Charlie Carr

Trumpet | Rochester, NY

Charlie Carr has carved out an impressive career as a versatile trumpet player, equally accomplished in big band, commercial, and small group settings. 

A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Carr performs lead trumpet with a number of big bands in the WNY region, including the Western New York Big Band, the Innovation Jazz Orchestra, and the Dave Rivello Ensemble. As a first-call musician in upstate New York he has had the opportunity to perform with many of the great nationally-touring broadway and commercial shows of the past decade, as well as touring internationally with various ensembles. His passion and ability to lead an ensemble as a director and lead trumpet player has been heard across the country, with appearances at the Rochester International Jazz Festival, Eastman School of Music, and multiple Jazz Education Network conferences.

Charlie maintains a strong commitment to furthering music education and preserving the jazz tradition. Charlie's research with the Capitol Records Archive has led to presentations and performances at multiple national music conferences, advocating for the preservation, accessibility, and performance of the classic big band repertoire by the rising generation. Charlie holds a DMA in Jazz and Contemporary Media from the Eastman School of Music, where he also earned a degree in Music Theory and currently serves as a Stage Operations Manager for Eastman Theater.