Philadelphia Orchestra Emeritus Trumpeter
Born in Parkersburg, West Virginia, Roger Blackburn attended Asbury College in Kentucky, Westminster Choir College in New Jersey, and graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music under the tutelage of Samuel Krauss, former principal trumpet of The Philadelphia Orchestra. In 1969, he won a Fulbright Scholarship to study trumpet with Helmut Wobisch at the Academy for Music and Dramatic Art in Vienna, Austria.
Mr. Blackburn joined The Philadelphia Orchestra in 1974 after being associate principal trumpet in the Houston Symphony. Before that, he was principal trumpet of the Israel Philharmonic and co-acting principal trumpet of the Saint Louis Symphony.
During his 37 years with the orchestra he was a frequent soloist with the Amerita Chamber Players and was a featured trumpeter with the Philadelphia Chamber Players, Mozart Society, and the Glencairn Horns of Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania. Roger founded the Philharmonic Flavor, a Barbershop/Brass quartet comprised of Philadelphia Orchestra members, and Four His Glory, a male gospel vocal quartet. He is presently a trumpet professor at the University of Florida and his hobbies include collecting vintage audio recordings and singing barbershop quartet harmonies. His latest project is the release of his digitally remastered recording, Barbershopping in Brass.
He endorses the new Commercial Model Bach Bb trumpet and has played the Bach instruments throughout his career.