Dr. Mo Trout Announces Retirement

After 27 incredible years, Professor Marion “Mo” Trout will officially retire next spring—however, this fall semester and the Holiday Cheer and All That Jazz concert will be his last directing current students.

Dr. Trout has directed the Purdue Jazz Festival for 25 years and has been an active clinician, adjudicator, trumpet soloist, and guest conductor for jazz bands, concert bands and orchestras throughout the United States. He has conducted numerous All-District, Region and Area jazz bands as well as All-State Jazz Bands in Oklahoma, Texas and Indiana. As Professor of Music and director of the jazz program at Purdue University since 1997, Dr. Trout directed the Purdue Jazz Band, the American Music Repertory Ensemble, the Jazz Lab Band, and the Concert Jazz Band. He also has taught a Jazz Theory Workshop and Jazz History. Under his direction the Purdue Jazz Band has collaborated with numerous jazz artists including Bill Watrous, Bob Mintzer, the New York Voices, Tom Harrell, Allen Vizzutti, Eddie Daniels and Eric Marienthal to name only a few. Dr. Trout’s Purdue bands have toured throughout the US, South America and Europe and performed at such prestigious venues as the University of North Texas Jazz Festival, the Notre Dame Jazz Festival and the Elmhurst Collegiate Jazz Festival, garnering numerous band and soloist awards. In three European tours the band has performed at the Montreux, Alpine and North Sea International Jazz Festivals and hosted study abroad tours to Italy, Eastern Europe, Spain, Portugal and Colombia.

Dr. Trout received his Bachelor of Music Education from Texas Christian University and both his Master of Music Education and Doctor of Musical Arts degree (Trumpet Performance) from the University of North Texas.

Purdue Bands & Orchestras students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends and fans wish Mo all the best in his retirement and will officially celebrate him during the spring semester.