Biography

As a Houston native, Oliver Lampson joined the Houston Symphony as Utility Trumpet in September 2026, appointed by Music Director Juraj Valčuha.

Lampson began his musical journey on cornet at age nine. After a brief hiatus during which he took up the saxophone, he returned to the cornet at age eleven when he joined his sixth-grade concert band. He later became a member of the Houston Youth Symphony and performed with the group for five consecutive years. After high school, he went on to study trumpet performance at the University of Houston under Mark Hughes before winning his position with the Houston Symphony.

As a young artist, Lampson attended the Brevard Music Center in the summer of 2022. He was later selected for the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA), touring North America in 2023 and Asia in 2025. Highlights of those tours included performances at The Rady Shell in San Diego and Suntory Hall in Tokyo.

As a soloist and chamber musician, Lampson has appeared in numerous competitions including the National Trumpet Competition. In March 2025, he won second prize in the undergraduate solo division, where he performed Arthur Honegger's Intrada. That same year, he won first prize in the small ensemble division alongside his studio mates, where they performed Ned Battista's Paraphrases.

Outside of the concert hall, Lampson can usually be found at the gym, on a run, or in the kitchen. He is also an avid reader and a lifelong learner who is always looking for a new challenge.