In addition to directing the Hastings College Band and Marching Bronco Band, Dr. Eckhardt teaches music history and high brass and is chair of the Department of Music and Theatre.
He is the principal trumpet of the Hastings Symphony Orchestra, principal trumpet of the Monroe Symphony Orchestra, the Cathedral Brass Quintet and La Follia Austin Baroque. He has also performed with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra, Rapides Symphony Orchestra, Nittany Valley Symphony Orchestra and the Altoona Symphony Orchestra.
Dr. Eckhardt has performed with the Victoria Bach Festival in Victoria, Texas and the Vail International Dance Festival in Vail, Colorado. He has been a guest of the Fundación Sinfonía Concertante de Panamá, presenting masterclasses at the Universidad de Panamá, the Instituto Nacional de Música de Panamá and the Casa de Cultura de Panamá. In addition, he is an active recitalist and is in frequent demand as a performer and clinician throughout Nebraska, Texas, Louisiana and beyond.
As a Baroque trumpeter and disciple of the historically informed performance movement, Dr. Eckhardt has performed with La Follia Austin Baroque, the American Bach Soloists, Mercury and Bach Society Houston.
Dr. Eckhardt holds a B.M. in Music Education and Trumpet Performance from Hastings College, an M.M. in Trumpet Performance from The Pennsylvania State University and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Trumpet Performance at Louisiana State University. He has studied trumpet with Daniel Schmidt, Langston J. Fitzgerald III and Brian Shaw. He has also studied with Denny Schneider, Keith Benjamin, John Thiessen, Charles Lirette and Vance Woolf.
