John Kilgore

Good Vibrations: Developing Lyricism In The Trumpet Warm-Up

Trumpeter John Kilgore is Assistant Professor of Trumpet at Kansas State University,  Principal Trumpet of the Boise Philharmonic, and a founding member of Sapphire Brass. 

At Kansas State University, Kilgore teaches applied trumpet, trumpet ensemble, and  graduate and undergraduate literature courses. His students have performed at the  National Trumpet Competition and the SHE: Festival of Women in Music, and include  recipients of the Presser Scholar Award and the Muir Award. During the summer, Kilgore  serves on the faculty of Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. 

Since 2017, Kilgore has served as Principal Trumpet of the Boise Philharmonic. He also  performs principal trumpet for Ballet Idaho. As a soloist, Kilgore has appeared with the  Salisbury (MD) Symphony Orchestra, the Blue Lake Festival Band, and the Kansas State  

University Wind Ensemble. He has also performed as guest principal trumpet with the  Wichita Symphony Orchestra, Boise Baroque Chamber Orchestra, and the Tallahassee  Symphony Orchestra. 

Kilgore is a frequent presenter and performer at universities and conferences across North  America and beyond. As co-founder of Sapphire Brass, he has performed and premiered  works at the 2026 WindWorks Festival in Iceland, the International Trumpet Guild  Conference, and at numerous U.S. universities. He has also performed, given premieres,  and presented at the National Flute Association Conference, SHE: Festival of Women in  Music, and the Midwest Trumpet Festival. 

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Kilgore holds degrees from Florida State University (D.M.), the  University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (M.M.), and Ohio University (B.M.).