John Hagstrom joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s trumpet section as fourth trumpet in 1996. A year later, he won the Orchestra’s second trumpet position, carrying on the tradition of brass section teamwork for which the CSO is famous. Previously, he was principal trumpet of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra in Kansas and served as assistant professor of trumpet at Wichita State University.
Hagstrom is the host of Intermission at the CSO, a podcast produced by the CSOA showcasing the voices of numerous CSO musicians through individual features or within topical episodes that discuss the dedication of the CSO to its mission and to its listeners. Originally conceived as a way for CSO supporters and students to stay connected to the Orchestra during the COVID-19 pandemic, it additionally features selected moments of many of the CSO's recordings.
Hagstrom is passionate in his support of music education, and in 2006 helped to initiate Dream Out Loud, a music-education advocacy partnership between the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association and the Yamaha Corporation of America. Through that initiative, he developed a variety of resources for elementary through high school students, their teachers and parents, designed to support students’ music education and provide encouragement through times of challenge.
A native Chicagoan, Hagstrom grew up listening to the CSO. He studied at the Eastman School of Music and for six years was a member of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in Washington, D.C., where he spent three of those years as principal trumpet.
