Todd Hastings

About Todd Hastings

Todd J. Hasting is a native of North Tonawanda, New York and is Professor of Trumpet at Pittsburg State University. Before coming to Pittsburg, Todd was visiting instructor of trumpet at Texas A & M University in Kingsville, Texas.

Dr. Hastings is an acclaimed performer and clinician in both the classical and commercial fields. His credits include performances with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Louisville Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, American Ballet Theater, New Texas Festival Orchestra, Victoria Bach Festival Orchestra, Austin Symphony, Doc Severinson, Aretha Franklin, Henry Mancini, Joe Williams, Curtis Fuller, Bob Mintzer, Woody Herman Orchestra, Claudio Roditi, Kenny Wheeler, Charlie Haden, Bernadette Peters, Ben Vereen and has performed as Lead Trumpet for the Broadway Touring company's production of Chicago.

Todd served as soloist and principal trumpet with the Victoria Bach Festival Orchestra for over ten years, and has also performed as part of the Strings in the Mountains Festival in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Dr. Hastings was an award winner at the National Trumpet Competition and a finalist for the President’s Own Marine Band, Washington, D.C. 

Todd is an in-demand clinician/educator and appears with jazz ensembles, orchestras, and concert bands throughout the mid-west and east coast. Dr. Hastings has been a guest artist for many brass and jazz festivals and has presented lectures, performances, and/or master classes at schools across the United States including the Eastman School of Music, Indiana University, The University of Louisville, Wichita State, and Buffalo State College.

Todd’s most recent creative endeavor is the founding of the Midwest Trumpet Festival at Pittsburg State University. The festival has attracted such guest artists as the American Brass Quintet, Vincent DiMartino, Joe Alessi, Billy Hunter, Byron Stripling, and Ryan Anthony. Hastings is also the founder, artistic director, and trumpet soloist with the Crowder Jazz Orchestra. The band has performed at major universities and jazz festivals in the four-state region including the Webb City Jazz Festival, Pittsburg State University Jazz Festival, Missouri Southern State University, and Crowder College. 

Dr. Hastings is currently in his 25th year as trumpet professor at Pittsburg State University. His students have performed at the National Trumpet Competition, International Trumpet Guild Convention, and the Chicago Brass Festival.

Dr. Hastings holds degrees from SUNY Buffalo, The University of Kentucky, and The University of Texas at Austin. His studies have also taken him to the Eastman School of Music and the Aspen Music Festival, where he was a fellowship recipient for three consecutive years. Todd’s teacher’s include David Kuehn, Raymond Crisara, Vince DiMartino, Chris Gekker, and Frank Cipolla.

Todd was recently honored with his induction into the North Tonawanda High School Arts and Sciences Wall of Fame. He was also granted a sabbatical in the spring of 2016 to research the teaching of trumpet great, Raymond Crisara. Todd has two sons, Aiden and Daniel, with whom he enjoys many laughs, smiles, silliness, traveling, and spending time together in the outdoors.

To find out more about Dr. Hastings, please visit his website at: 
https://www.toddjhastings.com/

Education

D.M.A., The University of Texas at Austin, Texas, U.S.A.

M.M., University of Kentucky, Kentucky, U.S.A.

B.M.E., B.M., State University of New York at Buffalo, New York, U.S.A.