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Orbert Davis

Composer, arranger, conductor and acclaimed trumpeter Orbert Davis wears many hats. But his dedication to young people is at the core of everything he does.

Orbert's musical ability was evident early. In 8th grade, a math teacher from his school in rural Momence, Illinois, heard him play the trumpet. The teacher was so taken by Orbert's talent that he drove the young musician to Chicago once a week for lessons with a renowned brass teacher. As Orbert's musical career took off, he chose to stay in Chicago and devote much of his time to teaching. He's on the faculty of the University of Illinois Chicago, and he works regularly with at-risk children through his music education curriculum, MusicAlive!, a group he started with his business partner and boyhood best friend, Mark Ingram.

With four albums, three films and more than 3,000 commercials to his credit, as well as a music school to run and countless other projects in the works, you'd think Orbert was busy enough. Instead, he launched the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic in 2004 at the Chicago Jazz Festival. In 2006, the orchestra performed a piece he composed for the city of Chicago's 173rd birthday, conducted by...well, you know who. Photography on this page courtesy Bill Richert.

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