Women of Classical Music: Susan Slaughter spent 40 years as Principal Trumpet of the St. Louis Symphony. Her appointment to the orchestra took place in 1969 and two years later she was raised to the Principal chair. This move made her the first women to become Principal Trumpet of a major American orchestra. As a soloist, Slaughter has performed with the St. Louis Symphony multiple times as well as performs in recitals and religious events. Before her time in St. Louis, at Indiana University, Slaughter earned a high prize of a Performers Certificate in recognition of outstanding musical performance. In 1967 when Slaughter began to audition for orchestras, she won the Principal Trumpet Chair at the Toledo Symphony. She stayed there for 2 years before earning the job in St. Louis. Slaughter has been nominated and received many awards including a nomination from the Ladies Home Journal for its Women of the Year Award, Special Leadership Award in Arts from the Young Women’s Christian Association, and a American Federation of Musicians local 2-197 Owen Miller Award. In 1992 Slaughter founded International Women’s Brass Conference to provide opportunities and recognition to women brass players. Slaughter also founded the all women brass ensemble Monarch Brass. Monarch Brass has toured the United States and Europe and in 2010 they released their self titled album “Monarch Brass.”
