Girls Play Trumpets Too was founded in 2022 by trumpeter, music educator, producer, and composer Troy Sawyer.

Troy Sawyer's musical journey includes Girls Play Trumpets Too. Troy grew up in New Orleans, the cradle of jazz, where he was immersed in a gumbo pot of creativity and legacy. His enthusiasm in playing the violin and trumpet is due to his family's musical heritage and the culture of New Orleans. He believed that the trumpet ultimately selected him because it embodied the calm of Miles Davis, the fire of Freddie Hubbard, the spirituality of Lee Morgan, and the soul of Louis Armstrong. He was motivated to practice daily in order to improve. Troy was aware of his development as a trumpet player, but he was unaware of his prejudice toward female trumpet players.

He believed that women could not play the trumpet at a professional level because he didn’t see any professional female trumpet players growing up, and this belief was bolstered by the perception that these instruments symbolized strength, leadership, and masculinity.

But when he was in high school, he met a trumpet player who happened to be a girl at Loyola University's Jazz Camp. Troy discovered that she was a great person and one of the best sight readers that can play.

Thereafter, he remembered going to Dillard University to check out a female Jazz trumpeter from Canada while attending Xavier University at New Orleans majoring in music performance. She also played music from Miles Davis - one of his favorite jazz trumpet players. She was phenomenal and that experience destroyed all of those misconceptions, generalizations, and gender biases that he had towards female trumpet players.

Currently, Troy Sawyer is a professional trumpet player and music educator. He has inspired a substantial amount of girls to play the trumpet throughout the years of educating the youth in New Orleans and he is on a mission- along with the girls that rock on the trumpet- to change the narrative of female trumpet players by putting trumpets in the hands of as many girls as possible!

MISSION

Girls Play Trumpets Too is a 501c3 non-profit that empowers girls ages 8-19 to play the trumpet on a novice and advanced level to enhance equal representation in a male-dominated music industry.

WE BELIEVE

We believe that playing the trumpet helps to develop leadership skills, break down the walls of gender bias, build musical fundamentals, motivate social entrepreneurship, and increase empathy and joy that will uplift their community and beyond.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Girls Play Trumpets Too teaches girls ages 8-19 how to the play the trumpet with the mission to empower them to change the world through understanding the history of female trumpet players that have been overlooked for years, learning the mechanics of the trumpet, receiving classical/jazz instruction, understanding the music business, learning an African language (Swahili), and giving back to their community through volunteering/ social entrepreneurship. 

Our instructors are music educators, professional musicians, and teaching artist that have years of experience. We strive to make our programming fun, enriched, and engaging. 

  • The Mechanics of the Trumpet

  • Fundamentals of Music 

  • Music History

  • Classical/Jazz Instruction

  • Private Lessons

  • Music Business

  • Social Entrepreneurship 

  • Learning a Foreign Language (Swahili)

  • Ocean/Environmental Justice

PERFORMANCE BIO

Girls Play Trumpets Too (GPTT) is a groundbreaking 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering young girls, ages 8–19, to explore and master the art of trumpet playing. What began as a small group of just eight young musicians has blossomed into a transformative movement with nearly 100 talented girls registered. With each performance, GPTT delivers not only inspiring music but also a message of resilience, equality, and empowerment in a historically male-dominated industry.

The ensemble has graced some of the most prestigious stages and events, showcasing their passion and talent while representing the next generation of female musicians. Girls Play Trumpets Too has had the privilege of performing at:

  • Satchmo Summer Festival

  • Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

  • French Quarter Fest

  • New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

  • Level Up Summer Series

  • Gentilly Festival

  • Historic St. James AME Church Legacy Gala

  • International Network for School Attendance Conference

  • Krewe of Muses DEI Training at the Contemporary Arts Center

  • Chase Bank

  • Urban League National Conference

Their artistry even reached a national audience when they were featured on the Kelly Clarkson Show, performing alongside none other than Justin Timberlake!

Girls Play Trumpets Too doesn’t just make music – they make an impact. By forging partnerships with organizations like Inspire NOLA and the River Road African American Museum, GPTT has expanded its reach to schools such as Andrew H. Wilson, Eisenhower Elementary, Louise S. McGehee, and even into Donaldsonville, Louisiana. These collaborations are providing opportunities for young girls to find their voices through music, instilling confidence, discipline, and a love for the arts.

With every performance, Girls Play Trumpets Too reminds audiences of the power of representation and the importance of creating spaces where girls can dream big and play louder than ever. Their growing list of achievements is proof that the future of music is bright, diverse, and led by girls who dare to play trumpets too.