Trumpeter/Educator Neil L. King is equally at
home performing music in both classical and jazz idioms. As an active
free-lance musician, King enjoys a busy performance schedule throughout
the West Virginia tri-state area.
King currently serves as a music teacher in the Monongalia County Public Schools in Morgantown, WV.
Neil recently performed as a member of the Bobby Vinton Orchestra. King performs extensively with the Mon. River Big Band, where he holds the "jazz" chair. He also serves in the position of principal trumpet for the Fairmont State University Community Symphony Orchestra (a position he has held for over a decade). Other professional groups of which King has performed: WV Public Theater Orchestra, The Phil Bowers Big Band, The Gary Marvel Big Band, Strictly Yours, The Pastels, The Appalachian Brass Quintet, The Maestro's of Swing, The Fairmont Town and Gown Orchestra, The Washington County (PA) Symphony Brass/Choral Society, and The Fairmont State University Summer Festival Chamber Orchestra.
King holds an M. M. from The Ohio University School of Music, and a B.A. from Fairmont State College. While at Ohio University, King served as a graduate assistant to Bach/Selmer trumpet clinician, Ernest E. Bastin. King has worked as an adjunct professor of music at Fairmont State University, where he directed the schools brass ensemble. As a student, King was a member of the Fairmont State College Faculty Brass Quintet where he studied and was mentored by FSC Professor John H. Ashton.
King has a vast array or performance experience both abroad and domestically. In 1987 he performed on a concert bill at the Blue Danube Jazz Festival in Vienna Austria. He has performed in lessons or master classes for: John M. Wilds (San Diego Symphony), John H. Ashton (Retired Prof. Fairmont State), Richard P. Wellock (Retired Fine Arts Chair, Fairmont State College), George Vosburgh (Principal Trumpet Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra), Allen Vizzutti (International Solo Artist), Wynton Marsalis (International Solo Artist), and jazz educator Jamey Aebersold.
Neil is a frequent contributor to the "Trumpet
Herald", and has contributed publications to The "Jazz Trumpet
Journal". Neil is a member of the American Federation of
Musicians #580, The International Trumpet Guild, The American
Federation of Teachers, Phi Beta Mu (Band Directors honorary), The WV Bandmasters Association, and the WV
Music Educators Association. He enjoys listening to jazz
and collecting jazz recordings. Neil and his wife Corina, a music
specialist for the Marion County Public Schools reside in Fairmont, WV.
