Prior to his appointment at Washington and Lee, Ross completed a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from James Madison University where he taught applied trumpet lessons to undergraduate music majors, music appreciation, and performed with the faculty brass quintet. In addition to his D.M.A. at James Madison University, Ross’s educational background includes a Masters of Music degree in Trumpet Perform
ance from Arizona State University, and a Bachelors of Music degree from Baylor University. Ross is an active freelance musician in the Shenandoah Valley and Central Virginia region. Recent performances have been with the Charlottesville Symphony, Staunton Music Festival, and the Massanutten Brass Band. Ross’s past large ensemble experience includes principal and section roles with the Musica Nova Orchestra of Scottsdale, AZ, The Salt River Brass (Mesa, AZ), the Cypress Symphony (Cypress, TX), and the Waco Symphony Orchestra (Waco, TX). As a soloist, Ross has appeared a finalist in the 2014 National Trumpet Competition’s Graduate Solo Division, a featured soloist at the 2015 Chosen Vale International Trumpet Seminar, and a three-time brass area winner and finalist of the JMU Concerto Competition. Before moving to the Shenandoah Valley, Ross maintained a successful performing and teaching career in the Greater-Houston, TX area where his students routinely earned superior ratings in solo and ensemble competitions and the highest achievements in the Texas Music Educators Association All-State program. Ross’s primary teachers have been Dr. Ryan Gardner, Wiff Rudd, David Hickman, and Dr. Chris Carrillo. More information and recordings can be found at RossAhlhorn.com.
