Etienne has played his special trumpet blend of jazz at major venues around the world—from Jazz at Lincoln Center to Long Beach, California, from Thailand to the Netherlands' North Sea.

Etienne Charles

Brautlecht Scholar, Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media

Etienne Charles is playing the jazz heard 'round the world. Covering at least three continents, Etienne's jazz is truly bringing down the house.

Etienne grew up in Trinidad and Tobago, sister isles of the Caribbean, where language is spoken in a singsong English and the French-Creole dialect of patois. A blend of color and cultures, Trinbagonians communicate dynamically through music and dance. At elaborate carnivals, Calypso, Steelpan, Chutney, East Indian Classical music and Limbo dances intermix.

Etienne has played his special trumpet blend of jazz at major venues around the world—from Jazz at Lincoln Center to Long Beach, California, from Thailand to the Netherlands' North Sea. And has performed with legendary artists—from rhythm and blues queen Roberta Flack to jazz vocalist Rene Marie, from steelpan great Len "Boogsie" Sharpe to calypso legend Lord Blakie.

Along the way, he has garnered numerous awards. In 2005, the International Association for Jazz Education honored Etienne with a Special Citation for Outstanding Musicianship and an Award for Outstanding Service to Jazz Education. That same year, he won second place in the International Trumpet Guild Jazz Improvisation Competition in Bangkok, as well as in the National Trumpet Competition Jazz Division held in Fairfax, Virginia.

His musical studies began at Fatima College, one of Trinidad's prestigious institutions. He then went on to study at the Sorbonne in Paris. Next stop, Florida State. He had heard the College of Music provided "a nurturing environment for young musicians to hone their skills." Here, he considers himself "lucky enough to be under the guidance of great music pedagogues."

We believe great music teachers deserve great students. During his two years here, Etienne founded and served as president of the FSU Jazz Society and is a member of the International Association for Jazz Education. He has performed with FSU's award winning Jazz Combo 1, the Faculty Jazz Quintet, and is the featured soloist in Jazz Ensemble 1. At the end of his junior year, Etienne was awarded the Brautlecht Music Scholarship, whose recipients are selected for both their character and their scholarship.

Etienne will graduate in the spring. He'll continue his music performances, but will also "teach music privately and work to promote the performing arts in my home country through education."