Curtis Appoints Trumpeter Michael Sachs to its Faculty

Sachs is the longest-serving Principal Trumpet in the history of The Cleveland Orchestra

The Curtis Institute of Music (CIM) recently announced that the renowned trumpeter Michael Sachs will join its faculty from Fall 2024 onward.

Sachs was chair of CIM's brass division and head of its trumpet department from 1988 to 2023. An experienced pedagogue, he has also taught at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music and Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.

He has spent the majority of his career in The Cleveland Orchestra, having been a member of its trumpet section since 1988. Now in his 36th season, Sachs is the ensemble's longest-serving Principal Trumpet.

Hailing from Santa Monica, he received an undergraduate degree in history from UCLA before studying the trumpet at The Juilliard School. His former teachers include Ziggy Elman, Mark Gould, Anthony Plog, and James Stamp.

"We are thrilled to welcome Michael Sachs to the Curtis faculty," said Roberto Díaz, CIM's president and CEO. "Our students will benefit greatly from his extraordinary experience as an outstanding musician, advocate for expanding the repertoire, and a dedicated teacher."

"Throughout my career, I have come to believe that there is nothing more important to me than sharing all that I have learned about the trumpet — and about life — with students," Sachs said. "I truly look forward to being a part of the legendary culture of excellence at Curtis."