taylor Eigsti, and Dayna Stephens.
Hart’s research focuses on fostering creativity in music education, with contributions to Developing Musicianship Through Improvisation and his dissertation on collegiate jazz improvisation instruction. His trumpet mentors include Clay Jenkins and Jens Lindemann, and his teaching philosophy has been deeply influenced by Dr. Christopher Azzara and Dr. Richard Grunow.
He is also co-founder of Noise Lab Music, an early childhood music company providing classes, lessons, and live performances across the Bay Area, dedicated to creating music-rich environments for young learners and families. A California native, Hart earned his DMA in Music Education from the Eastman School of Music, master’s degrees in jazz studies and music education from Eastman, and a BA in Music Performance from UCLA.
MORE CONCISE:
David Hart is a trumpet performer, educator, and leader whose work bridges performance, pedagogy, and creative development. Director of Jazz at The Harker School in San Jose, CA, he leads three jazz ensembles, the 6th grade orchestra, and co-directs the Harker Concert Series. He is on the faculty of the Stanford Jazz Workshop, directing the Giant Steps Big Band and co-leading the Mentorship Program. A California native, Hart earned his DMA in Music Education from the Eastman School of Music, master’s degrees in jazz studies and music education from Eastman, and a BA in Music Performance from UCLA.
Hart has taught and performed throughout the United States, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, and Myanmar. Formerly on faculty at Mahidol University in Thailand, he established the first jazz trumpet studio and led the Mahidol Jazz Ensemble to international acclaim. He has performed at the Monterey, San Francisco, Thailand International, and Stanford Jazz Festivals, sharing the stage with Horace Silver, Gerald Wilson, Dena DeRose, Charlie Rosen and the 8-Bit Big Band, Taylor Eigsti, and Dayna Stephens.
“Creativity is as important as literacy in education”