Courtney D. Jones is carving out new paths in 21st-century trumpet performance. An award-winning Conn-Selmer (Bach) artist, he has become a pivotal presence in contemporary performance, pedagogy, and conducting, while also dedicating himself to music outreach programs for inner-city youth. Dr. Jones is a sought-after soloist, clinician, and adjudicator, effortlessly blending styles as he performs across North America and internationally.

This journey commenced in Columbus, Georgia, where Courtney began his musical path. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Columbus State University, dedicating his time to performing with various university ensembles and recording alongside notable artists like Jens Lindemann, Joseph Alessi, John Bruce Yeh, and the Columbus State University Wind Ensemble, all under the Naxos Music label. His pursuit of excellence continued as he completed a Master of Music degree in Trumpet Performance at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia. There, he had the privilege of studying under J. Carlton Rowe, the former Principal Trumpet of the “President’s Own” United States Marine Band, and Craig Fraedrich of The U.S. Army Blues.

Courtney’s doctoral studies unfolded at UCLA, where he received guidance from the internationally acclaimed soloist Jens Lindemann, a former lead trumpet of the Canadian Brass. While at UCLA, he contributed as a Teaching Associate for lecture courses, providing weekly instruction to undergraduate trumpet students. His talents were recognized with a Gluck Fellowship, which led to his role as the conductor of the UCLA Brass Ensemble during the latter part of his residency. His musicological research focused on exploring 21st Century ideological and transcendental concepts of performance practice, specifically examining the lesser-known contemporary work by composer Frank Ticheli, titled “The First Voice for Solo Bb Trumpet.”

Before completing his doctorate, Courtney secured the position of Visiting Assistant Professor of Trumpet at the Voxman School of Music at the University of Iowa. Over the course of nearly two years, he served as the Principal Trumpet for the Iowa Faculty Brass Quintet and taught Graduate Brass Pedagogy while actively participating on academic committees. He also revitalized the University’s Brass Ensemble, which had been dormant for several years, organizing an engaging performance concert to underscore the significance of Brass Bands as a vital training ground for developing technical and pedagogical skills in brass players. Beyond his academic and applied responsibilities, Courtney also performed with Orchestra Iowa and the Dubuque Symphony and showcased his solo talent with both the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band and the New Horizons Band, including the Midwest Premiere of Kim Scharnberg’s “Travelogue for Trumpet.”

His impressive solo career is complemented by collaborations with some of the biggest names in the music industry. Dr. Jones has taken the stage with renowned artists like Kenny Burrell, B.B. King, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Rihanna, Lalo Schifrin, Vanessa Williams, Boy George and The Culture Club, and Stevie Wonder. He has also showcased his talent as a collaborator or featured soloist with various prestigious ensembles, including the Golden States Pop Orchestra, Southeast Symphony Orchestra, Macao Orchestra (China), the Oslo Philharmonic (Norway), the Pasadena Orchestra, the Debut Orchestra, the Inspiravi Chamber Orchestra, the Orchid City Brass Band, the Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass, the Long Beach Opera, Symphony of the Americas, the Los Angeles Trombone Collective, the Salt-River Brass Band, and the Big River Brass Band, to name a few. He held the position of Musical Director for the Orchid City Brass Band from 2018 to 2022 and remains an active founding member of the Gateways Brass Collective. In addition to his vibrant performance career, Dr. Jones is represented by Naxos and Summit Music labels. His film and television contributions have appeared in productions such as Glee, Notes from Dad, Cougar Town, and Criminal Minds, all of which can be found on his personal website’s media section.

Academically, Dr. Jones earned his Doctor of Musical Arts and has taught at esteemed institutions like UCLA and the University of Iowa. Currently, he serves as the Young Artists Trumpet Coach at Boston University’s Tanglewood Institute (BUTI) for both the Orchestra, Wind Ensemble and is the Associate Professor of Trumpet and Artistic Director of Jazz & Chamber Ensembles at Florida Atlantic University. Beyond his teaching responsibilities and solo performances, he is committed to enhancing music education in underserved communities. Through initiatives like the Music Outreach Program at UCLA, The Harmony Project in Los Angeles, Trumpets 4 Kids in Dallas, the Nat King Cole Hope, Inc. Foundation, El Sistema, and the Gateways Music Festival in Rochester, New York, he works tirelessly to provide vital arts-in-education opportunities to inner-city students. These programs are essential, offering mentorship and musical training that these young people might not otherwise receive.