Alumnus Ken Trimmins Performs March 10 with Faculty Jazz Combo

Ken Trimmins

VALDOSTA — Valdosta State University alumnus Ken Trimmins returns to his alma mater to perform as a guest soloist on trumpet and flugelhorn with the Faculty Jazz Combo at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, March 10. The concert is free and open to the public and will be held in Whitehead Auditorium.

Concert band director and assistant professor of applied trumpet, conducting, and jazz improvisation at Albany State University, Trimmins graduated from VSU with a bachelor’s degree in music education in 1985. He then went on to earn a master’s degree in trumpet performance from Mercer University in Macon and a doctorate in classical trumpet performance from Florida State University in Tallahassee, Fla. He previously served on the faculty at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah.  

Trimmins completed a distinguished career with the United States Air Force Band program, serving as trumpeter, vocalist, and director of operations for nine touring ensembles and as musical director and bandleader for three Air Force jazz bands.

Described as a dynamic and versatile trumpet player, composer, as well as educator, Trimmins has performed in venues around the world. He performed in June 2011 with the Honduran Philharmonic Orchestra in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, as a featured international soloist, a moment that caught the attention of U.S. Department of State officials.

Monday’s program features the music of Thelonious Monk, an American jazz pianist and composer often considered as one of the giants of American music.

The Faculty Jazz Combo is comprised of members of the VSU Department of Music faculty: Joren Cain on saxophones, Doug Farwell on trombone, David Springfield on piano, Tod Leavitt on bass, and Paul Campiglia on drums and vibraphone.

Whitehead Auditorium is located on the first floor of VSU’s Fine Arts Building, at the intersection of Oak Street and Brookwood Drive.

Contact David Springfield, assistant professor of jazz piano and director of the Jazz Studies Program at VSU, at (229) 333-5805 or despring@valdosta.edu to learn more.

Valdosta State University’s 2013-2019 Strategic Plan represents a renewal of energy and commitment to the foundational principles for comprehensive institutions.

Implementation of the plan’s five goals, along with their accompanying objectives and strategies, supports VSU’s institutional mission and the University System of Georgia’s mission for comprehensive universities.

The story above demonstrates VSU's commitment to meeting the following goals:

Goal 1: Recruit, retain, and graduate a quality, diverse student population and prepare students for roles as leaders in a global society.

Goal 3: Promote student, employee, alumni, retiree, and community engagement in our mission.

Goal 4: Foster an environment of creativity and scholarship.

Visit http://www.valdosta.edu/administration/planning/strategic-plan.php to learn more.