Dr. Stacy Simpson is a Grammy Award–winning artist, acclaimed trumpeter, and dedicated educator whose career spans orchestral, commercial, chamber, and solo performance on an international scale. She performs regularly with the Louisville Orchestra and appears on its Grammy Award–winning Deutsche Grammophon recording The American Project. Known for her versatility, musical depth, and elegant tone, she is also a featured musician at Derby Dinner Playhouse, performing a wide range of commercial repertoire.

    Dr. Simpson’s performance career includes appearances throughout the United States and internationally, with major engagements in New Zealand, Japan, France, Switzerland, Ecuador, and throughout Europe. A former member of the St. Louis Symphony, she has performed with many of the nation’s premier orchestras. Her achievements include first prize in the International Trumpet Guild Mock Orchestra Competition and the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition with Canterbury Brass. She has won numerous concerto competitions and has appeared as soloist with orchestra in the trumpet concertos of Tomasi, Haydn, Neruda, Arutiunian, Böhme, and Hummel. She was also the winner of the WGUC Solo Competition, performing a live on-air broadcast recital on WGUC Cincinnati.

Simpson’s artistic work is complemented by longstanding service to the International Women’s Brass Conference—where she has presented at national and international conferences and recorded with Monarch Brass and the Monarch Brass Quintet—and to the International Trumpet Guild, for which she has served as lecturer, adjudicator, and clinician.

    As an educator, Dr. Simpson maintains a vibrant private studio and is deeply committed to mentorship, artistic excellence, and high-level musical training. She currently serves as Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Director of Bands at Bellarmine University, where she leads the Concert and Pep Bands, coordinates the Instrumental Music Area, and directs the High School Brass and Woodwind Solo Competition. Her previous teaching appointments include Indiana University, the University of Kentucky, Campbellsville College, Central State University, and Sinclair Community College.

Dr. Simpson holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Kentucky, a Master of Music from Indiana University, and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Louisville.

    Beyond her musical work, she is a respected figure in whiskey education. She serves on the Board of Directors for Whiskey University, where she also holds the honorary rank of Senior Chartered Master Bourbon Taster and Lt. Colonel in the Bourbon Brigade, and she leads educational programming for the Original Bourbon Society of Louisville.

She also serves as a Community Member on the University Committee for Animal Welfare at the University of Louisville, contributing to ethical oversight and community engagement initiatives.

    Passionate about performance, teaching, and cultural outreach, Dr. Simpson continues to build a career that connects artistic excellence with global engagement, meaningful education, and community service.