Carnegie Hall

Wynton Marsalis (b. 1961) is a world-renowned trumpeter, bandleader, composer, and a leading advocate of American culture. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, he is the son of jazz pianist and music educator Ellis Marsalis Jr. Wynton started practicing trumpet at age six and grew up playing in an unusually diverse group of musical ensembles that included everything from New Orleans traditional marching bands to funk bands, concert bands, orchestras, and small jazz ensembles. Over the past four decades, Marsalis has rekindled an animated global interest in jazz through performances, educational activities, books, curricula, and relentless advocacy on public platforms. He has performed over 4,800 concerts in more than 60 countries around the globe. Marsalis performs and composes across the entire spectrum of jazz and has written jazz-influenced chamber music and symphonic works for revered classical ensembles across the US and abroad. He has written more than 600 works, including songs and movements, dance scores, suites, symphonies, chamber works, and more.