Charles Lazarus

Artist Biography

The eclectic career of trumpeter Charles Lazarus has been met with acclaim from critics worldwide. Lazarus made his main stage Carnegie Hall solo debut with the New York String Orchestra at the age of 19 while still completing his studies at The Juilliard School in New York. A year later, he joined the Dallas Brass, touring nationally and internationally for nine years, and appearing with them at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall and with dozens of major American orchestras. Following his tenure with Dallas Brass, Charles joined New York’s Meridian Arts Ensemble until becoming a member of the Minnesota Orchestra in 2000.

In 2005, Lazarus joined the world-renowned Canadian Brass, touring to seven countries and appearing on three recordings and a chart-topping video for Bravo Canada. He has been on the trumpet faculties of St. Olaf College and Princeton University and has performed and taught master classes in every U.S. state and throughout Europe and Asia. In 2007, he was awarded the prestigious McKnight Fellowship for Performing Musicians.

Lazarus is an avid proponent of original music and is active as a soloist and composer. He has performed his original compositions for the Montréal and Ottawa international jazz festivals, live on Radio Canada, and on national television in Canada including features on Bravo and Much Music. His original music video “Java” won Montréal’s Musique Plus Democlip of the Year award and he has been a guest soloist in settings ranging from pop, rap, jazz and classical ensembles to appearances with New York performance artists, and on French Canadian talk shows and a soap opera. Lazarus has been a featured soloist with the Minnesota Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony, Les Violons du Roy, Les Jeune Virtuoses de Montréal and the McGill Chamber Orchestra. Charles has performed with the New York Trumpet Ensemble, The New York Big Brass, The London Brass, Montréal Symphony and with back-up bands for Barry White and Joe Williams. He has recorded with the Canadian Brass, Dallas Brass, Montréal Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, the Societe de Musique Contemporaine du Québec and Ensemble Contemporaine de Montréal, as well as with numerous pop artists and for IMAX film scores.

In 2005, Lazarus released his debut CD, Solo Settings, with producer/multi-instrumentalist Craig Hara. The CD earned rave reviews and Lazarus’s composition “Waves” was voted the Great American Song Contest’s instrumental song of the year. He released his second solo recording, Zabava, last year. The disc featured Tommy Barbarella, Jeff Bailey, Craig Hara, and special guests Tim O’Keef, Shai Hayo and Osmo Vänskä. His composition “Now is Leaving” was honored with “Outstanding Achievement in Songwriting” in the 2008 Great American Song Contest.