A giant in the music world, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis is a multi-Grammy Award winner who has been lauded for his work both in jazz and classical music. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on October 18, 1961. He grew up in a musical family where his father was a pianist and music professor. At an early age, Wynton exhibited an aptitude for music; at age 8, Wynton with his trumpet performed traditional New Orleans music in the Fairview Baptist Church band; and at 14, he performed with the New Orleans Philharmonic. During high school, Wynton performed with the New Orleans Symphony Brass Quintet, New Orleans Community Concert Band, New Orleans Youth Orchestra, New Orleans Symphony, various jazz bands and with a local funk band, the Creators.

His entire life has been filled with prolific music in many forms. In 1995, PBS premiered Marsalis on Music, an educational television series on jazz and classical music hosted and written by Wynton. Also, in 1995, National Public Radio aired the first of Wynton’s 26-week series, entitled, Making the Music. His radio and television series were awarded the George Foster Peabody Award. Wynton has also written five books: Sweet Swing Blues on the Road, Jazz in the Bittersweet Blues of Life, To a Young Musician: Letters from the Road, Jazz ABZ (an A to Z collection of poems celebrating jazz greats), and his most recent release, Moving to Higher Ground: How Jazz Can Change Your Life.

In 1987, Wynton co-founded a jazz program at Lincoln Center, and in July 1996, Jazz at Lincoln Center was installed as a new constituent of Lincoln Center. In October 2004, Wynton opened Frederick P. Rose Hall, the world’s first institution for jazz containing three performance spaces (including the first concert hall designed specifically for jazz), along with recording, broadcast, rehearsal and educational facilities. Currently, Wynton is performing in the USA and serves as Artistic Director for Jazz at Lincoln Center and Music Director for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Whew!