Luke Spence Appointed Assistant Professor of Trumpet at the SUNY Potsdam Crane School of Music
Following the school’s first tenure-track trumpet search in nearly forty years, Luke Spence has been appointed as the new Assistant Professor of Trumpet at the SUNY Potsdam Crane School of Music. Spence first joined the Crane faculty in 2022 as Visiting Assistant Professor of Trumpet and was promoted to Lecturer of Trumpet in fall 2024. Spence enjoys a dynamic career as a performer, educator, and arts leader. In addition to teaching at Crane, he serves as co-principal trumpet of the Orchestra of Northern New York, is a member of Anima Brass and the Potsdam Brass Quintet, and proudly represents S.E. Shires Co. and Denis Wick Products as a performing artist.
Praised by Fanfare Magazine for his “great artistry,” labeled “exquisite” by the ITG Journal, and hailed as “a true expert in phrasing” by the NACWPI Journal, Spence is known for his impact on the genre of vocal transcriptions. His debut solo album, 20th Century Art Songs, highlights rarely explored repertoire and was named a 2023 finalist for The American Prize. Spence can also be heard with Anima Brass on the album All Life Long featuring the music of celebrated post-minimalist composer Kali Malone. Upon release, the album received widespread acclaim—named Pitchfork’s Best New Album, The Guardian’s Album of the Week, and featured on NPR’s All Songs Considered. It climbed to #4 on Billboard’s Classical Crossover chart and was nominated for a Swedish Grammy for Classical Album of the Year. Critics have described Anima Brass’s contributions as “enthralling,” with the power to leave listeners in “a state of transcendental bliss.” Over the years, Spence has performed for sold-out crowds at Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center, toured across the U.S., Europe, and China, and shared the stage with artists such as Denyce Graves, Joshua Bell, Leon Fleischer, Thomas Hampson, Gordon Lightfoot, Leon Bridges, and Jennifer Nettles. As a freelance orchestral musician, Spence has performed with numerous ensembles including the National Philharmonic, South Florida Symphony, Fairfax Symphony, Lancaster Symphony, Reading Symphony, Mid Atlantic Symphony, and the Washington Chamber Orchestra.
A firm believer in music’s power to inspire social change, Spence is General Manager and founding board member for the International Pride Orchestra, a global LGBTQIA+ nonprofit that unites musicians to perform, build community, and support queer causes. He also serves as co-chair of ITG’s committee for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. (Source: Luke Spence)