Jon Fasanelli-Cawelti
Instrument: Trumpet

Jon was born in 1953 in Iowa City, and was raised in Chicago (Hyde Park). He played the trumpet and cornet in elementary school, high school, college bands, and amateur symphony.

Jon now resides in Muscatine and plays in a number of local and area groups: Wesley Winds, Mad Creek Mudcats, and River City Big Band. Because he was involved with these groups, Dick Marr and Peter Press invited him to join the symphony.

When he was young he never took music seriously. He was “uninspired” as an adolescent. “I was looking at things from a distance, rather than getting into the inside of the heart.”  But now he says that all of the arts are the most important things that we have.

He didn’t play trumpet for 25 years; and when he picked it up again, he promised himself that he would practice everyday.

Jon was trained in Art (Intaglio Printmaking) at the University of Iowa, and he was personal assistant to Mauricio Lasansky. Jon is a practicing artist in intaglio printmaking with national and international experience.

He is married to Diane Calzaretta; they have two daughters, Michaella and Marina.

His family and making music are recurring sources of inspiration for his work. When asked about how music inspires him, he said “It turns me upside-down. MSO is a very tight community of players. I love playing with them. And Brian Dollinger is the kind of conductor that inspires.”


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