MUSE • Musicians United for Social Equity

Biography

Shawn Edmonds made his solo debut in 1982 after winning the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artist Solo Competition. Upon graduating the Eastman School of Music he moved to New York City to began his tenure as featured soloist and recording artist with the Count Basie Orchestra. A position he held for 10 years.  Since leaving the Basie organization he has performed in a variety of musical styles with the Queens Symphony, Beirut Philharmonic, New Jersey Philharmonic, Duke Ellington Band, Wynton Marsalis’ Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Bette Midler and Aretha Franklin. He was a soloist with the New England Conservatory Wind Ensemble as well as being an international clinician conducting masterclasses at schools such as Howard University, University of North Texas and music outreach in Tokyo, Japan. He was recently principal trumpet for the 2018 Emmy Award winning production of Jesus Christ Superstar live on NBC featuring John Legend and Alice Cooper. This Emmy win accompanies his Grammy win with the Count Basie Orchestra for Count Plays Duke. He is currently lead trumpet on the hit Broadway Show Ain’t Too Proud. He has held the chair or was substitute on Broadway Shows Color Purple, Motown, Memphis, Nice Work If You Can Get It, The King and I, Annie, Anything Goes, Bullets Over Broadway, After Midnight, Shuffle Along, Chicago, Kiss Me Kate and Frog and Toad. He is also a substitute on the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Show.