John Holt

Chair of Instrumental Studies

Professor of Trumpet

Department(s)

College of Music Administration, Instrumental Studies, Brass

Contact Information

Email: 
john.holt@unt.edu
Office Location: 
Music Building
Office #: 
129
Phone: 
940-565-3719
Courses taught, syllabi and curriculum vitae

John Holt is Professor of Trumpet and Chair of the Division of Instrumental Studies at the University of North Texas. Holt is also principal trumpet with the Dallas Opera Orchestra, a position he has held since 1989. Holt was the recipient of the 2016 UNT Creative Impact Award. This award highlights “a full-time University faculty member whose publications, performances, or exhibitions in the literary or creative arts have had the greatest societal impact.”

The consummate musical artist, Holt has appeared as a soloist with orchestras throughout the United States and Europe. His opera excerpt book Trumpet Excerpts From Italian Operas was published by Harold Gore Publishing in 2018. His CD recording Facets 4 released by the International Trumpet Guild in 2016, was Holts eighth solo CD recording. His seven previous solo recordings, all on the Crystal Records label, have received unanimous critical acclaim by industry publications Fanfare, American Record Guide, Instrumentalist, Gramophone and the International Trumpet Guild.

Born in Dallas, TX, Holt began studying trumpet at the age of 12 with Richard Giangiulio, former principal trumpet of the Dallas Symphony. He continued his studies at the University of Miami with Gilbert D. Johnson, former principal trumpet of the Philadelphia Orchestra. At age 22, Holt performed as co-principal trumpet of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Ft. Lauderdale, under the direction of Emerson Buckley. At age 24, Holt became principal trumpet of the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Florence, Italy, Zubin Mehta, music director. While in Italy, Holt had the great privilege of playing under some of the world’s most renowned conductors including Luciano Berio, Georges Prétre, James Conlon, Gerd Albrecht, Carlos Kleiber, Krzysztof Penderecki, Riccordo Chailly and Carlo Maria Giulini.

At the invitation of artistic director and conductor Nicola Rescigno, Holt became principal trumpet of the Dallas Opera Orchestra in 1989. He received distinguished opera service awards in 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014. Holt’s orchestral discography includes numerous recordings with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, The Dallas Opera Orchestra and The Voices of Change.

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