Graham Taylor grew up in Irvine, California, where he began studying trumpet with Bill Perkins at the age of 11. By 14, Mr. Taylor was studying with David Washburn, principal trumpet of the LA Opera and Chamber Orchestra. Graham then received a Bachelor of Music degree (1999) from Northwestern University, where he studied trumpet with the legendary faculty of Vincent Cichowicz, Luther Didrickson, William Scarlett, and Barbara Butler. Mr. Taylor received a Master of Music degree (2003) from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and studied with David Burkhart.
Returning to his Southern Californian roots in 2004, he quickly became a sought-after freelance musician in Los Angeles, performing with the Pacific Symphony, Long Beach Symphony, the Pageant of the Masters Festival Orchestra, and in the LA Studios. Returning to the Bay Area in 2011, Graham joined the faculty of the Idyllwild Arts Academy and performed the Arutunian Trumpet Concerto with the Eureka Symphony. During these years he also performed with the Berkeley Symphony, Oakland East Bay Symphony, Marin Symphony, San Jose Opera, Monterey Symphony, Santa Cruz Symphony, Lamplighters, Symphony Napa Valley, Opera Parallèle, and Fresno Philharmonic, and served on the faculties of the University of San Francisco and San Francisco Day School. In 2016, Graham participated in the Stockholm Chamber Brass Academy in Leksand, Sweden, returning in 2017 and 2018 for intensive chamber music study with Urban Agnas of the Stockholm Chamber Brass, one of the great brass groups of the world.
Now living in Minneapolis, Graham is principal trumpet of the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra and has performed with the Minnesota Orchestra, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Lakes Area Music Festival, the South Bend Symphony, and the Dubuque Symphony. He can also be heard on recordings with Hiss Golden Messenger as a trumpet player and arranger. He is a founding member of the Tamalpais Brass Quintet, alongside his wife Alison on horn. Graham is on faculty at Luther College, Macalester College, and Bethel University, and teaches at Wayzata High School, in addition to running a private trumpet studio in the Twin Cities.
Graham lives in Minneapolis with his wife Alison and their 11-year-old daughter, Waverly.