Jazz trumpeter David Champagne grew up as part of a multicultural Air Force family. He lived in Mississippi, started school in England, and eventually settled in Jacksonville, Florida after a few more stops. David studied music at the famed Douglas Anderson School of the Arts and earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Jazz Studies from the University of North Florida. He also spent a year as a graduate assistant in the jazz department at Florida State University.

Over the years he has been blessed to learn from Jon Faddis, JB Scott, Bunky Green, Bill Prince, Marcus Roberts, and many others.

David has won numerous awards as a jazz trumpeter including second place in the Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition. His finals performance was featured on the International Trumpet Guild album, “Retrospective,” also featuring Ingrid Jensen and Dominic Farinacci. He has been recognized numerous times in DownBeat Magazine.

David has performed around the world, most recently touring Poland with the ICX Jazz Ensemble featuring Gregory Tardy. He has been a featured soloist at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Atlanta Jazz Festival, the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, and with a number of middle school, high school, and university jazz ensembles. In 2026, David was named the JPMorgan Chase Featured Artist in the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra’s “Miles 100” tribute concert.

Champagne has performed with many jazz luminaries over the years including:

Jon Faddis

Arturo Sandoval

John Pizzarelli

Gregory Tardy

Bob Reynolds

Ulysses Owens Jr.

Jamison Ross

Michael Dease

Wycliffe Gordon

Theo Croker

As an educator, David has directed jazz ensembles, concert bands, marching bands, orchestras, and choirs. He has taught on the faculty of Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, Providence School of Jacksonville, Jacksonville University, and the University of Mobile. He is a sought-after clinician, and he loves working with musicians of all ages and abilities.

His debut album, Come Before Winter, is set for release on October 16, 2026 on the Cellar Music record label. The album is produced by Grammy-winning drummer Ulysses Owens Jr. and features Michael Dease, John Lumpkin II, Scott Giddens, Dennis Marks, and Todd DelGiudice.

David leads his own band, The Champagne Jazz Quintet, and he serves as Associate Pastor at Sunrise Community Church in Atlantic Beach, FL. He lives in Jacksonville with his wife Jody and their 4 children.

He proudly endorses Carol Brass Trumpets, Denis Wick mouthpieces, and MG Leatherworks accessories.