Hayden Mapel is a professional trombonist, arranger, composer, and educator based in South Florida. He is fluent in wide range of musical styles and has performed for audiences around the world. He completed a Bachelor's of Music in Jazz Trombone Performance from the University of North Texas in 2013 and a Master's of Music in Studio Music and Jazz Trombone Performance from the University of Miami in 2017.

 

Hayden was born in Phoenix, AZ and began playing the trombone at age 10. Throughout high school, he was a member of the prestigious Young Sounds of Arizona and Sedona Jazz on the Rocks Youth Bands and placed first chair in the Arizona All-State Jazz band his junior year.  Hayden began his college career in Denton, TX with a full scholarship to the University of North Texas.  During his time at North Texas, he studied with Professors Tony Baker, Justin Cook, and Steve Wiest and played lead trombone in the Three O’clock Lab Band under Professor Brad Leali. He also received two Downbeat Student Awards while at North Texas and performed in bands across the DFW Metroplex.

 

After finishing his Bachelor’s degree, Hayden traveled the world while working on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and Celebrity Cruise Lines. He completed two seven-month contracts and one three-month contract while performing for thousands of guests, supporting headline acts, and playing in Broadway-style production shows. During his time on cruise ships, Hayden visited many amazing locations such as Alaska, Iceland, Russia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Australia, Sweden, and Mexico and performed alongside Dave Koz, Mindi Abair, and Bobby Caldwell. During this time, Hayden was also a member of the award-winning Bad Cactus Brass Band in his hometown of Phoenix, AZ and performed across the state of Arizona.

 

After two years at sea, Hayden decided to continue his academic studies at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music. At the Frost School, Hayden studied with Professor Dante Luciani and was a member of the Concert Jazz Band under Professor John Daversa and Professor Brian Lynch’s Afro-Caribbean Artist Ensemble. He recorded albums with each of these ensembles as well as appeared multiple times on Miami’s jazz radio station WDNA 88.9.  Outside of school, Hayden has performed and recorded with the South Florida Jazz Orchestra with Rick Margitza, the Heatwave Party Band, and Timmy Thomas and the TK’s among others. He maintains a private lesson studio and is an active composer, arranger, and music copyist.