Paul Hardaker joined the Aquinas College Music department as Lecturer of Music - Trumpet
in 2019. He is an active freelance musician with many area professional ensembles
and private music educator throughout the West Michigan Area. As seated member of
the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet and educational AIRS program; Paul
actively is out with the ensemble and his colleagues performing and introducing classical
music, other musical styles and genres of Art to students throughout the greater south
west Michigan area. Paul is a member of the Kalamazoo Brass Quintet which is a private
ensemble specializing in freelance performances and works with various clients and
their musical entertainment needs. Also, Paul is a member of a new polka rock horn
band in the West Michigan area called The Grosse Seen Bier band, where they are actively
performing a large variety of musical styles at various events and festivals throughout
the year including being recently featured with the Holland Symphony Orchestra. The
trumpet has taken Paul throughout Europe and the United States. As a private instructor,
Paul works with a wide range of students from middle school to high school on trumpet
and other musical details both one on one and as an aid to area band directors in
group or camp settings.
As a student Paul attended Grand Valley State University for his Bachelors of Music
where he studied with Richard Stoelzel and attended Western Michigan University for
his Masters of Music where he studied with Scott Thornburg and Dr. Stephen Jones.
He currently resides in the Kalamazoo/Otsego area with his wife, Erica, and their
German shorthaired pointers; enjoying the great outdoors whenever the trumpet is not
in his hands.
