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Rex Richardson (Columbia, SC) Renowned as a champion of new, genre-busting music, Yamaha Performing Artist Rex Richardson was named the 2008 Brass Herald International Personality of the Year. With a reputation unique in the trumpet world for his combination of singular virtuosity, deep lyricism, and mastery of improvisation in classical as well as jazz idioms, he has been called “one of the finest virtuosos of our time” (Brass Herald, 2018), “a standout soloist with the power, range, and flexibility to rival Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw,” (DownBeat, 2014) and “among the very best trumpet soloists in the world today.” (Journal of the International Trumpet Guild, 2011)
A veteran of the acclaimed chamber ensemble Rhythm & Brass, jazz legend Joe Henderson’s Quintet and Sextet, William Russo’s Chicago Jazz Ensemble, and the world-renowned Brass Band of Battle Creek, his hundreds of soloist engagements include appearances with the Phoenix Symphony and Thailand Philharmonic Orchestras, the U.S. Army Field Band and Tokyo Symphonic Winds, England’s Fodens Brass Band, Spanish Brass, Boston Brass, and the U.S. Air Force’s Airmen of Note Jazz Ensemble.
His CD Freedom of Movement: 21st Century Trumpet Concertos was released to critical acclaim and named a top-ten finalist for 4barsrest.com’s 2018 Solo CD of the Year. The ITG Journal (International Trumpet Guild) called it “a triumph of virtuosity and musicianship” (March 2019).
Recently appointed the trumpet professor at University of South Carolina, Richardson taught at Virginia Commonwealth University from 2002-2024 and has served as International Tutor in Trumpet at England’s Royal Northern College of Music from 2012-2015 and at Austria’s JAM Music Lab University since 2018.