Horst Michael Schaffer
Born in Weißkirchen, Styria, Austria, Horst-Michael Schaffer studied classical and jazz singing as well as trumpet at the Johann-Joseph-Fux Conservatory and the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz. After studying abroad with Bobby Shew in Los Angeles and Dean Bowman in London, he has been teaching trumpet, ensemble, didactics, and teaching practice for many years at iPOP – Institute for Popular Music at the University of Music Vienna and the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz.
In addition to his long-standing involvement in the Styrian Music School Network, his educational work spans classical instrumental instruction, band coaching, arranging, improvisation, and solo performance in various styles. For many years, he has directed the internationally renowned JBBG – Jazz Bigband Graz. In his own artistic projects, he collaborates with numerous artists from the pop and jazz genres, including Django Bates, Raphael Wressnig, Maxwell, Stars & Stripes Major Label, Alex Deutsch, Johannes Enders, Wolfgang Puschnig, Kurt Elling, Colin Towns, Nguyen Lé, Georg Breinschmid, Gregor Hilbe, Ostinato, Maxwell, or Count Basic.