John O'Malley

University of Denver senior John O’Malley’s passion for music began as a ten-year-old in Chicago, Illinois when he started playing the trumpet after inheriting his grandfather’s love for his favorite instrument.

Although discouraged from music at a young age because of a learning disability, O’Malley overcame many obstacles, creating a name for himself as a top musician. As a student at Wheeling High School, O’Malley won the Outstanding Solo Artist award at the North Shore Jazz Festival and the “Jazz in the Meadows” festival. In addition, he initiated and managed the Opus Jazz Quintet, a successful jazz combo that performed in many of Chicago’s top restaurants. In 2001, he performed in front of 40,000 people at the Boy Scout National Jamboree in West Virginia, playing Taps at a ceremony honoring war veterans from across the country.

O’Malley enrolled at DU majoring in music performance after meeting mentor and friend Al Hood, trumpet professor at the university. In 2004, he assisted Hood in planning the International Trumpet Guild conference at DU, acting as a direct link to the artists who performed. Although still active in the Lamont community, he soon found himself enthralled with more than just music. His communication and negotiation skills helped him begin planning large-scale events at some of Denver’s most noted nightclubs including Rise, Vinyl, Church, Shelter, Milk, Funky Buddha and Level. O’Malley has also acted as the Social Sciences and Arts and Humanities AUSA senator and is a resident assistant for the University of Denver.

With assistance from the discipline and strong work ethic skills he has acquired from music and DU, O’Malley aspires to open the “Opus Jazz Club” in Denver.

You may contact John at jomalley@du.edu