Susan Slaughter

Susan Slaughter joined the trumpet section of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra in l969. Two years later she was appointed to the position of Principal Trumpet, becoming the first woman ever to be named Principal Trumpet of a major symphony orchestra. A graduate of Indiana University, she received the coveted performer’s certificate in recognition of outstanding musical performance. Her instructors include Herbert Mueller, Bernard Adelstein, Arnold Jacobs, Robert Nagel, Claude Gordon and Laurie Frink. Prior to accepting her position in St. Louis, Ms. Slaughter spent two years as Principal Trumpet of the Toledo Symphony. She appears regularly in area recitals and religious programs, and has been a frequent soloist with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Slaughter has served on the faculty of the Grand Teton Orchestra Seminar and the National Orchestra Institute. She is presently on the faculty of The Texas Music Festival and Aspen Music Festival. Ms. Slaughter has received numerous awards and recognition over the years including nomination by Ladies Home Journal for its annual Woman of the Year award, a special Leadership Award in the Arts from the Young Women’s Christian Association, the American Federation of Musicians, Local 2-197 Owen Miller Award for loyalty, dedication and fairness in actions and deeds, the Arts and Education Council Award for Excellence in the Arts. In 1991 she performed the National Anthem for game three of the World Series at the invitation of then baseball commissioner Fay Vincent. In 1992 Ms. Slaughter founded the International Women’s Brass Conference, an organization dedicated to provide opportunities and recognition for women brass musicians. As a fund-raising effort to support that institution, she organized and produced the very popular Holiday Brass Concerts, performed each December, which are now in their second decade. In 1996, Ms. Slaughter founded Monarch Brass, an all-women’s brass ensemble, which has toured in the United States and Europe to critical acclaim and released its first CD titled Monarch Brass. Ms. Slaughter retired as Principal Trumpet from the Saint Louis Symphony in 2010.