ALEX WILBORN (co-principal trumpet) joined the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra as Principal Trumpet in 2018. Growing up in Cookeville, Tennessee, Wilborn began playing trumpet when he was 9 years old. As a fifth grader, Wilborn already wanted to play with the high school band and dedicated himself to studying recordings of their concerts until he had memorized the music by ear. He began trumpet lessons with Dr. Charles Decker in the eighth grade and continued working with him through his undergraduate degree at Tennessee Technological University. During his time in Cookeville, he also studied with Chris McCormick and Dr. Raquel Rodriquez Samayoa. Wilborn continued at The Juilliard School, receiving a Graduate Diploma and studying with Raymond Mase, Mark Gould, and John Thiessen. Throughout his studies Wilborn has won awards and honors such as 2nd Prize in the Graduate Division at the National Trumpet Competition in 2018, 1st Prize at the International Trumpet Guild’s Orchestral Excerpts Competition and 2nd Prize in its Military Band Excerpts Competition, as well as 1st Prize in the International Trumpet Guild’s Solo Competition in 2014. In addition to his work with the Charlotte Symphony, Wilborn has performed with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, NOVUS NY, Winston-Salem Symphony, and others. Wilborn currently serves as adjunct faculty at Davidson College, Artistic Faculty for the Cornelius Youth Orchestras, and maintains his own private studio. He is also a three-time alumni of EMF.