Biography

John Allen recently graduated with a Bachelors of Music (B.M.) degree in Trumpet Performance from The University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa. After graduating with honors in May of 2011, John will attend graduate school at Yale University’s School of Music in New Haven, Connecticut.

Mr. Allen is co-principle of the University of Alabama’s Huxford Symphony Orchestra and has played principal trumpet on pieces such as Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, Shostakovich’s 5th Symphony, and Stravinsky's Petroushka. John recently made his solo debut, performing Haydn’s Concerto for Trumpet with the University of Alabama Wind Ensemble.

In addition to performing in the University’s orchestra and as an extra with the Tuscaloosa Symphony, he has also been a member of the 2nd Avenue Brass Quintet, a group that has performed at events throughout the Tuscaloosa area, and has competed in regional and won state level chamber music competitions. John also played in the University of Alabama's Wind Ensemble and Contemporary Music Ensemble and has been principal trumpet of the Capstone Chamber Orchestra.

During the summer months John travels across the country attending and performing in various music festivals, conferences, and seminars. Most recently John was a fellow at the 2010 Marrowstone Music Festival in Bellingham, Washington, where he worked with Empire Brass Trumpeter, Marc Reese, and Dale Clevenger, Principal Horn of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In prior summers, John attended Barbara Butler and Charlie Geyer’s Masterclass Series at Northwestern University, the Sewanee Summer Music Festival, Judith Saxton’s trumpet workshop, and ITG conferences.

John Allen's principle teachers have included Eric Yates, Leonard Candelaria, Johnny Jacobs, and Joe Ardovino.

Proficient in many different styles and idioms, John is always looking for places to perform and share the sound of the trumpet. You can reach him easily via email at john@jsallen.com.