MUSE • Musicians United for Social Equity

Biography

Miami native Cesare Turner is a graduate of Florida Memorial College, the birthplace of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Music. There he studied trumpet under Melton Mustafa, the legendary trumpet player known for having played in the Count Basie Orchestra. It was Mustafa who introduced him to a different way of playing trumpet and thinking about music. It was also during these college years that he began to play in ensembles ran by world-renowned recording saxophonist Ed Calle. Very shortly after college Mr. Turner started teaching for the South Florida Youth Symphony. He started his orchestral journey with the organization playing viola in the Symphony; an instrument he originally learned just a few years prior. He would later spend 13 years with the organization as an orchestral conductor and teacher.

Mr. Turner has played around South Florida for an array of events on trumpet and viola. Throughout his professional career Mr. Turner has been fortunate enough to play on stage, tv, or record for various world-class artists and musicians such as John Legend, Chico DeBarge, Tweet, Luis Fonsi, Luis Enrique, Ed Calle, Arturo Sandoval, Nestor Torres, Albita, Oscar de Leon, and others. Mr. Turner also played trumpet on Ed Calle’s 2015 Latin Grammy album of the year Mamblule. He currently teaches music at the historic Arthur and Polly Mays Conservatory of the Arts, an award-winning performing arts school located in Miami.