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Dr. Michael Caldwell

Dr. Michael Caldwell is Associate Professor of Music at California State University, Fresno, where he has served since Fall 2002. Dr. Caldwell is the Director of the Clendenin Brass Quintet, and, from 2002-2008, he was the Director of the award-winning Fresno State Jazz Band "A.” He earned degrees from the University of Illinois (D.M.A. 1997; M.M. 1987), California State University, Fresno (B.A., 1984) and Los Medanos College (A.A. 1982). He previously served on the music faculty at the University of South Alabama (1991-1999) and is Past President of the California Institute for the Preservation of Jazz (2002-2004). He has performed with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra and as lead trumpet or soloist with many of the world's leading entertainers including George Burns, Petula Clark, Rosemary Clooney, Natalie Cole, Myron Floren, The Four Tops, Andy Gibb, Bob Hope, Ben E. King, Gladys Knight, Anne-Margret, Johnny Mathis, Jim Nabors, Patti Page, Regis Philben, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Don Rickles, Joan Rivers, Red Skelton, The Temptations and Franki Valli. He has also performed live on Public Radio International and appeared on the Family Channel. He recently performed with the Ethos Trio in Mexico City during the summer of 2007, at the 2005 International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE) conference in Long Beach, California, and served as an adjudicator for the International Trumpet Guild (ITG) Jazz Solo Competition, held at the 2004 ITG Conference in Denver, Colorado. In 2008, he was a featured soloist with the National Cathedral School and St. Alban’s School combined orchestras at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. prestigious professional organizations. He has been an invited presenter for the College Music Society and many prestigious professional organizations. His most recent CD, “The Balladeer,” is available on the Emerald City Records label.

Dr. Caldwell was the Founder of the National Collegiate Jazz Festival (Mobile, AL) in 1994 and Executive Director of the Mobile Jazz Festival from 1992-1995. Dr. Caldwell has also adjudicated the National Trumpet Competition in Fairfax, Virginia, and has served on the Board of Directors for the International Trumpet Guild. He was the Editor of the International Trumpet Guild Journal from 1999-2001.

Dr. Caldwell’s leadership roles include service as the Chair of the Board of Directors for Fresno's University High School (recently selected the 44th best public high school and 10th best charter high school in the country by U.S. News and World Report); Past President of the California Music Educators Association--Central Section (including membership on the State Board of Directors, 2007-2009); Faculty Director, Fresno State Alumni Association Board of Directors; and Vice Chair of the Academic Senate at Fresno State (2008-present).

He recently represented the central section of California at the MENC--National Association for Music Education Centennial Congress and National Assembly in Orlando, Florida. He was also a presenter at the CMEA—Bay Section Winter Conference in 2007. Dr. Caldwell was the director of the 2006 Tulare-Kings Counties High School Honor Jazz Ensemble, 2005 Alabama All-State High School Jazz Band and the 2005 Fresno-Madera Counties Junior High Honor Jazz Ensemble. Dr. Caldwell was also honored as the 2003 FMCMEA Jazz Educator of the Year and 2007 CMEA-Central Section Jazz Educator of the Year.

His trumpet studio has recently produced the first-chair High School All-State Band Trumpet Player (2005 and 2006) and the lead trumpet players for both the All-State High School (2005 and 2006) and Collegiate Jazz Bands (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008). The Fresno State Jazz Band "A," under the direction of Dr. Michael Caldwell, performed at the 2007 CMEA State Convention in Ontario and the 2007 California Band Directors Association Conference in Fresno. The group was the only collegiate jazz ensemble selected to perform at either event in 2007. The 2007 Fresno State Jazz Band "A" had five members selected to perform in the 2008 California Collegiate All-State Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Band "A" was the second place winner in the College Big Band division at the 2007 Reno Jazz Festival, finishing with a total score of 293 out of 300. In addition, his group produced the Outstanding Overall College Division Performer, Tony Montañez (Drums) and the Outstanding College Division Trumpeter, Josh McDonald.

Dr. Caldwell's own teachers have included Dr. Ritchie Clendenin and Ray Sasaki. He is an honorary member of Tau Beta Sigma (2003), Kappa Kappa Psi (2005) and Sigma Alpha Iota (1999). Dr. Caldwell also enjoys long distance running and has completed twelve marathons and five half-marathons since November 2005.