Born in North Carolina, Michael Averett has been playing the trumpet since the age of 12. As a soloist, Michael has performed recitals throughout the Southern and Midwestern United States. Mr. Averett has been the recipient of multiple concerto competition prizes and has been a guest recitalist for the Hickory Humanity for the Arts Symposium and the Hickory Music Society. In 2002, Michael was selected as a semi-finalist in the National Trumpet Competition, held at George Mason University.

Mr. Averett's primary musical training has been in orchestral trumpet playing. Mr. Averett has performed with many city, regional, and international orchestras. Michael has served as 3rd trumpet with the Columbus Philharmonic, 3rd trumpet with the Marion Philharmonic, and section trumpet with the Muncie Symphony Orchestra. Michael has appeared with the Orquestra Sinfonicia of Monterrey, Mexico, the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra, Carmel Symphony Orchestra, Western-Piedmont Symphony Orchestra, JCC Symphony Orchestra, Hickory Choral Society and the Fort Wayne Bach Collegium.

Mr. Averett has also performed with orchestras from The University of Louisville and Ball State University. In addition to his orchestral career, Mr. Averett has performed with a variety of other ensembles such as the Derby City Brass Band, Old Crown Brass Band, Louisville Metro Big Band, America’s Hometown Band, Unifour Brass Quintet, Ball State Faculty Brass Quintet, and the Central Indiana Brass.

In the fall of 2008, Mr. Averett was honored to become a member of the current North American Brass Band champions, the Fountain City Brass Band, based in Kansas City, MO. As a member of the solo cornet section, Michael was proud to be a part of the 2008 Brass band Championship, won once again by the Fountain City Brass Band.

Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts in Trumpet Performance from Lenoir-Rhyne University as well as a Master’s of Music in Trumpet Performance from Ball State University. Michael is currently working on his dissertation “Trumpet Excerpts from the Wind Band Literature” to complete his Doctoral of Arts degree in Trumpet Performance. Michael has attended Freedom High School, Lenoir-Rhyne University, The University of Louisville, and Ball State University. His teachers have included, Tim Philips, Dan Kiser, Michael Tunnell, Herbert Korsellman and Paul Everett.

Mr. Averett began teaching at Washburn University in the Fall of 2008. Currently, Mr. Averett teaches applied trumpet, conducts the University Band, assists with the Marching Band, teaches Brass Methods, and is the Division Coordinator for all Brass activities. For more information about Brass Studies at Washburn University please send an email to michael.averett@washburn.edu. If you are interested in trumpet studies, please take a moment to check out the Washburn University Trumpet Ensemble Homepage.