Master Sgt. Lucas Brandon is the music director and trumpeter for the Airmen ofNote, The United States Air Force Band, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington,D.C. A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, his Air Force career began in 2013.
Brandon completed his Bachelor of Music degree in jazz trumpet performance fromTemple University in 2010. While there, he studied privately with jazz trumpeter andbandleader Terell Stafford — a mentorship to which he attributes much of hisinterest in big band repertoire and band leadership. In 2012, Brandon was awardedtop honors at the National Trumpet Competition, Jazz Division.
Brandon has collaborated with luminaries Benny Golson, Jimmy Heath, NicholasPayton, Slide Hampton, Phil Woods, Bob Dorough, Orrin Evans, Dick Oatts, theVanguard Jazz Orchestra, the Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia, as well as pop iconsMolly Ringwald, Bobby Rydell, and The Temptations.
Brandon’s Air Force career highlights include the Jazz Heritage Series concerts withTerell Stafford, Branford Marsalis, Christian McBride, Chris Potter, Kenny Barron,Peter Bernstein, and Peter Erskine, as well as numerous appearances at some ofthe country’s top jazz festivals, including Detroit, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Lionel Hampton and Hartford jazz festivals. Brandonmarched in the 45th Presidential Inauguration and the 2017 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. He also performed on severalAirmen of Note recordings including “Veterans of Jazz,” “AIR Power!,” and “Global Reach.”
