Michael Sullivan, Trumpet

Michael Sullivan is a versatile and dynamic trumpeter, praised by Maestro Bramwell Tovey for his lyrical yet powerful style and “exquisite musical instinct.” Equally at home in orchestral, chamber, and commercial settings, Michael brings depth and artistry to a broad range of musical idioms.

As a freelance artist in Los Angeles, Michael performed with studio musicians in the Southeast Symphony and appeared as a soloist with the CSU Long Beach Brass Ensemble, performing Anthony Plog’s Concerto No. 2 for Trumpet and Brass Ensemble. He has also served as principal trumpet of the Puget Sound Symphony and performed with the Cape Ann and Waynesboro Symphonies. He was a frequent guest artist with the UVA Faculty Brass Quintet and was a two-time semi-finalist in the National Trumpet Competition’s graduate solo division.

Currently based in Salt Lake City, Michael is the principal trumpet of the Salt Lake Symphony and a founding member of the SB Collective Ensemble. Since summer 2024, he has also been a member of the Canyons Brass Quintet. His experience as an educator includes serving as a clinician at the prestigious BU Tanglewood Institute and as a soloist and clinician for the Palomar College Brass Ensemble.

Michael holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Trumpet Performance from CSU Long Beach, where he studied under Rob Frear and Christopher Still (Los Angeles Philharmonic). He pursued post-graduate studies at Boston University with Terry Everson and attended the renowned Chosen Vale Trumpet Seminar, where he worked with Tom Stevens and Håkan Hardenberger.