Trumpet Journey

Artist CV

Stanley H. Curtis, D.M.

Trumpeter • Composer • Educator • Scholar
Associate Professor of Trumpet – Colorado State University
trumpetjourney.com •
stanley.curtis@colostate.edu •
(703) 509-0873

Artistic & Creative Highlights

  • Performer on modern trumpet and historic instruments including the baroque trumpet, keyed trumpet, and cornetto, bridging early and contemporary practice.
  • Fulbright Scholar at the Sweelinck Conservatorium (Amsterdam), studying baroque trumpet with Friedemann Immer.
  • Former member (retired) of the U.S. Navy Band in Washington, D.C. (1998–2018), where he led the Navy Band Brass Quartet and performed at major national and international events including the White House, Pentagon, and Kennedy Center.
  • Solo albums: Refracted Light (Art Laureate, 2019) featuring Curtis’s original compositions, and Orbits of Infinity (Tōnsehen, 2022) featuring commissioned works by his close associates; Orbits received 2nd Place, The American Prize (2023), Brass Division, Instrumental Soloists Category.
  • Founder and editor of TrumpetJourney.com, an educational resource with 400+ articles and more than 500,000 readers worldwide.
  • Composer and publisher with Balquhidder Music (Carl Fischer affiliate), with plans to self-publish additional works through trumpetjourney.com.
  • Chair, International Trumpet Guild Grant Committee and President, Historic Brass Society (2022–23).
  • Judge, Third International Altenburg Baroque Trumpet Competition, Bad Säckingen, Germany (2026).
  • Host, 2024 North American Baroque Trumpet Competition and Conference at Colorado State University.
  • Performer and clinician in Spain, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, and Colombia, as well as throughout the United States.

Academic & Teaching Appointments

  • Colorado State University (Fort Collins, CO) — Associate Professor of Trumpet (2019–present)
    • Founded the CSU ITG Chapter, CSU Trumpet Day, and Summer Brass Workshop.
    • Producer of the Colorado All-State Trumpet Instructional Video Series.
    • Principal Trumpet, Fort Collins Symphony (2019–2023).
  • Levine Music School (Washington, D.C.) — Suzuki Trumpet Instructor (2017–2018)
  • George Mason University (Fairfax, VA) — Adjunct Professor of Trumpet (2003–2018)
  • Catholic University of America — Instructor of Trumpet (2003–2004)
  • Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia Music School (La Coruña, Spain) — Professor (1996–1997)
  • University of Evansville — Adjunct Instructor of Trumpet (1991–1993)
  • Indiana University — Associate Instructor (1990–1991, 1993–1994)

Selected Performance Experience

Modern Ensembles

  • U.S. Navy Band, Washington, D.C. (1998–2018) — Trumpeter; Leader, Brass Quartet
    • Highlights: Meet the Press, Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, Midwest Clinic (2014), 9-11 Ceremony with President Obama (2011).
  • Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Denver — extra trumpet (2018–present)
  • Fort Collins Symphony, Principal Trumpet (2019–2023)
  • Colorado Brass, Principal Cornet (2021–2022)
  • Evansville Philharmonic, Principal Trumpet (1991–1994)
  • Additional work with: Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia, Cathedral Choral Society, Indianapolis Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Virginia Opera, National Repertory Orchestra, and more.

Historic Ensembles

  • Apollo’s Fire, Washington Bach Consort, Bach Sinfonia, Folger Consort, Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado, and Washington Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble.
  • Performances on baroque trumpet, keyed trumpet, cornetto, and corno da tirarsi across Europe and the U.S.
  • Regular appearances at early-music festivals in Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy.

Soloist & Chamber Music

  • Soloist with Fort Collins Symphony (Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 2), CSU Wind Symphony, U.S. Navy Band, and numerous early-music ensembles.
  • Faculty and guest artist recitals at CSU, George Mason University, Indiana University, the National Trumpet Competition, and the Historic Brass Society Festival.

Compositions & Arrangements

Published Works

  • Advent (2018, Balquhidder Music) — selected for 2018 ITG New Music Recital.
  • The Daniel Window, Epiphany Window: Night Passages, Without Form, Judgement Day, Concerto in C, and Concerto for Brass Quartet and Band — originally published by Concierto International Music Publishing; forthcoming self-published editions on trumpetjourney.com.

Selected Premieres & Commissions

  • Premieres of new works by Amy Dunker, Kevin Poelking, James David, Kevin Michael Olson, and Douglas Hedwig, exploring themes of astronomy, mythology, and the natural world.
  • His own Refracted Light cycle (including Advent, The Daniel Window, and Epiphany Window: Night Passages) explores themes of faith and illumination.
  • Numerous editions and arrangements for brass groups, including music by Gabrieli, Messiaen, and Still.

Recordings

  • Orbits of Infinity (2022, Tōnsehen) — music inspired by outer space and new commissions; 2nd Place, The American Prize (2023).
  • Refracted Light (2019, Art Laureate) — original compositions by Curtis.
  • With Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia: recordings on Auvidis Valois and Fundación Autor labels with Plácido Domingo, María Bayo, and Víctor Pablo Pérez.
  • Chamber and early-music recordings for Carus Verlag and Department of Defense Records.
  • Active online presence via SoundCloud (130,000+ visits) and YouTube.

Awards & Recognition

  • 2nd Place, The American Prize (2023) — Brass Professional Division, Instrumental Soloists Category, for Orbits of Infinity.
  • The American Prize in Orchestral Performance (2021, Fort Collins Symphony).
  • ITG Calls for New Music (2018, 2021, 2022 – peer-selected works Advent, Lion’s Den, Nightfall).
  • Fulbright Scholar, Sweelinck Conservatorium (1994–95).
  • ITG Altenburg Baroque Trumpet Competition, 3rd Prize (1996).
  • U.S. Navy Band Chief of the Quarter and multiple Commendation and Achievement Medals.
  • Concerto Competition winner at Indiana University, Cleveland Institute of Music, and University of Alabama.

Publications & Research

  • Articles in International Trumpet Guild Journal and Historic Brass Society Newsletter.
  • Historic Brass Today (2022): “Early Brass Festival Report.”
  • Monteverdi’s Symbolic Use of the Cornett (Doctoral Dissertation, Indiana University).
  • Trumpet Building Blocks series and over 400 blog essays on trumpetjourney.com.
  • Ongoing research on 19th-century French cornet repertoire (Goetz manuscripts, Adhémar, Forestier, Schiltz).
  • Editor and historian for U.S. Navy Band program notes and archives (2005–2018).

Leadership & Service

  • Chair, ITG Grant Committee – advancing funding for trumpet research and education.
  • President, Historic Brass Society (2022–23) – expanded global membership and sponsorship.
  • Organizer and Host, 2024 North American Baroque Trumpet Competition (CSU).
  • Division Chair, Historic Trumpet Division, National Trumpet Competition (2004–2009).
  • Frequent clinician at CMEA, TMEA, Midwest Clinic, music schools in the U.S., France, Italy, and Germany, and international conferences.

Critical Acclaim

“Equally astonishing was the performance of Stanley Curtis, who performed miracles on his valveless baroque trumpet… With its almost human sound, his trumpet was an ideal vocal partner.”
— The Washington Post, Dec. 16, 2013

“Curtis gave clear direction to every note, from soaring solo lines to small ideas he connected into long, arched phrases.”
— Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Oct. 22, 2001

“Played well (as it was, here, by Stanley Curtis) [the cornett] sounds like an exceptionally clear human voice.”
— The Washington Post, Oct. 6, 2008

Languages

English (native), Spanish and French (intermediate reading and speaking).

Personal Interests

Composing, cooking, studying languages, hiking, walking dogs, and traveling with his wife Melissa.