Marie Speziale

About Marie

Acknowledged as the first woman trumpeter in a major symphony orchestra, Marie Speziale retired from the Associate Principal position in the Cincinnati Symphony (CSO) after thirty two years. Since then, she has performed with the St. Louis (SLSO), Houston, Houston Grand Opera, Houston Ballet, Colorado, and Louisiana Orchestras.

Her solo appearances include the NBC Dave Garroway Today Show, CSO, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra (CPO), Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, and with Duke Ellington. In 1969, she was featured with Dave Brubeck on the Johnny Carson Tonight Show, on the CSO European tour, and at the Interlochen Arts Academy. Her extensive experience also includes performing with the CSO Jazz Quintet, Summit Brass, and Monarch Brass. In addition to recordings with the CSO CPO, SLSO, and Monarch Brass, she has recorded for Star Trek Voyager, Deep Space Nine, and James Brown.

Speziale has conducted the Rice Brass Choir, Round Top Festival Brass, New World Symphony Brass, Monarch Brass, College-Conservatory of Music’s Lucca and Spoleto Italy Festival Brass, Banda Sinfonica de Montevideo, as well as the brass sections of Washington, DC's premiere US Air Force and US Army Field Bands.

Aa a clinician in the United States, Europe, and Japan, she has also been a featured guest artist at the International Women's Brass Conference (IWBC) and International Trumpet Guild (ITG). She has been an adjudicator for the Fischoff Chamber Music, ITG, IWBC, Interlochen Concerto, and National Trumpet Competitions.

Speziale has taught at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and University of Texas Austin. She is Professor Emerita of Rice University Shepherd School of Music, where she served as Professor of Trumpet and Brass Department Chair. Former President of IWBC, she currently serves on its Emerita Board and is on the Board of the Classical Music Hall of Fame.