10. University of North Texas – Denton, TX
Notable Faculty: J. Keith Johnson, John Holt
J. Keith Johnson is considered one of the foremost authorities on trumpet pedagogy and performance. He has received the “Award of Merit” for outstanding contribution to the field of trumpet performance and pedagogy. His students have held dozens of highly regarded teaching and performance positions throughout the entire US, as well as in Spain, South Africa, Germany, and New Zealand. His text, Brass Performance and Pedagogy, is widely regarded as the most authoritative must-have text for trumpet and brass performers worldwide. Other faculty members include John Holt, who is the principal of the Dallas Opera Orchestra and is even the Chair for the entire instrumental studies program at UNT College of Music.
9. New England Conservatory – Boston, MA
Notable Faculty: Michael Martin, Benjamin Wright, Steve Emery, Thomas Rolfs
What makes the New England Conservatory faculty intriguing is that every single member of the faculty is either presently or has once been employed by the neighboring Boston Symphony Orchestra. Steve Emery, former trumpeter for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, is one of the most sought-after clinicians and trumpet performers in the world. When he left the Boston Symphony, he was invited to join both the Vienna Philharmonic and even as principal trumpet for the New York Philharmonic, positions that he, to my knowledge, turned down! Inviting both students and BSO members to come together in performance, the school hosts a “Brass Bash” concert at NEC’s legendary venue known as Jordan Hall. Students of this program now hold positions in major brass ensembles and symphonies throughout America.
8. Boston University – Boston, MA
Notable Faculty: Terry Everson
Possibly the most sought-after trumpet teacher in Boston along with Steve Emery of NEC, Terry Everson hosts one of the most impressive and technically gifted studios at Boston University’s College of Fine Arts. A 20th and 21st century classical music specialist, Everson has premiered dozens of works written for him by major composers throughout the entire world. As a performer he has played with the Boston Pops, the Boston Symphony, and the Philadelphia Orchestra, among myriads of other notable ensembles. Known for having a large and charismatic personality, Terry recently was bestowed the Metcalf Award from the institution he teaches, which is the university’s highest distinction for teaching in any field.
Listen to the Faculty: Check out Terry Everson performing excellent compositions by Ewazen, Shchedrin, and others
7. Yale School of Music – New Haven, CT
Notable Faculty: Allan Dean
For graduate students only, Allan Dean does claim on his personal website that he will very occasionally take on an undergraduate from the Yale College (which is affiliated with, but not itself a part of, the Yale School of Music) that shows outstanding technical achievement, talent, and advanced training. Dean is at the college itself twice a week, and places a very large emphasis on orchestral repertoire. However, he does also immerse his students into early music traditions as well, and requires that his pupils are always playing, every single semester, in a chamber ensemble.
Dean himself is particularly notable as being a trumpet player who did not make his fame in orchestras, but rather, in New York City chamber ensembles. While a young trumpeter in New York, he would regularly record melodies for ABC and even compositions for The Olympics. Additionally, he is considered one of the foremost performers of the “natural trumpet” and the “cornetto” period instruments. As a teacher, he additionally is faculty at Yale’s summer fellowship program, the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival.