Stories of Lorenzo Trujillo

Congratulations to Lorenzo Trujillo, the School of Music recipient of the 2026 Wilson Wyatt Alumni Award. Each year, UofL Alumni recognize Cardinals whose leadership, service and professional achievements embody the very best of the University of Louisville. We were fortunate to communicate with Lorenzo about this award and his achievements. Lorenzo, a Sergeant First Class, is an avid trumpet player and lifelong musician. We encourage you to read his full interview, as he has much to say about the UofL School of Music and his career journey.

What first inspired you to pursue music?

I grew up in a musical family and started performing at age 4. By age 7 was performing at large venues across the Southwest. It was never a question of “if” I would pursue music, it was only a question of what capacity and path I would take.

What are some of your favorite memories as a student at UofL?

In all honesty, I loved my time at UofL and it’s hard to say there was a single experience. The jazz festivals, the amazing conversations with Michael Tunnell and John LaBarbera, the lifelong friends I made - All of them are my favorite memories. If I had to label one memory as a favorite, it would probably be the 2001 Brazilian Tour with the jazz department.

What lessons from your time at the School of Music have stayed with you throughout your career?

My time at UofL was a huge growth period for me personally. It’s where I grew up. “Doc T” as we call Dr Michael Tunnell and John LaBarbera had just as much to do with influencing my growth as an adult as they did as my growth as a musician and professional. My collaborations with Dr Krista Wallace-Boaz pushed me musically to a much higher level and the musical growth I experienced was in direct response to my fellow alums, especially Dr Reese Land, who to this day is one of my best friends in life. The other lesson that I learned at UofL that really stuck with me was to be flexible and versatile. My versatility as a musician began at UofL and it has opened many doors for me.

Describe your career path from graduating to where you are now.

After graduating from UofL, I completed a Master of Fine Arts at the California Institute of the Arts and a Doctorate at UCLA.  My time in Los Angeles was spent developing my professional resume with recording credits, live performances, and touring.  After I left Los Angeles, I had a handful of adjunct teaching positions. after spending 4 years as a full time Assistant Professor of Music and Lindenwood University in St Charles, MO, I began touring with world class musicians all over the country.  I ultimately ended up winning a position in The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” after a fellow UofL Alumn, Matt Byrne, suggested I take the audition and join him there.  I spent 14 years as the Assistant Principal and Lead/Commercial trumpet of the Concert Band.  I am now performing on Broadway and in New York.  I sub on shows and recently won a position in the Radio City Orchestra that will begin in October 2026.

What accomplishments are you most proud of in your career?

I don’t think it’s as easy as making a list of accomplishments.  I think the thing I’m most proud of is the strong reputation for being the one to call under any circumstance to fill a role.  I never back away from a challenge and I am reliably called on as a last minute sub for anything, in any style, to walk in the door prepared and always say yes with enthusiasm. When everyone else says it’s not possible, I always come through. This requires a tremendous commitment to always being ready to go. Strong fundamentals and a wide focus on maintaining all sides of my instrument have created experiences that I may have missed had I not been prepared and versatile.  I’ve done everything from performing the Bach Brandenburg Concerto No 2 on little notice, to recording for international video broadcasts with only 24 hours to prepare, and performing with huge names in the music world like Aretha Franklin, Lady Gaga, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Tony Vega, Tony Succar, and many many more. My versatility and reliability has always been the thing that has set me apart.

What does receiving this 2026 Wilson Wyatt Alumni Award mean to you?

UofL was where I feel like I transitioned to becoming a professional.  It’s where I made lifelong friends and where I established the foundation for what kind of professional I would be. I have regularly visited UofL and still perform with the faculty there. Receiving this award is incredible because I feel like it solidifies my connection to this university for the rest of my life. It shows that UofL is not just a business but a community that gives back to their students in more ways than just a degree. It feels like a formal recognition of the relationship I have always had with UofL.

How have you stayed connected to the UofL School of Music throughout your career?

Absolutely! I have regularly returned to give clinics, masterclasses, and lessons. I have done recruitment tours with the UofL Faculty Brass Quintet and I regularly get contacted by current students with questions about my time there as well as for professional advice. I still feel very much like a part of the school even though I’m not there full time.  Just this week, I met a young man visiting New York who will be attending UofL in the fall as a jazz major and it was a real sense of pride to talk to him and his family so positively about my experience there. UofL seems to always be present wherever I go.

What advice would you give to our current students?

Everyone you meet will become a professional colleague and you can never diminish the value of those relationships. Always be learning from your peers, students, and other professionals you meet. You never know where opportunities may come from. Identify what separates you from your peers and make that quality exceptional, but also identify your liabilities and work to make them proficient enough that they never hold you back. 

What projects are you most excited about currently?

Currently, I’m most excited about the rapid growth I’ve had in my New York performance career and am excited to see what opportunities I am able to participate in as I meet new people.

Do you have a favorite piece of music to listen to or perform?

I would say the two things I enjoy most are performing musicals and salsa music. For me, the best was performing in productions of “In The Heights” where I got to combine both!

View the full list of honorees and learn more about this year's award recipients.