John Kilgore

Session: From New Jersey to Cincinnati: The Life and Career of Classical Trumpeter Philip Collins

Trumpeter John Kilgore maintains a diverse artistic career serving as principal trumpet of the Boise Philharmonic and as instructor of trumpet at Kansas State University.

Kilgore joined the Boise Philharmonic as principal trumpet in 2017. He also performs the same position in the Philharmonic Brass Quintet and Chamber Players. In addition, he performs principal trumpet and cornet on Ballet Idaho productions. During the summer season, Kilgore is a member of the Blue Lake Festival Orchestra and Festival Band in Twin Lake, MI. Prior to joining the Boise Philharmonic, he was a member of the Ocala (FL) Symphony Orchestra and a doctoral student at Florida State University. He has performed with the Boise Baroque Chamber Orchestra, Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, the West Virginia Symphony, and the Lexington (KY) Philharmonic.

Since 2019, Kilgore has been the trumpet faculty member at Kansas State University (KSU) where he teaches graduate and undergraduate trumpet majors and minors, trumpet ensemble, and additional graduate and undergraduate trumpet methods and repertoire courses. Additionally, he is a member of the Faculty Brass Quintet and regularly presents clinics at schools throughout the region. Prior to KSU, Kilgore taught applied trumpet and chamber music at Boise State University and at Florida State University.

As an active clinician and teacher, Kilgore regularly presents masterclasses and lectures across the United States including The College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, The University of Idaho, Wichita State University, Oklahoma State University, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte among others. Committed to teaching youth musicians, Kilgore is on the trumpet faculty at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake, MI where he teaches middle and high school aged musicians, and as part of the Musician in the Classroom elementary school outreach program in Boise, ID.

As a scholar, Kilgore is a regular contributor to the International trumpet Guild Journal with published column articles and reviews. His most recent publication: Chamber Music: Creating Your Own Artistic Experiences is oriented toward younger musicians detailing foundational elements to assist in creating and supporting a chamber ensemble. At the 2022 International Trumpet Guild Conference, Kilgore is presenting the lecture: From New Jersey to Cincinnati: The Life and Career of Classical Trumpeter Philip Collins. The lecture represents original research detailing the life and career of Collins, retired Principal Trumpet of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Kilgore holds a Doctor of Music degree in Performance from Florida State University, a Master of Music in Performance from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, and a Bachelor of Music in Performance from Ohio University. His primary teachers include John Schlabach, Alan Siebert, Philip Collins, Dr. Christopher Moore with additional studies from Marie Speziale.