Fred Irby

Fred Irby has served on the faculty of Howard University since 1974, where he teaches applied trumpet, directs he Howard University Jazz Ensemble and is the Coordinator of Instrumental Studies. Irby is the Principal Trumpet of the Kennedy Center Opera House Musical Theater Orchestra. He has performed in the orchestras for the 87th, 88th, 89th, and 90th Academy Awards Gala (Oscars), 56th Primetime Emmy Awards, Dancing with the Stars, America’s Got Talent, The Gershwin Awards, The Horatio Alger Awards and was principal trumpet for the cast album of the Stephen Sondheim musical “BOUNCE”. He was inducted into the Grambling State University and the Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville "Alumni Hall of Fame”, received an Achievement Award in Jazz Education (2008) from downbeat magazine, received the Ronnie Wells Jazz Service Award during the 2016 Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival and was given a Lifetime Achievement Award during the 2016 DC Jazz Festival Gala at the Kennedy Center.