2024-2025 Trumpet Studio
The trumpet studio at James Madison University is THE place to realize your dreams of a life in music and the creative arts. Whether interested in performance, jazz studies, composition, music industry, or music education, you can find your artistic home in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. The trumpet studio is comprised of 28 music majors at both the graduate and undergraduate levels and all students have the opportunity to study with the studio professor, Dr. Carrillo.
The studio is led by Dr. Chris Carrillo, trumpet professor in the College of Visual and Performing Arts at James Madison University where he has served on the faculty since 2009. Previously, Dr. Carrillo was the trumpet professor at Texas A&M University-Kingsville (2005-2009) and The University of Texas at San Antonio (2003-2005). He has performed with the symphony orchestras of Austin, Charlotte, Charlottesville, Corpus Christi, Dallas Wind Symphony, Jacksonville, Laredo, Memphis, Roanoke, and Victoria. He was a member of the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, the Austin City Brass, and has performed as a guest with the "President's Own" US Marine Band Brass Quintet. Active also on baroque trumpet, Dr. Carrillo has performed at the Victoria Bach and Staunton Music Festivals, and as a guest with Chatham Baroque in Pittsburgh, and Tempesta di Mare-the Philadelphia Baroque Orchestra. He earned doctoral and masters degrees in trumpet performance at The University of Texas at Austin, was an exchange student at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and earned a bachelor of music education at The University of Memphis. For more information about Dr. Carrillo and the trumpet studio, please visit www.chriscarrillotrumpet.com, Trumpet Page at JMU and the trumpet studio page on Facebook.
Trumpet Students at JMU have the opportunity to perform in internationally recognized ensembles, perform in world-class venues, explore and perform on historical instruments, study internationally, interact with leading industry professionals, and learn from leading guest artists.
Opportunity to perform in outstanding, nationally and internationally recognized ensembles: Performance opportunities for trumpet students at JMU are numerous. Each academic year, trumpeters can perform in the: Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Opera Orchestra, Musical Theater Pit Orchestra, Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Band, Jazz Combos, Marching Royal Dukes, British-style Brass Band, Brass Quintets, Bach Aria Group, Collegium Musicum, and Trumpet Ensemble.
Perform regularly in world-class venues: Trumpet students at JMU will perform all concerts in the various venues of the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts. The Forbes Center is a 175,000-square-foot performing arts facility and is located on the west side of South Main Street directly across from Wilson Hall. It completes the historic “Quad” on the JMU campus. If you want to have a career performing in world-class concert halls, you must train in them. The Forbes Center for the Performing Arts offers trumpet students this unique opportunity for all large ensemble and select chamber/solo performances.
The Forbes Center boldly affirms JMU’s commitment to the arts as an essential component of the liberal arts curriculum and is the premier destination for arts in the Shenandoah Valley.
Exposure and opportunity to perform on historic instruments: Trumpet students at JMU have a unique opportunity to explore and experience baroque-era trumpets in addition to the regular course of study on the modern trumpet. Trumpet students are exposed to many different career paths including historic performance on period instruments.
An opportunity for international study: Trumpet students at JMU have twice traveled to Germany to attend the Sulzbach-Rosenberg International Music Festival. While in Germany, students perform, study, and visit the Germanisches National Museum in Nuremberg to view the largest collection of musical instruments in the German-speaking world.
Exposure to leading industry products: Weimann Trumpets from Germany visited campus and brought an example of every rotary trumpet and flugelhorn they make. Our trumpet students had the opportunity to try every one of these world-class instruments all the way from Germany to us here in Harrisonburg!
Bach Stradivarius Trumpets from Elkhart, Indiana visited campus and brought an example of every trumpet currently produced. Our trumpet students had the opportunity to try every one of these "industry standard" instruments.
An opportunity to learn from leading guest artists: Each year, the trumpet studio hosts renowned guest artists from across the country to work with JMU trumpet students. While in residency, students can attend master classes, work one-on-one, and attend live performances and recitals.
Find your home in the creative arts: Find your home to ignite and develop your passion in the performing arts here at James Madison University and join us in the thriving arts community that is the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. For general information, audition dates, and to register for an audition click here. For trumpet studio information and frequently asked questions about the trumpet studio, please visit Dr. Carrillo's website here.