Paul Puccinelli has been a professional trumpet player and teacher for 20 years. While he specializes in Piccolo, Baroque, and Lead Trumpet, his training and experience spans the whole musical spectrum from Classical to Jazz to Rock to Salsa and all types and styles in between. He has performed internationally with great acclaim. Mr. Puccinelli has presented seminars throughout the country and his unique approach to teaching trumpet is making a big impact on all who attend. From performance coaching and audition preparation for professionals to getting raw beginners off on the right foot, his positive and empowering style makes it a joy as well as a challenge. His students hold high positions in the professional groups, colleges, and schools they attend. Many have been awarded scholarships based on their playing.
Biography
Paul Puccinelli majored in Trumpet Performance at the University of Southern California School Of Music where he studied with Boyde Hood of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. His other noted teachers were Walt Laursen, Roy Poper, Bill Bing, and Raymond Burkhart. He has taken Masters Classes with such internationally renowned performers as Adolf "Bud" Herseth, Bobby Shew, Timofei Dokshizer, Allen Vizzutti, Tony Plog, Rob Roy McGreggor, Don Green and many others.
In addition to his extensive freelance career, Paul is currently performing principal trumpet with the Pasadena City College Faculty Brass Quintet, Lead Trumpet with the Pacific West Music Jazz Orchestra, and principal trumpet with the American Trumpet Ensemble.
Paul has been the featured guest soloist for major performing groups around the country. His solo performances have been underwritten and sponsored by industry leaders like Walt Disney Studios, Warner Brothers Studios, Sony Studios, MCA Records, Lexus Automobiles, Disneyland, Calicchio Trumpets, and Yamaha Musical Instruments. He has played with numerous major artists and groups, such as John Williams, Henry Mancini, Bill Watrous, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Kim Richmond, Smokey Robinson, and countless others.
Mr. Puccinelli has played for hundreds of productions, including West Side Story, Beauty and the Beast, Carmen, Marriage of Figaro, Fame, Swingin’ On A Star, Carousel, South Pacific, Into The Woods, Man of La Mancha, Tartuffe, Fiddler On the Roof, Oklahoma, Show Boat, Annie Get Your Gun, Hello Dolly, Barnum, Dreamgirls, The Music Man, The Sound Of Music, Cabaret, La Boheme, 42nd Street, Phantom of the Opera... the list goes on and on.
He is a member of many notable musical organizations, including the American Federation of Professional Musicians, Local #47 (Los Angeles), International Association of Jazz Educators, International Trumpet Guild, and Mu Phi Epsilon-International Professional Music Fraternity.
In addition to his private studio, Mr. Puccinelli is the trumpet and brass instructor at the Wildwood Music Institute, and has instructed trumpet and brass at the Music Academy of the West, for the Glendale Youth Symphony, and has taught many other college and high school level performing groups and masters classes
Paul runs an increasingly busy brass instrument workshop where he mends and services student, professional and antique instruments. Paul also provides a custom trumpet service which is gaining much attention from professional players. He always has a stock of used instruments on hand as well.
In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, golf, drive his Alfa Romeo, collect rare trumpets, and make home-made wines & spirits.
