With a contagious smile and captivating charm, trumpet virtuoso, Byron Stripling, has ignited
audiences internationally.
Selected by conductor John Williams of the Boston Pops Orchestra, as featured soloist on the PBS
television special, "Evening at Pops," Stripling enjoys a global reputation. From Broadway and
Basin Street to the Ginza and London's West End, his burnished sound has electrified millions.
"Mr. Stripling is a powerful trumpeter," The New York Times has written, "at ease
with the most complicated and detailed bebop lines and an open-armed Armstrong swagger."
The Saint Paul Pioneer Press reported Stripling's strong, pure tone — "well into the upper
register, superb control (demonstrated time and again on long-held notes) and a fluid attack
that produced lengthy, well articulated melodic lines. No mere showoff, however, he played with laudable taste and musicality."
An accomplished actor and singer, Stripling was chosen, following a world wide search, to star
in tile lead role of the Broadway bound musical, Satchmo. Many will remember his featured cameo
performance in the television movie, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, and his critically
acclaimed virtuoso trumpet and riotous comedic performance in the 42nd Street production of
From Second Avenue to Broadway.
Television viewers have enjoyed his work as featured soloist on the worldwide telecast of The
Grammy Awards. Millions have heard his trumpet and voice on television commercials, TV theme
songs including "20/20," CNN, and soundtracks of favorite movies.
Since his Carnegie Hall debut with Skitch Henderson and the New York Pops, Stripling has become
a pops orchestra favorite throughout the country, soloing with Boston Pops, Virginia Symphony,
Rochester Philharmonic, Boca Raton Pops, Knoxville Symphony, Baton Rouge Symphony, Illinois
Philharmonic, and American Jazz Philharmonic, to name a few.
Stripling earned his stripes as lead trumpeter and soloist with the Count Basie Orchestra under
the direction of Thad Jones and Frank Foster. He also played and recorded extensively with the
bands of Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Herman, Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry, and Buck Clayton in addition
to The Lincoln Center Classical Jazz Orchestra, The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and The GRP
All Star Big Band.
Stripling enjoys conducting seminars and master classes at colleges, universities, conservatories,
and high schools. His motivational talks, combined with his incomparable wit and charm, make him
a favorite guest speaker to groups of all ages. He was educated at the Eastman School of Music
in Rochester, New York and the Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan. One of his
greatest joys is to return, periodically, to Eastman and Interlochen as a special guest lecturer.
A resident of New York, Stripling lives in the country with the love of his life, former dancer,
writer and poet, Alexis Wilson.