Marissa Benedict

Marissa Benedict is an Assistant Professor of Trumpet at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, where she maintains an applied studio of 16 undergraduate and graduate students. She holds affiliations with the Minnesota Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and remains principal trumpet for the Pasadena Symphony/Pops while continuing performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.

• Assistant Professor, Department of Music, University of Minnesota
• Principal Trumpet, Pasadena Symphony/Pops
• Active performer with Minnesota and LA-based orchestras

Education

• Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance, University of Southern California (1984)

Research & Performance Focus

Marissa Benedict's career spans 40 years of expertise in trumpet performance across classical, jazz, and studio recording disciplines. Her pedagogical work includes brass fundamentals instruction and chamber music coaching. Recent projects like Continental Drift (2023) and Homage (2023) showcase her solo and ensemble artistry. She has been featured on over 180 motion picture soundtracks, including Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) and Avatar: The Way of Water (2022).

Notable Collaborations

• Los Angeles Philharmonic tours (Asia, Scotland, Boston to London)
• 2019 Academy Awards (Oscars®)
• Yamaha Educator and Performing Artist

Publications

• Benedict, M. (2022). Beyond Lip Service: A Framework for Brass Fundamentals. Carl Fischer Publishing.

Student Development

Her graduates in Music Education and Performance majors are actively teaching and performing in the Minneapolis area. Benedict continues to recruit nationally and provide masterclasses across the United States.