On September 15, The New School will host the 2026 Festival of New Trumpet Music Award of Recognition ceremony honoring Ahmed Abdullah, the legendary trumpeter, composer, educator, and longtime member of Sun Ra’s Arkestra. Following the ceremony, Abdullah will lead a public masterclass, offering students a rare opportunity to learn from one of the defining voices in creative music.
Brass and composition students, as well as school ensembles, will participate in a reading and lecture-demonstration. All students interested in joining the class or exploring Abdullah’s approach to musical innovation are warmly invited.
Free and open to the public.
About Ahmed Abdullah:
Ahmed Abdullah is a Harlem native who is an American Jazz Trumpeter and an educator in the Brooklyn area. Ahmed’s understands the importance that music is to play in our society was about the spiritual, socio-economic, and political aspects of the art whilst also addressing the imbalanced social structure. Abdullah had been inspired by Sun Ra and was able to collaborate with him before creating his own band. He became a member of the Collective Black Artists (CBA), where he was able to connect with people like Charles Brackeen, forming the Melodic Art-Tet with Roger Blank, Ronnie Boykins, & William Parker. Together they released records on No Business Records in 2013. Another collective ensemble called The Group was created by Ahmed in 1986. A live recording of that band was released by No Business Records in 2011. The group NAM was recorded in 1999 and 2001.
Presented by The New School.
Committed to amplifying diverse voices, The New School offers more than a thousand public programs and events each year, providing fresh perspectives and unique learning opportunities. These lectures, exhibitions, concerts, and performances feature prominent and emerging artists, activists, and thought leaders.
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