Steven Franklin joined the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in 2023 as Principal Trumpet. Previously, he was Associate Principal Trumpet of the Kansas City Symphony, Principal Trumpet of the Hawaii Symphony and has performed as guest Principal Trumpet with the Chicago Symphony and Rochester Philharmonic.
A native of Chicago, Steven earned his bachelor’s degree from the Curtis Institute of Music studying with David Bilger. In the summer, Steven serves as Solo Trumpet with the Lake Placid Sinfonietta in the Adirondack Mountains of New York where he enjoys hiking and fly-fishing. He recently became an “Adirondack 46er,” climbing the 46 highest peaks in the region.
He is an avid chamber musician He was a founding member of The Brass Project, a Philadelphia-based brass sextet that commissioned over 40 new works during his tenure. As a soloist, he has appeared with the New World Symphony, Ocean City Pops, Lake Placid Sinfonietta, and many other regional ensembles. He has won first prize in various competitions including the Roger Voisin (famous former Principal Trumpet of the Boston Symphony) Memorial Trumpet Competition, the International Trumpet Guild Solo Competition, and the National Trumpet Competition.
Steven is passionate about music education. He maintains a private studio and is on faculty for the MasterWorks Festival in Campbellsville, Kentucky. Steven has given masterclasses in South America and Asia and in the United States. He is also an active composer having been commissioned by the American Brass Quintet, Lake Placid Sinfonietta, and by members of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Symphony, and New York Philharmonic.
When not practicing or composing, most of his other interests involve being outdoors, including hiking, disc golf, and triathlon. He and his wife, Naomi, reside in Brentwood.