Eli Block

Trumpet & Piano

Eli Block teaches trumpet and piano at the JPMC. He holds a Master of Music degree in Jazz Trumpet Performance from New England Conservatory in Boston and a Bachelor of Music degree in Trumpet Performance from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. Eli is a member of the Jazz Education Network (JEN) and has performed alongside renowned artists including Ran Blake, Freddy Cole, Dave Douglas, Dave Holland, Ethan Iverson, Antonio Sánchez, George Schuller, Luciana Souza, and Miguel Zenón. 

As a classical trumpeter, Eli attended the National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute and Eastern Music Festival. He was a winner of the St. Olaf Senior Soloists competition and performed the third movement of the Hummel Trumpet Concerto with the St. Olaf Orchestra in May 2017. During his time at St. Olaf, Eli toured Argentina, Uruguay, Cuba, Spain, France, and Italy, as well as over a dozen states across the US. 

While trumpet is now his primary instrument, Eli actually started his musical career on the piano at 3 ½ and took lessons through the end of high school. Eli was a winner of the Tacoma Youth Symphony concerto competition and performed the first movement of the Schumann Piano Concerto with the Tacoma Youth Symphony in 2012. He traveled twice to Matsumoto, Japan and three times to Sacramento, CA to perform in 10-piano concerts. 

In his spare time, Eli enjoys running, baking, and spending time outdoors. 

Teaching Artist Statement 

Music has been a major part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up in a musical household where bedtime stories included Beethoven Lives Upstairs and The Philharmonic Gets Dressed, and “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” rang through the house daily on the piano (my father is a music history professor, and my mother a Suzuki piano teacher). Coming from a family of teachers, I was eager to join the legacy. I started my first job in eighth grade teaching Hebrew lessons at my synagogue, and in high school I taught beginning ballet and tap classes to children from ages 3-11 at my dance studio. 

My goal as a teacher is to help my students develop a love and appreciation for music. I am trained in both classical and jazz and look forward to sharing my knowledge of these (and other) genres to meet the interests of my students.