Dr Scott Belck

Dr. Scott Belck currently serves as Professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), where he directs the CCM Jazz Orchestra and teaches applied jazz trumpet.

He is a founding member of the critically acclaimed Tromba Mundi contemporary trumpet ensemble, the founding lead trumpet for the Springfield Symphony Jazz Orchestra, and a member of the award-winning Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra of Indianapolis. He previously served as trumpet and cornet soloist with the Air Force Band of Flight in Dayton, Ohio, where he also held the post of musical director for the Air Force Night Flight Jazz Ensemble. He is the Founding Artistic Director Emeritus of the Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra.

Belck is the founder of the Jazz Central Big Band and lead trumpet and musical director for the Flying Circus Big Band, a group he co-founded with iconic drummer John Von Ohlen. He also leads the Limehouse Ramblers, a traditional New Orleans ensemble that is a staple of the Cincinnati jazz scene.

His playing credits include recordings as lead trumpet and jazz soloist with the Cincinnati Pops, featuring The Manhattan Transfer and John Pizzarelli, as well as the Glenn Miller Orchestra, the Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra, the Van-Dells, and the University of North Texas One O’Clock Lab Band, with whom he recorded four CDs as a jazz soloist and section trumpet. He has performed as principal or lead trumpet with the St. Louis Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra of the Dominican Republic, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Lexington Philharmonic, and Richmond Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, he has played as a section trumpet with the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra and the Duluth Festival Opera.

Belck has toured as lead trumpet for Bootsy Collins’ Funk Unity Band and has performed in concerts with Christian McBride, John Clayton, Jimmy Heath, Aretha Franklin, Gerald Wilson, the Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra, the Steve Allee Big Band, Johnny Mathis, the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra, Earl Klugh, Linda Ronstadt, John Lithgow, Donna Summer, Maureen McGovern, Michael Feinstein, Tito Puente Jr., Manhattan Transfer, Lou Rawls, Patti Austin, The Temptations, Olivia Newton-John, Neil Sedaka, Ben Vereen, Doc Severinsen, The Coasters, Yes, and Frankie Valli. He has also performed with ensembles such as the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, Dayton Jazz Orchestra, and Maritime Jazz Orchestra of Canada, as well as in touring Broadway shows and regional and national recording sessions.

As a leader, musical director, or sideman, he has worked with many top artists, including Michael Dease, Fred Hersch, Fareed Haque, Lew Soloff, Randy Brecker, Slide Hampton, Jim McNeely, Claudio Roditi, Jeff Hamilton, Bobby Watson, Tom Harrell, Tim Hagans, Regina Carter, Wes Anderson, John Hollenbeck, Steve Turre, Conrad Herwig, Kenny Garrett, Phil Woods, and Diane Schuur.

Belck has also served as the Artistic Director of the Dayton Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Central Big Band, and Miami Valley Jazz Camp in Ohio. He is the author of the instructional text Modern Flexibilities for Brass, published by Meredith Music and distributed by Hal Leonard. In his spare time, he is the CEO and founder of Lip Slur World Headquarters. His latest book, Progressive Lip Flexibilities for Brass, is quickly becoming one of the most popular (and sarcastic) lip slur books in the Lower South-Central Ohio River Valley region.

Dr. Scott Belck is a Powell Signature Trumpet Artist.