Augie Haas has loved performing, composing, and teaching jazz trumpet since he picked up the horn at age 10. The Milwaukee native toured the U.S. from age 15 to 18 with the state’s musical ambassador group “The Kids from Wisconsin.” The experience solidified his desire for a career as a professional trumpet player.

Haas accepted a scholarship to Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts and earned a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies. Another scholarship brought him to the University of Miami’s prestigious Frost School of Music for graduate studies. He was a teaching assistant in studio jazz while pursuing a master’s degree in studio music and jazz, and a doctorate in musical arts. Haas also played lead trumpet for numerous bands on campus—most notably the 18-piece University of Miami Concert Jazz Band, named Best College Big Band in 2010 by Downbeat magazine.


BIO

Augie Haas has loved performing, composing, and teaching jazz trumpet since he picked up the horn at age 10. The Milwaukee native toured the U.S. from age 15 to 18 with the state’s musical ambassador group “The Kids from Wisconsin.” The experience solidified his desire for a career as a professional trumpet player.

Haas accepted a scholarship to Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts and earned a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies. Another scholarship brought him to the University of Miami’s prestigious Frost School of Music for graduate studies. He was a teaching assistant in studio jazz while pursuing a master’s degree in studio music and jazz, and a doctorate in musical arts. Haas also played lead trumpet for numerous bands on campus—most notably the 18-piece University of Miami Concert Jazz Band, named Best College Big Band in 2010 by Downbeat magazine.

In Miami, Haas began performing and recording for a wide range of professional artists and producers, most recently including Lenny Kravitz, Shakira, Disney, The Temptations, Rihanna, Pitbull, Iggy Pop, Jet, The O’Jays, The Four Tops, Bernadette Peters, Joel Grey, Steve Miller, Roy Hargrove, Arturo Sandoval, Peter Nero and the Philly Pops Orchestra, Bruce Hornsby, the Milwaukee Symphony Pops, the Dave Liebman Big Band, Jon Secada, Slide Hampton, Toshiko Akiyoshi, John Fedchock, Randy Brecker, and Frank Tiberi.

In 2009, Haas began touring with Maria Schneider, Paul Anka, and also began national TV credits, including the Tonight Show, the Ellen DeGeneres Show, the 2009 ALMA Awards, and the Tom Green Show. Haas has also made numerous guest appearances, such as performing a solo National Anthem for the Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Brewers.

As a composer, Haas is known for combining jazz with elements of pop. He formed the band South Nine Ensemble as an avenue for performing his original works and arrangements. South Nine Ensemble has released two albums, The Llama and Doing It Augie Style. Hoping to expose and inspire a younger audience with jazz, Haas co-founded Playtime Music LLC, which released the album Baby Jazz. His next album of all-original compositions is scheduled to release in 2012.