Luke J Spence
Assistant Professor: Trumpet
Dr. Luke Spence leads a dynamic career as a performer, recording artist, educator, and arts advocate. Since 2022, he has served on the faculty of the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, where he is also co-principal trumpet of the Orchestra of Northern New York and a member of the Potsdam Brass Quintet. Additionally, he performs with the innovative ensemble Anima Brass and is a performing artist for S.E. Shires Co. and Denis Wick Products.
Praised by Fanfare Magazine for his "great artistry," labeled "exquisite" by the International Trumpet Guild Journal, and hailed as "a true expert in phrasing" by the NACWPI Journal, Spence is known for his contributions to the genre of vocal transcriptions. His debut solo album, 20th Century Art Songs, highlights rarely explored repertoire and was named a 2023 finalist for The American Prize. With Anima Brass, Spence appears on All Life Long, an album featuring the music of acclaimed post-minimalist composer Kali Malone. Upon its release, All Life Long was named Pitchfork's "Best New Album," The Guardian's "Album of the Week," rose to the #4 spot on Billboard's Classical Crossover chart, and received a Swedish Grammy nomination for Classical Album of the Year. Critics have called Anima's contributions "enthralling," capable of leaving listeners in "a state of transcendental bliss." As an orchestral freelancer, Spence has performed with numerous ensembles including the National Philharmonic, South Florida Symphony, Fairfax Symphony, Lancaster Symphony, Reading Symphony, Mid Atlantic Symphony, and the Washington Chamber Orchestra. His career has brought him to sold-out performances at Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center, as well as tours across the U.S., Europe, and China. He has shared the stage with world-renowned artists such as Denyce Graves, Leon Fleischer, Thomas Hampson, Joshua Bell, Gordon Lightfoot, Leon Bridges, and Jennifer Nettles.
A firm believer in music's power to inspire social change, Spence is General Manager and founding Board of Directors member for the International Pride Orchestra (IPO), a global LGBTQIA+ nonprofit that unites musicians to perform, build community, and support queer causes. During 2025 WorldPride, IPO presented a landmark concert at Strathmore Concert Hall after being disinvited from the Kennedy Center. From 2023-2025, Spence served as Co-Chair International Trumpet Guild (ITG) committee for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. During his time as Co-Chair, he helped create the Langston J. Fitzgerald III Legacy Scholarship and fought for visibility for underrepresented groups at ITG's annual conferences.
Spence holds a DMA and MM from the University of Maryland and a BM from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he was the recipient of the 2014 James Stamp Award.