Tony Vaughn

A student of Florida A&M University (FAMU), alma mater of Cannonball and Nat Adderley, Tony Vaughn studied with the great jazz masters of the 21st century. Under professors that included Marcus Roberts, Scotty Barnhart, Lindsey Sargent, and Longineu Parsons, Tony grew to the lengths his musical mentors of Wynton Marsalis, Ellis Marsalis, Victor Wooten, Jamey Aebersold, and Bobby Shew could only have anticipated.

However, Tony Vaughn’s musical adventure didn’t start with jazz but began during his second year of playing the trumpet when he performed in Carnegie Hall with the Metro Youth Orchestra at the age of 13. He grew quickly as a classical trumpeter and began playing professionally in his hometown of Huntsville, AL with the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra while in high school; later he joined the United States Army Band (77th and 283rd), whereby he performed in great array for General Tommy Franks and Colin Powell. Nevertheless, Tony’s passion for jazz drove him to lead the United States Army Jazz Combo whereby he toured the nation teaching jazz master classes to professors and students alike.

Trained at FAMU, Colorado State University, and the United States Military School of Music, Mr. Vaughn holds a bachelor’s degree from Thomas Edison State College and is concluding his master’s degree from Liberty University. Tony Vaughn has performed around the country with his most notable experience involving jazz performances at Snug Harbor during the 2004 New Orleans Jazz Festival, the 2000 Chicago Jazz Festival, the Knitting Factory and Pumpkins in New York City, El Chapultepec in Denver, and with the Airmen of Note, the premier U.S. Air Force Jazz Band.

Tony Vaughn is recognized around the country as an outstanding jazz soloist. From the age of 17, Tony has received jazz awards from prestigious jazz festivals like the 2000 Chicago Jazz Festival where he was noted as the Most Outstanding Jazz Soloist and the 2006 Greeley Jazz Festival whereby again he received commendation as the Most Outstanding Jazz Soloist.

Mr. Vaughn is excited to be a part of the MSU Music Faculty as he raises his four children in beautiful Bozeman, MT, and he continues to perform regularly with extraordinary faculty members like Ryan Matzinger and the Montana Jazz Prophets and Eric Funk and the Bridger Big Band to name a few. Local artists like the legendary Kelly Roberti and bandleader Adam Greenberg are excited to see what the future holds for Tony.