Education

• MA VanderCook College of Music
• BA University of Iowa

About

Steve King serves as our applied trumpet instructor at Mount Mercy University.

Steve received his Bachelor's of Music degree from the University of Iowa and his Master's of Music Education degree from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. He has also studied trumpet with Bob Brown, Don Paarmann, John Daniel, and David Greenhoe.

Known as a master educator, Steve has recently retired after a distinguished career as a public-school band director. He has served as President of the Northeast Iowa Band Association and also served as the district’s middle and high school honor band chairperson. Steve was recognized and honored by his peers with the Philip Sehmann Award for Excellence in Middle School Teaching and was also nominated for the Iowa Bandmasters Association Karl King Service Award. In 2019, he was inducted into the Linn-Mar Community School District “Wall of Fame,” receiving the Legend Award. Over the course of his career, Steve directed ensembles that were selected to perform at Iowa Bandmasters Association Conference in Des Moines five times.

Steve is an active performer who still plays with The Rod Pierson Big Band, the Ken Paulsen Orchestra, and Funk Stop on a regular basis. He also maintains a highly successful private trumpet studio, teaching middle and high school students throughout eastern Iowa. Over the years, Steve's students performed in the Iowa All-State Music Festival about 50 times.

In his spare time, Steve enjoys fishing and camping. He is also an avid Iowa Hawkeye and Chicago Cubs fan. His family includes his wife, Rhonda, who has retired from the Linn-Mar school district; his son Tanner; his daughter, Allison, and her husband, Eric; and his granddaughter, Ivy.