Orejudos, Stephen
Chicago Native Stephen Orejudos is an active teacher and avid proponent of music education. He has 30 years of experience as a private instructor, brass sectional coach and master class clinician, and has been an instructor with the Merit School of Music in Chicago, the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, and Indiana University South Bend. As a resident of New Orleans, Mr. Orejudos served as the trumpet /brass ensemble/music history instructor at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, and was on adjunct faculty for Tulane University and the University of New Orleans. In addition, he was heavily involved in the community and educational projects that partner with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, helping to bring music education opportunities to the under served neighborhoods of New Orleans. Mr. Orejudos has represented the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra at Carnegie Hall for the “Play USA” initiative, which seeks to partner orchestras nationwide for the purpose of improving student access to music education. He has collaborated with the Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra and the Positive Vibrations Foundation over several summers, helping to provide virtual music instruction to brass players in New Orleans and Haiti for their summer music camps. In addition, Mr. Orejudos has previously served as the brass technician/brass coach for several acclaimed marching and concert band programs in Southeast Louisiana, including those at Slidell, North Shore and Fontainebleau High School.
As a performer, Mr. Orejudos has held the positions of Second Trumpet and Acting Assistant Principal Trumpet of the Louisiana Philharmonic, Principal Trumpet of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra and Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, and Second/Acting Principal Trumpet of the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra. Mr. Orejudos has performed with the Northwest Indiana Symphony, Illinois Symphony, Ohio Light Opera, Whiting Park Festival, Green Bay Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony, Opera in the Ozarks, Wichita Symphony and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestras. Mr. Orejudos has appeared as a soloist with the Southwest Michigan Symphony, South Bend Symphony, Michigan City Music Festival, New Philharmonic and Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestras. Since moving to Minnesota in 2020, he has joined the Northern Lights Music Festival as Principal Trumpet, and has been a guest of Ameriikan Poijat, one of the premiere Finnish brass ensembles in the United States. He has also been a guest performer with the Mankato Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Orejudos is proud to have shared the stage with a variety of popular artists, including Lindsey Stirling, Idina Menzel, Olivia-Newton John, Tony Bennet, Evanescence, The Who and Yo-Yo Ma.
In Minnesota, Mr. Orejudos has continued his love of educating young people by serving as director of choirs at Lakes International Language Academy. He currently serves as the K-5 general music teacher and director of beginner band and orchestra at Jie Ming Mandarin Immersion Academy, and teaches elementary general music and beginner orchestra at Capitol Hill Gifted and Talented Magnet.