Susan Slaughter is an American orchestral trumpet player. She was principal trumpet player of the

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra based in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1880 by Joseph Otten as the St. Louis Choral Society, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) is the second-oldest professional symphony or ...

for 40 years, from 1972 until 2010. She is the first woman to hold the position of principal trumpet in a major American orchestra. She is also the founder of the International Women's Brass Conference and Monarch Brass, an all female brass ensemble.

Education

Slaughter grew up in

McCordsville, Indiana McCordsville is a town in Vernon Township, Hancock County, Indiana, Vernon Township, Hancock County, Indiana, Hancock County, Indiana, United States. The town is a fast-growing suburb of Indianapolis with an estimated population of 8,592 in 2020. ...

and began playing the trumpet at 10 years old, in her school band. She was not allowed to play in her high school band because of her gender, except for once as a substitute. She took private lessons through the Jordan Conservatory in Indianapolis, Indiana during high school. She attended

Indiana University School of Music The Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington, Indiana, is a music conservatory established in 1921. Until 2005, it was known as the Indiana University School of Music. It has more than 1,500 students, approximately half of whom ar ...

, studying with Herbert Mueller and graduating in 1967 with a Bachelor of Music Degree and Performer's Certificate. She studied with

Robert Nagel Robert Nagel (September 29, 1924 – June 5, 2016) was an American trumpet player, composer, and teacher. He was an early advocate for brass chamber music, especially the brass quintet. Nagel was the founder and director of the New York Brass Quin ...

at the

Aspen Music Festival and School The Aspen Music Festival and School (AMFS) is a classical music festival held annually in Aspen, Colorado. It is noted both for its concert programming and the musical training it offers to mostly young-adult music students. Founded in 1949, the ...

in 1966 and 1968. Other teachers of hers include

Arnold Jacobs Arnold Maurice Jacobs (June 11, 1915 – October 7, 1998) was an American tubist who spent most of his career with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He held that position from 1944 until his retirement in 1988. Jacobs was considered one of the fo ...

, Herbert Müeller, Bernard Adelstein,

Claude Gordon Claude Eugene Gordon (April 5, 1916 - May 16, 1996), nicknamed the "King of Brass", was an American trumpet player, band director, educator, lecturer and writer. Life Claude Gordon was born on April 5, 1916 in Helena, Montana. His father, James Au ...

, and

Laurie Frink Laurie Ann Frink (August 8, 1951, Pender, Nebraska – July 13, 2013, New York City) was an American jazz trumpeter who worked primarily in big band idioms. Frink attended the University of Nebraska (1969-1972) and studied under Jimmy Maxwell (19 ...

Career

Slaughter's first orchestral position was as principal trumpet of the

Toledo Symphony Orchestra The Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts was created in 2019 when the Toledo Symphony Orchestra and the Toledo Ballet merged. Based in Toledo, Ohio, it operated with a $13.2 million budget in its fiscal year 2020 and maintains the two brand n ...

from 1967 to 1969. In 1969, she won the position of fourth trumpet in the Saint Louis Symphony. In 1972, she became acting principal trumpet after the principal trumpet resigned. For four months, she alternated as co-principal with a male trumpet player, but was offered the full-time principal position at the end of the year. Slaughter was principal trumpet for 40 years until her retirement in 2010. Slaughter founded the International Women's Brass Conference in 1991, as well as the Monarch Brass Ensemble which has performed at each conference. Slaughter has received several awards, such as the YWCA Special Leadership Award in the Arts, the 2007 St. Louis Arts and Education council Excellence in the Arts award, and the American Federation of Musicians (local 2-197) Owen Miller Award for Loyalty, Dedication and Fairness in Actions and Deeds''.'' On her retirement in 2010, the trumpet section of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra established the Susan Slaughter Trumpet Scholarship at the

Jacobs School of Music The Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington, Indiana, is a music conservatory established in 1921. Until 2005, it was known as the Indiana University School of Music. It has more than 1,500 students, approximately half of whom ar ...

, Indiana, to support undergraduate trumpet students, with preference given to female students.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Slaughter, Susan Year of birth missing (living people) Living people 20th-century trumpeters 21st-century trumpeters Jacobs School of Music alumni Women trumpeters