Clinton McLendon

Clinton McLendon was appointed Second Trumpet of the San Diego Symphony in 2024. Hailing from Atlanta, GA, Mr. McLendon was previously Associate Principal/Second Trumpet of the North Carolina Symphony and Assistant Principal/Second/Utility Trumpet of the Phoenix Symphony.

McLendon earned his master’s degree in trumpet performance at The Juilliard School in 2020, studying with Chris Martin, Raymond Mase and Mark Gould. While at Juilliard, McLendon also found himself deeply involved in the performance of baroque music and studied baroque trumpet with John Thiessen. McLendon also holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Georgia State University.

As a freelancer, Mr. McLendon has performed as a substitute with the New York City Ballet, Atlanta Symphony, The Orchestra of Saint Luke’s, Sarasota Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony, The Florida Orchestra, Palm Beach Symphony, Miami City Ballet, Savannah Philharmonic, Chattanooga Symphony, and he has played lead in multiple musicals in Atlanta. In 2019 he toured Scandinavia with Juilliard 415 and performed in Paris on multiple national broadcasts with Les Arts Florissants. McLendon has also participated in the National Repertory Orchestra and Aspen Music Festival, where he received the Aspen Conducting Academy Fellowship.

Outside of music, Clinton McLendon enjoys hiking, golfing, pickleball, video games, and serves as commissioner of his all-brass fantasy football league.