Kevin Whalen

Dr. Kevin Whalen is Associate Professor of Trumpet and Jazz Studies at Texas Tech University. A versatile performer, Whalen has appeared throughout the United States and Canada as the solo trumpet chair of the Glenn Miller Orchestra and has toured internationally while holding a jazz trumpet chair with the Grammy-nominated University of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band. He has appeared on 25 commercially released albums in both jazz and classical idioms and was twice selected as a finalist in the Jazz Division of the National Trumpet Competition. Dr. Whalen performs as a charter member of the Palisade Trumpet Collective, a professional trumpet ensemble that presents diverse new music at universities and concert venues throughout the country.

An experienced teacher and engaged scholar, Dr. Whalen has presented research at the Jazz Education Network Annual Conference, the Annual Conference of the International Trumpet Guild, the International Conference on the Blues, the International Music by Women Festival, and the Conference on the Harlem Renaissance. He has been invited to conduct masterclasses at the Eastman School of Music, Ithaca College, the University of North Texas, Gonzaga University, Baylor University, the University of Wyoming, Colorado State University, the University of Northern Colorado, and Virginia Tech. His trumpet students have won positions in the Disney All-American Band, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, the Eastman Jazz Ensemble, the United States Army Band Pershing's Own, the UNT One O'Clock Lab Band, the National Trumpet Competition, and the Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition.

Before joining the faculty at Texas Tech, Dr. Whalen served as Director of Jazz Studies and Associate Professor of Jazz Studies at the Columbus State University Schwob School of Music, Instructor of Jazz Trumpet at the University of Northern Colorado, Managing Producer of the UNC/Greeley Jazz Festival, and Teaching Fellow at the University of North Texas. Whalen holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in trumpet performance from the University of North Texas, a Master of Music degree in jazz studies from the University of Northern Colorado, and a Bachelor of Music degree in music education from Colorado State University. His principal teachers include Robert Murray, Keith Johnson, David Shaner, Kent Erickson, and Bruce Dalby.

Dr. Kevin Whalen is a Conn-Selmer Endorsing Artist and plays Bach Stradivarius trumpets.