Dr. Scott Hagarty is Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Brass Division Chair at the University of Northern Iowa. Prior to accepting the position at UNI in 2025, Dr. Hagarty was Associate Professor of Trumpet at Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, Tennessee and at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas. He has also taught courses at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, University of Minnesota, and Yale University. After growing up in Iowa, Dr. Hagarty enjoyed exploring much of the United States earning his graduate degrees and living and working in five different states. His trumpet teachers have included Dr. David Baldwin, Gary Bordner, Allan Dean, Dr. Randy Grabowski, Al Naylor, Denny Hodge, Steve Tripolino, and Jan Ellis.

 

An active and versatile performer, Dr. Hagarty is currently Principal Trumpet of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra, and previously held the positions of Principal Trumpet of the Bryan Symphony Orchestra (in residence at Tennessee Tech University), 2nd Trumpet of the Victoria Symphony Orchestra (TX), 3rd Trumpet of the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra, and Solo Principal Cornet of the Southern Stars Symphonic Brass Band, based in Crossville, TN.  In addition to those regular positions, he has performed with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Symphony (MN), Orchestra Iowa, Mid-Texas Symphony, and the Oak Ridge Symphony, among others across the United States. As a chamber musician he was a member of the Brass Arts Quintet (in residence at Tennessee Tech University), Corpus Christi Brass Quintet, Aurora Brass Quintet and the Del Mar College Faculty Brass Trio. He has performed as a soloist and chamber musician and presented at several national and international music conferences and festivals including the Tennessee Music Educators Association Conference, Texas Music Educators Association Convention, Texas Jazz Festival, Big 12 Trombone Conference, International Trumpet Guild Conference, College Music Society Southern Region Conference, Victoria Bach Festival, and the Cedar Valley Chamber Music Festival. As a jazz musician and teacher who specializes in lead and section playing, he was formerly the director of the MWF Jazz Band at Del Mar College. Dr. Hagarty has performed in pit orchestras, with big bands, and at jazz clubs around the United States including places like the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, Theatre Cedar Rapids, the Harbor Playhouse, and Noce Jazz Cabaret, among others. Dr. Hagarty also has many freelance credits to his name performing jazz, chamber music, church music and wind band music in Iowa, Connecticut, Minnesota, Texas, and Tennessee. 

 

Dr. Hagarty released his debut solo album in 2022, “Determination” on Mark Records to critical acclaim, winning a Silver Medal in the Global Music Awards, and earning Honorable Mention from the American Prize in the Solo Instrumental category. Reviewers had this to say about the recording:

 

        “Hagarty plays with an easy, resonant sound and his tasteful vibrato and thoughtful, controlled phrasing give the slower sections a pleasing, sentimental feel.”

–International Trumpet Guild Journal

 

            “…he makes producing musically pleasant sounds on the trumpet seem easy.”

–Classical Music Sentinel

 

             “Hagarty presents stamina with finesse…and simplistic, melodic sounds that portray a feeling of final days and loss, were beautifully displayed through Hagarty’s warm tone.”

–Last Row Music

 

An avid supporter of new music, he has commissioned and premiered new works for brass by Gina Gillie, David Wilborn, Lucas Garner, Evan Williams, Katie Jenkins, Nadje Noordhuis, Neil Flory, James Stephenson, Erik Morales, Sy Brandon, Roger Petersen, and Heath Mathews. He is an active member of the International Trumpet Guild previously serving as chair of the social media committee and currently on the membership committee. Dr. Hagarty also has several publications in the ITG Journal and serves as a media reviewer, and conference reporter. He earned a Doctorate in Trumpet Performance with a secondary area in music theory from the University of Minnesota, a Masters of Music in Trumpet Performance from Yale University, and a Bachelors of Music Education with a minor in jazz studies from the University of Northern Iowa.