JOHN THIESSEN (trumpet) has performed with American Bach Soloists for nearly 15 years, and appears as soloist and principal trumpet with early music ensembles throughout the US and Canada, including Tafelmusik, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Boston Early Music Festival, and Juilliard Baroque. He has performed with the English Baroque Soloists, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Taverner Players, Academy of Ancient Music, and Handel & Haydn Society, and has appeared frequently at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Tanglewood, Wolf Trap, and the Mostly Mozart Festival. 2009-10 season highlights include Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, Handel's Messiah, and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, as well as two European tours with Tafelmusik. Mr. Thiessen is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music and King's College, University of London, and the recipient of grants from the Canada Council and Ontario Arts Council. He has presented masterclasses for the International Trumpet Guild, University of Southern California, University of Texas, and University of North Texas. Mr. Thiessen has taught at the Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute and at the International Baroque Institute of the Longy School of Music in Boston. He has coached for Carnegie Hall's Academy program and served as adjunct instructor for the Juilliard School and Université de Montréal. Mr. Thiessen has recorded extensively for Sony Classical Vivarte, Telarc, EMI, BMG, Deutsche Harmonia Mundi, London Decca, Analekta, CBC, American Bach Soloists, and Denon, including Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, Orchestral Suites, Magnificat, and Christmas Oratorio; Telemann's Concerto In D Major; Handel's Messiah, Water Music, and Music for the Royal Fireworks; Vivaldi's Gloria and Concerto for Two Trumpets (with Crispian Steele-Perkins); Beethoven Symphonies; and Haydn's Masses and Symphonies.

"brilliant solo playing on a valveless trumpet"  NY Times

"The Trumpet Shall Sound'...supported by John Thiessen's flawless account of the solo trumpet line".  NY Times

"the blazing ceremonial music that began and ended the evening--the opening graced by John Thiessen's brilliant trumpet solo--was ardent enough to warm the bluest blood." San Francisco Chronicle

"Thiessen [was] particularily impressive in the brilliant outer movements of the Second Brandenburg.Thiessen may well be the most extraordinary performer on the valveless trumpet I've heard in nearly 44 years of covering music. He hit Bach's lip-splitting heights as if he were dawdling somewhere around middle C."  Indianapolis Star

"The playing of Thiessen and The Purcell Consort was bright and effervescent--with Thiessen floating out pianissimi as quiet as a leaf turning gold when the occasion required it."  Vancouver West Ender

"Thiessen played flawlessly, negotiating difficult passages with a nonchalance that was both intriguing and galling. The man has no business playing an unplayable instrument without at least turning red in the face." Marin Independent Journal

"John Thiessen served as trumpet soloist for concertos by Corelli and Torelli. The solo part for the Corelli's first movement begins in the high register and stays there. Thiessen hit the first note spot on, and showed tonal purity, focus and fluidity throughout."  Orange County Register

"Baroque trumpet players are an elite group, like celebrity chefs, dramatic tenors, and ace relief pitchers. In the forefront of this select set is Canadian John Thiessen, who has the panache of Mario Batali, the staying power of Placido Domingo, and the awesome control of Mariano Rivera."  Early Music America