Trent Austin, Trumpet

Trent Austin is a jazz trumpeter, master clinician, and pedagogue whose career is centered on education-driven artistry and practical musicianship. Represented by DGL Artists™ and a core educational artist within DGLevatEd™, Austin is nationally respected for high-impact clinics, residencies, and masterclasses that connect professional performance standards directly to student growth.

A prodigy from an early age, Austin performed internationally while still in high school, including appearances at the opening of Euro Disney and the Montreux Jazz Festival. He earned a full scholarship to the University of New Hampshire for classical trumpet studies and was selected for elite programs including the Berklee Grammy® High School Jazz Band and the Disney All-American Show Band. These early experiences established a foundation that blends classical discipline with deep jazz fluency.

As a professional performer, Austin has appeared with an extraordinary range of artists, including Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole, Clark Terry, Maria Schneider, Peter Erskine, Arturo Sandoval, Hal Galper, Marvin Stamm, Kenny Werner, and many others. He served for eleven years as a featured soloist with the Artie Shaw Orchestra and remains a first-call performer throughout the Boston and New England region. His performance career informs his teaching directly, grounding pedagogy in real-world musical demands.

Education, Pedagogy, and DGLevatEd™

Education is the core of Austin’s work. He served for nine years as a trumpet professor at the University of Southern Maine and is a frequent clinician at regional, national, and international events, including repeated appearances at the International Trumpet Guild Conference. His teaching philosophy emphasizes sound production, time feel, stylistic authenticity, and long-term artistic sustainability, drawing inspiration from the lineage of Clark Terry and other master educators.

Through DGLevatEd™, Austin delivers structured, adaptable educational programs for middle school, high school, collegiate, and community settings. His residencies and clinics are designed to meet institutions where they are, combining clear technical instruction with musical context, listening skills, and career awareness. These programs are well suited for schools seeking meaningful engagement that extends beyond a single concert or workshop.

Recording Artist and Entrepreneur

Austin’s recorded output includes Trumpet 101, Two-Toned, Meditations for Solo Trumpet, and Trumpet 102, projects that reflect his broad stylistic range and command of the instrument. While recent years have focused primarily on education and applied musicianship, his recordings remain widely used as teaching resources.

He is also the founder of Austin Custom Brass, a nationally recognized brass instrument company built on musician-informed design and education-forward values. His work as an entrepreneur further reinforces his role as a practical guide for students navigating modern musical careers, bridging performance, pedagogy, and industry.

Booking & Educational Engagements

Trent Austin is available through DGL Artists™ for:

• DGLevatEd™ residencies and multi-day educational programs

• Clinics and masterclasses for band, jazz, and brass programs

• Conferences, festivals, and presenter-led educational events

• Performance engagements integrated with education when appropriate

His work is especially well suited for institutions seeking a master educator who brings professional credibility, clear pedagogy, and real-world perspective into the classroom.