Dr. John Pursell has had a musical career spanning four decades, including a 21 year career as the Senior Ceremonial Trumpeter with the United States Air Force Band in Washington, DC. After his retirement in 2003, he became a Yamaha Performing Artist and has appeared as a soloist and clinician throughout the eastern and mid-western United States. He has been a presenter at dozens of state music educator conferences across the country and was a featured clinician at the 2015 NAfME National In-Service Convention.
Newspaper and expert opinions have consistently referred to him as "the best of the brass," (The Frederick News-Post), "an outstanding musician," (Public Opinion newspapers), and "a brilliant trumpeter" (Col. Lowell Graham, Former Commander, United States Air Force Band).
He has performed with such notable performers as Peter Nero, James Earl Jones, Lou Rawls, Claudio Abbado, Robert Trevino, Vince DiMartino, Glenn Dodson, and others. He has performed with the Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia, Orchestra Society of Philadelphia, Wilmington Grand Opera Orchestra, Shippensburg Festival Orchestra, and the Gettysburg Festival Orchestra. In 1979, he was the featured trumpet player for services at the St. John Neumann Shrine for the first papal visit of Pope John Paul II.
He has taught at Gettysburg College, Mount Saint Mary's University, and Mercersburg Academy. Dr. Pursell holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Maryland; Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from West Chester State College; and studied trumpet with Mel Broiles, Seymour Rosenfeld, Emerson Head, and Kenneth Laudermilch.
Dr. Pursell is a published author, with dozens of articles appearing in such journals as The International Trumpet Guild Journal, The Association of Concert Bands Journal, Tempo magazine, Bandworld magazine, and Maryland Music Educator. He is the author of a book entitled What I've Learned: The Free Lance Trumpeter's Guide to Professional Music. Long recognized as an authority on military ceremonies and protocol, he was invited to write articles about military funeral procedures for American Funeral Director magazine.
