Casey Brefka

Casey Brefka, originally from Hudson, Ohio, started playing trumpet at age 6, after being taken to a Maynard Ferguson concert, and has not looked back since.  Through his high school years, he developed into one of the top high school lead trumpet players in the state of Ohio, winning various awards at jazz festivals through the entire state, and being invited to play lead trumpet for the All-State Jazz Ensemble in 2003.

He attended Berklee College of Music in 2004, graduating in 2008 with a degree in Jazz Composition, and during his time at Berklee, has played lead trumpet for all of the most prestigious ensembles at the college: the Berklee Rainbow Band, the Berklee Concert Jazz Orchestra, the Urban Outreach Orchestra, and the Back Bay Brass.  Casey is also the current lead trumpet player of the Berklee Faculty Big Band, and the principal trumpet player of the Boston Video Game Orchestra.  He has appeared professionally with the Greg Hopkins Jazz Orchestra, and Ernie Krivda and the Fat Tuesday Big Band.

Casey has performed with Herbie Hancock, Gary Burton, Michel Camilo, Jimmy Heath, Christian Scott, McCoy Tyner, Hal Galper, Joe Lovano, Benny Golson, Herb Pomeroy, Maria Schneider, Conrad Herwig, Phil Wilson, John & Jeff Clayton, Randy Brecker, and Max Weinberg.