Alex Wilborn
Principal Trumpet
The Betty J. Livingstone Chair
Praised for his “mellow and magnificent softness" (Classical Voice North Carolina), Alex Wilborn joined the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra as Principal Trumpet in 2018. Growing up in Cookeville, Tennessee, Wilborn’s aptitude for music showed early — by fifth grade, he was already studying local high school band recordings, learning each piece by ear until he knew them flawlessly. He began formal trumpet lessons with Dr. Charles Decker in the eighth grade and continued working with him through his undergraduate degree at Tennessee Technological University. During his time in Cookeville, Wilborn also studied with Chris McCormick and Dr. Raquel Rodriquez Samayoa. He later earned a Performance Diploma at The Juilliard School with Raymond Mase, Mark Gould, and John Thiessen.
In addition to his role with the Charlotte Symphony, Wilborn has also performed with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, NOVUS NY, Charleston Symphony, and Bach Akademie Charlotte, among others.
A passionate educator, Wilborn serves on the artistic faculty of the North Carolina Youth Orchestra and maintains a private teaching studio. He has previously held positions as Visiting Professor of Trumpet at UNC Greensboro, adjunct faculty at Davidson College, and instructor at the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute.
When he is not immersed in music, you'll often find Wilborn climbing at Inner Peaks, unwinding with his favorite video games, or enjoying life with his wife, Anne, and their dog, Chonko.
