SLIPPERY ROCK — An ancient adage says people who don't do, teach. But Stephen Hawk, a trumpet professor at Slippery Rock University, proves that wrong every day.

“I'm a performer. I always have been,” said Hawk, who balances teaching with performing and family.

Hawk has worked at SRU since 1989.

He said there were three positions for a trumpet professor in the United States at the time, and SRU was the only one that was close to a large music scene like Pittsburgh.

“I didn't choose Slippery Rock. Slippery Rock chose me,” Hawk said.

Since he got there, the music program has tripled in size.

“The program was really small when I got here,” Hawk said. “They had a good band ... but they didn't have a program yet.”

Hawk was instrumental in building that program.

At first, he was the director of the school's marching band in addition to his teaching duties. In 1991, he started the student wind ensemble. He also helped develop the school's jazz ensemble.

Although some academics try to continually move up the ladder to other schools, he is happy where he is, partially because he helped the program to rise.

“I think you get a little more pride in what it is,” Hawk said. “If I go to a new city, you have to start over. Here, I'm kind of ‘the guy.'”

He also enjoys the atmosphere at SRU.

“It's very warm, close knit ... not just the faculty, the students,” Hawk said. “It's a close knit bunch.”

Before coming to SRU, Hawk led a long life of performing.

He started as a child in drum and bugle corps, but he did not originally go to school for music. Fresh out of high school, he went to college in 1978 part time for computer science in while performing.

“I always liked math,” Hawk said.

Eventually, Hawk decided to attend Western Illinois University.

“A fantastic band school in the middle of a cornfield,” Hawk said of the university.

After that, he attended the University of Texas in Austin. There, he became infatuated with the arts scene, so much so that he named his first son after the city.

Still, he wanted more.

“I had every job in town. I could have stayed, but I really wanted to teach college,” Hawk said. “It's the most rewarding thing in the world.

“Teaching music is a very powerful thing, a very personal thing. It's not an interesting thing to teach; it's a passion.”

So, he came to SRU.

His wife, Mechelle, also got a job as a professor at SRU.

“It's really hard for two people to get professor positions at the same school,” Hawk said.

Their offices were next to each other, until she died two years ago.

Since her death, he said he is slightly less involved in the school, but still plays a significant role.

“When something like this happens to you, you readjust your view of life. I see what's most important,” Hawk said.

He said he is less career-oriented and believes the most important thing is to be there for his sons, Austin, a student at SRU, and Kyle, a student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

“That, right now, is my priority,” Hawk said.

That does not mean he has halted his career.

He estimates that he has played on 30 to 40 albums in his lifetime.

Of course, he would not be able to create music without being an avid listener. He has more than 500 CDs in his office.

“This isn't even half of what I have,” Hawk said.

Hawk also has two Grammy Awards hanging on his wall, both for performing on Nancy Wilson albums, one in 2004 and one in 2006.

He was invited to attend both ceremonies, but he declined.

Winning Grammy's were not Hawk's only time in the national spotlight.

In 2001, he appeared on “Oprah,” performing “Let It Snow” with Wilson. Also appearing on the show were Destiny's Child and Charlotte Church.

He was impressed by the accommodations and how genuine the host was.

“It was red carpet the whole time,” Hawk said. “She's very genuine, very sweet.”

Of course, music cannot be his entire life. It consumes most of his time, but he has a few other passions.

He enjoys car shows and playing golf, and he has season tickets to the Steelers. He also is a third generation St. Louis Cardinals fan.

He should be interested in the Cardinals. His father played in its farm league.

Still, music takes up much of his time.

In addition to teaching during the school year, Hawk performs with the Pittsburgh CLO during the summer.

“I haven't had a summer off since 1991,” Hawk said.

The program lasts 10 weeks, and Hawk performs in shows on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, as well as two shows Saturday and Sunday.

“It's an extremely intense schedule,” he said.

The program ends in August.

“I have a week to recover, then school starts,” Hawk said.

Despite the load, Hawk is enamored with his work.

“I wouldn't change it for anything. I absolutely love what I do,” Hawk said. “It's all worked out. It's all worth it. I don't think I'll ever be retired.”

<B>Age: </B>55<B>Address:</B> Worth Township<B>Family: </B>Sons, Austin, 21; Kyle, 19<B>Employment: </B>Professor of music at Slippery Rock University<B>Education: </B>Western Illinois University, undergraduate 1986; University of Texas, doctorate 1989<B>Interests:</B> Music, cars, golf, sports