Artist Spotlight: Dr. Adam Gaines – A Life in Trumpet and Jazz

Artist Spotlight: Dr. Adam Gaines – A Life in Trumpet and Jazz

At Heid Music, we’re proud to support musicians who not only perform at the highest level but also inspire the next generation. Dr. Adam Gaines is a trumpet player, educator, and community leader whose musical journey has taken him from Kentucky to concert halls across the globe—and right here to Green Bay, WI.

Dr. Gaines is an Associate Professor of Music at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, where he teaches trumpet, directs jazz ensembles, and leads courses in jazz history and music technology. He holds a Doctor of Arts and Master of Music from Ball State University, and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Louisville.

His performance résumé is equally impressive. Adam has played as a soloist across the U.S. and Europe, including appearances in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria, and at the Montreux and North Sea Jazz Festivals. Locally, he’s the Principal Trumpet of the Weidner Philharmonic, a member of Brass Differential, and President and Co-Founder of the Green Bay Jazz Orchestra.

Adam moved to Green Bay from Philadelphia in 2007 and quickly found Heid Music to be a trusted partner in his musical life. “Of course, one of the biggest local stores to go to for music needs was Heid,” he says. Over the years, Heid Music has supported both his personal and professional needs, including servicing his instruments and providing resources for UW-Green Bay.

His connection to Heid Music became even more personal when his youngest daughter began taking piano lessons at the Green Bay store. “Music is everything to me,” Adam shares. “It’s how I met my wife, who’s also a musician. It’s my life.”

Adam’s love for music began early, inspired by his father’s old trumpet and a collection of records featuring Chuck Mangione and Herb Alpert. He started playing trumpet in sixth grade and knew by age 14 that music would be his career.

One of his most memorable moments came during graduate school, when he had the chance to open for Chuck Mangione and meet him in person. “It was a real sense of, ‘OK, I’m in. This is it.’”

Today, Adam finds inspiration in the musicians he plays with. “The better I get, the more fun it is,” he says. “But now, the inspiration really comes from my colleagues in different ensembles.”

Music has also taken him around the world. “It’s a universal language,” he explains. “Especially as a jazz musician, I can sit in with anybody, anywhere, and we all speak the same language.”

Dr. Adam Gaines exemplifies the power of music to connect, inspire, and transform. We’re honored to be part of his journey and proud to support musicians like him who make a difference in their communities and beyond.