Wiff Rudd
Trumpet
Wiff Rudd has been a distinguished member of Baylor University’s School of Music since 2002, serving as Professor of Trumpet and Brass Area Coordinator. Prior to his tenure at Baylor, he held teaching positions at Oklahoma Baptist University and the University of Arkansas. Throughout his career, Mr. Rudd has earned numerous accolades for his exceptional contributions to teaching and performance. In 2010, he was honored with Baylor’s Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching and named the Centennial Professor, a distinction that provided a grant for his first book, Collaborative Practice Concepts. This was followed by the publication of Side by Side: Building and Sustaining an Effective Community in the Music Studio. Both works have been embraced worldwide by music educators passionate about fostering collaboration and a positive culture with students and colleagues.
In recognition of his dedication to mentorship and teaching, Mr. Rudd received Baylor’s Elizabeth Vardaman Award for Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduates in 2021. The following year, the International Trumpet Guild honored him with its prestigious Award of Merit, celebrating his profound impact on the art of trumpet playing through performance, teaching, publishing, and research. Most recently, in 2025, Baylor recognized his lifetime of achievements with its highest teaching honor, the Master Teacher Award.
A highly sought-after performer and educator, Mr. Rudd has had the privilege of performing and teaching on five continents, participating in over 3,000 concerts. He has presented clinics and performances at more than 300 universities and conservatories and has appeared at leading music events, including the National Trumpet Competition, International Trumpet Guild Conferences, the Midwest Clinic, the Texas Music Educators Association Conference, Music Educators National Conference, and Music for All.
From 1985 to 1993, Mr. Rudd toured internationally with the Dallas Brass. He is a founding member and manager of Rhythm & Brass, established in 1993, and performs with the Baylor Brass faculty quintet. Together, these ensembles have released 11 recordings spanning a wide array of musical styles. He also serves as principal trumpet of the Waco Symphony and co-principal for the New Hampshire Music Festival, and he has performed with renowned orchestras, including those in Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth, Austin, and Harrisburg.
Mr. Rudd’s students have achieved notable success, attending premier graduate programs and music festivals, securing teaching positions in leading universities and public school music programs, and performing with prominent symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles, and military bands across the country. The Baylor Trumpet Studio has excelled in competitions, earning top prizes at the National Trumpet Competition and International Trumpet Guild events. Since 2009, 15 Baylor trumpet ensembles have placed at NTC, including six first-place titles. Most recently, Lux Brass earned second prize in ITG’s Chamber Music Competition in 2023, followed by Baylor Gold’s first-place finish in both 2024 and 2025.
A Yamaha Performing Artist/Clinician since 1986, Mr. Rudd is a passionate advocate for music education and remains committed to inspiring the next generation of musicians.