James Vaughen ('23) Appointed Principal Trumpet of The Philadelphia Orchestra

The recent Curtis alum won the coveted role following a series of auditions that concluded on November 1.

We’re thrilled to congratulate James Vaughen (’23) on his appointment as principal trumpet of The Philadelphia Orchestra. The search for a permanent principal trumpeter has been underway for several years.

“James is an exceptional musician with a beautiful sound who will be a natural fit with The Philadelphia Orchestra,” said music and artistic director Yannick Nézet-Séguin,* who also serves as head of conducting at Curtis. “I am thrilled to welcome him to our orchestra family and can’t wait to experience the impact of his artistry for years to come.”

This season, Vaughen has served as principal trumpet of the Minnesota Orchestra, a role he won last spring. Before joining Minnesota, he was assistant principal trumpet of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and held a one-year principal position with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

Vaughen will assume his new role in 2026, at a date to be determined.

Get the full story behind Vaughen’s appointment and his remarkable early-career rise.

*Sourced from EnsembleArts Philly’s press release

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