Tesh, T. J. (Trumpet)
Dr. T.J. Tesh is among the newest members of the School of Music faculty at The University of Southern Mississippi, having assumed his position as the Assistant Professor of Trumpet in August of 2016. T.J. relocated to Mississippi after an exciting and successful career as a freelance trumpeter and music educator in the Los Angeles area. Dr. Tesh is a Yamaha Performing Artist and Pickett Brass Artist, and has enjoyed an eclectic performance career, having performed with music legends like Stevie Wonder, Natalie Cole, Patti Austin, Take 6, Quincy Jones, Dave Koz, Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, the San Diego Symphony Orchestra and many others. Prior to leaving Los Angeles, T.J. recorded, toured and performed around the globe for three years as a member of the internationally-celebrated brass quintet, Presidio Brass. Dr. Tesh has also toured and performed throughout the United States and Canada with Victory Brass, the Southern Arts Brass Quintet, and with Mel Brooks’ Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, The Producers, where he served as principal trumpet. T.J. is a current member of the Alias Brass Company, principal trumpet in the Meridian Symphony, acting principal trumpet in the Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra, and served as Guest Principal Trumpet last season in the Mobile Symphony. T.J.’s debut solo recording, Adaptations for Trumpet, was released in November of 2017.
T.J. received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Trumpet Performance and Music Education from The University of Southern California in 2012, having previously completed his Master of Music in Trumpet Performance at The University of Kentucky in 2004 and his Bachelor of Arts in Music at Mars Hill College in 2002.