Rob Parton

"Rob Parton is a Professor of Trumpet at the University of North Texas, where he teaches trumpet and directs the “Two O’Clock” Lab Band. Previously, he held faculty positions at Capital University, Roosevelt University, and Chicago State University. As a respected jazz educator and clinician, he has led All-State Jazz Ensembles and spoken at schools across the country.

A versatile and in-demand trumpet player, Parton has been asked to perform or record music by a wide range of composers, from Karel Husa and Leonard Bernstein to Duke Ellington. He has performed with many of America’s leading orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He has also served as lead trumpet in numerous Broadway shows in the Midwest. He has worked with Grammy, Tony, and Academy Award-winning artists, including Faith Hill, Natalie Cole, and Tony Bennett. As a recording artist, he has contributed to hundreds of recordings for national commercials and collaborated with various artists on labels like Concord, Verity, Mark Records, Sea Breeze, and Sony.

While comfortable in various musical settings, whether as a member of a jazz trio, brass quintet, or as a soloist with larger ensembles, leading a professional big band is where he has received the most acclaim. Founded in 1984, the Rob Parton Big Band has released over a dozen recordings, performed at the Midwest Clinic five times, and appeared at the International Trumpet Guild Conference, as well as at numerous jazz festivals. Dozens of the band’s recordings and live videos are available on various streaming platforms.

Rob plays a Bach 190 37X trumpet and a Vintage One Flugelhorn. "