Dr. Richard Harris is a highly accomplished trumpet player and educator. He has served as the 2nd Trumpet for the Houston Symphony since 2018, and prior to that was a member of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra for 8 years. During his tenure with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Dr. Harris gained the distinction of being the only musician in an American orchestra to have won auditions for each position in one orchestral trumpet section. He achieved this notable accomplishment by winning nationally held blind auditions for the positions of Second Trumpet (2009), Associate Principal / 3rd Trumpet (2014), and Principal Trumpet (2018). He is a frequent guest musician with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Pittsburgh Symphony.
As a soloist, Dr. Harris has performed a wide range of repertoire, including J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto no. 2, Copland’s Quiet City, and Concerti by Vivaldi, Hummel, Haydn, and Neruda. His impressive career has also taken him to perform with orchestras all over the world, including the Seoul Philharmonic in South Korea, the Jalisco Philharmonic in Guadalajara, Mexico, among others.
Dr. Harris’ passion for teaching is evident in his extensive experience giving masterclasses at universities and high schools across the country. He has served on the faculty at Texas Tech University from 2019-2023, Winthrop University from 2013-2018 and at UNC Charlotte from 2007-2009, and also had the privilege of serving as the brass coach for the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra for 7 years. He is currently serving on the faculty of the Eastern Music Festival alongside Chris Gekker. Many of his students have gone on to enjoy successful auditions for orchestras, wind ensembles, and prestigious programs of study.
Dr. Harris holds degrees in music performance from Texas Tech University and Southern Methodist University. He currently resides near Pearland, Texas, where he maintains a private lesson studio.
