Graham Ashton
Professor of Music
Co-Program Head
Recognized throughout the world for his visionary performances and imaginative programming, Grammy-nominated, London-born trumpeter Graham Ashton has enjoyed a distinguished and peripatetic professional life in Europe, Australia, and the U.S., residing in New York since 1999. As a soloist, he has appeared with numerous orchestras, including the BBC Symphony, Australian Chamber Orchestra, London Philharmonic, English Chamber Orchestra, New York Virtuosi and Irish Chamber Orchestra, and premiered new commissions by George Fenton, Michael Nyman, Roger Steptoe, Colin Towns, and David Sawer.
During the 1980s and ’90s, Prof. Ashton was immersed in London’s vibrant studio scene where he recorded numerous film soundtracks including Yentl, Never Say, Never Again, Octopussy, Chaplin, The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover, Batman, Dangerous Liaisons, Cry Freedom, The Russia House, and others. He also played on a number of radio and tv jingles, and on commercial albums with Paul McCartney, Kate Bush, Barbara Streisand, Phil Collins, Van Morrison, and Elvis Costello.
More About Me
Chair, Purchase College Strategic Planning and Assessment Committee (current)
Member, Purchase College Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Committee (current)
Kempner Distinguished Professor (2005-2007)
Personnel Policies Committee/Music (2005-2007)
Faculty Presiding Officer (2002-2004)
Co-Chair, Purchase College Senate (2002-2004)
Chair, Purchase College Strategic Planning Committee (2001-2002)
Chair of Brass (1999-2017)
Research Interests
Henry Purcell/London during The Restoration
Music and Art during the Art Deco era
Representative Courses
Research and Writing for the Modern Musician (Graduate)
Survey of Music History I: Pre-history to 1900 (Undergraduate)
Survey of Music History II: 1900-2000 (Undergraduate)
Brass Instrumental Lab (Graduate performance class)
Brass Performance Class (Undergraduate/Graduate)
Brass Chamber Music (Undergraduate/Graduate)
Publications
Editions BIM Vuarmarens, Switzerland: www.editions-bim.com
GABE Publications: www.grahamashton.com
Presentations / Conferences
Co-Host: International Trumpet Guild Conference, Purchase College, NY (2000)
Host: New York Brass Conference (2004 and 2005)
Exhibitions / Performances
Paris Opera
London Symphony
BBC Symphony
London Philharmonic
Philharmonia Orchestra
English Chamber Orchestra
Irish Chamber Orchestra
Australian Chamber Orchestra
New York Virtuosi