Meet Theresa May | Trumpeter, educator, and freelancer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Theresa May and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Theresa, what are you inspired by?
I constantly find inspiration in my friends and colleagues. I feel extremely lucky to know so many talented and creative artists/musicians who consistently create inspiring works. These individuals are actively creating to make space for others while in pursuit of a better tomorrow. These individuals are also holding down their all-encompassing freelance careers, which is celebratory and inspiring in itself.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My career has been one of twists and turns and I am proud of how I allow my passions to steer my career instead of others’ expectations. As an undergraduate music therapy major I found myself growing more interested in practicing and performing trumpet and decided to change my major to performance. After changing gears, I started applying to graduate schools and was accepted into the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. During that time I was on track to pursue a career in orchestral trumpet, though after my first year of grad school I realized that was not for me. While I loved (and still love) orchestral music, I knew I wanted more; I wanted to have a career that included the variety of things I enjoyed. I wanted to teach and I wanted to learn and perform different styles of music. After grad school I moved back to Cleveland, Ohio and continued working at Office Max while figuring out my next move. I soon began posting flyers around town about my trumpet teaching services, went door to door passing out my demo cd to churches and schools (this was circa 2009), and I also started performing recitals at area churches to keep my chops up and to give people a chance to see and hear me perform. This led to me receiving a consistent amount of inquiries and calls for gigs and teaching opportunities.
My journey from college to now was filled with ebbs and flows. From financial hardship to feeling like I had absolutely no idea what I was doing (which is a fleeting feeling that still comes and goes). But throughout my journey I have maintained integrity, forward thinking, and followed my creative heart. I have recently discovered that I love to create and consider myself an educator, performer and creator. My latest project, Afrofuturism: Black Lives Will Exist in the Future, is a collaborative project that features a music video and photography exhibit. To date, it is one of the most collaborative and multidisciplinary projects I have led!

My experiences continue to teach me to follow my heart (as cliche as that sounds), the value of the grind and hard work (within reason), the importance of rest and taking breaks, and the importance of remembering why I began music!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

I LOVE this question, and I recently made a spreadsheet of places for a friend that was visiting (who have I become?!)

On Monday we’re going to some Cleveland food staples: Slyman’s Restaurant and Deli for some delicious corned beef sandwiches, Kim’s Wings for a Polish Boy, and Great Lakes Brewing Company for tasty beers and eats.

On Tuesday we’ll dedicate to all the amazing and FREE museums. We’ll start with the Cleveland Museum of Art, then Museum of Contemporary Art followed by SPACES, then Transformer station.

Wednesday is a great day to check out the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame then the Science Center which sits right next door in Downtown Cleveland. After all of the walking, we’ll definitely be ready for delicious beers at Southern Tier Brewing Company.

Thursday we’ll spend in the Gordon Square area. We’d start at Brewnuts (a donut shop that also sells beer), followed by window shopping at all the shops in the area. We could have lunch at the XYZ Tavern, then walk across the street to Super Electric Pinball for pinball and arcade games. Next stop might be a wine bar called Flight Cleveland, followed by a snack and show at Happy Dog (a place known for their hot dogs and beer, with lots of live music, from rock and country to punk and polka). If we have any steam left, we’d then go down the street to the Bop Stop to hear some jazz!

Friday we’ll do brunch at Lucky’s Cafe, and spend the day exploring local bookstores: Mac’s Backs, Loganberry Books, and Visible Voice book-which also sells beer/wine!

Saturday we are going to hear live music at the Grog Shop or Beachland Tavern!

As you can probably tell, I love Cleveland. Though I might not make it through this itinerary without several naps, there are fun and exciting things to do every night of the week!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My parents and my undergraduate teacher deserve all the shoutouts! My Parents, James and Chestana May, have always encouraged my endeavors and for me to make my own choices (good and not so good). And my first collegiate trumpet instructor, Dr. Patrick Reynolds has been a great mentor to me from the beginning of my undergraduate career at the University of Dayton in 2002!

Website: https://www.theresamaytrumpet.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mochatrumpetgal/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mochatrumpetgal

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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Mochatrumpetgal

Image Credits
Emanuel Wallace