About Me
Molly Collins has established herself as a versatile musician, excelling in both classical and jazz genres. She earned dual degrees in Music Education and Trumpet Performance from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. She will continue her studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) as a Teaching Assistant in Trumpet Performance.
As a classical musician, Collins has performed with the Orchestra of Northern New York, Northern Symphonic Winds, and the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. During her time at Crane she has held principal positions with both the Crane Symphony Orchestra and Crane Wind Ensemble. Additionally, she was a member of the Frackenpohl Honors Brass Quintet, a scholarship ensemble that represents Crane through community outreach and high-level collaborations. Collins’s achievements include performances at the Crane 2025 Honors Recital, the 47th International Trumpet Guild Conference in Minneapolis, MN, the 2025 International Women’s Brass Conference (IWBC) in Hartford, Connecticut, and the the 50th International Trumpet Guild Conference in Rochester, NY. In recognition of her trumpet performance, she was awarded the prestigious International Trumpet Guild (ITG) Conference Scholarship in both 2025 and 2026.
Collins is also an accomplished jazz musician. At Crane, she played lead trumpet with both the Jazz Ensemble (2022-2026) and The Latin Ensemble (2023-2026). She was also selected for the Giroux Honors Jazz Combo, a scholarship quintet that serves as an ambassador for the school through performances at official functions and community events. For five years, she has been a section player in the Joey Stempien Big Band, an emerging force in the Upstate NY jazz scene. Collins also leads her own group, the Molly Collins Quartet (MCQ), which has performed at various Rochester venues.
Beyond performance, Collins is deeply committed to music education, leadership, and advocacy. She served as Collegiate Vice President of the New York State Band Directors Association (NYSBDA) and President of the Crane Student Association during the 2024–2025 academic year. Since 2025, she has served as Events Coordinator on the International Trumpet Guild Emerging Professionals (ITGEP) Board and has contributed as a Conference Writer for the 2025 International Trumpet Guild Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the 2026 conference in Rochester, New York.
As an educator, Collins maintains an active private trumpet studio, serves as a counselor at Crane Youth Music Camp each summer, and has served as a trumpet instructor at UNCG Summer Music Institute, the largest youth music camp in the country. Her dedication to advocacy and mentorship is reflected in her selection as an International Women's Brass Conference (IWBC) Mentee for both 2025 and 2026, where she continues to cultivate her passion for equity, inclusion, and the advancement of women in the brass community.
Collins is a S.E. Shires Rising Artist, and performs on a TRQ13S S.E. Shires trumpet.
Education
Present
University of North Carolina Greensboro
Collins is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Trumpet Performance at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) as a Graduate Assistant. As part of her assistantship, she performs with the Graduate Brass Quintet, works with the administrative staff of the UNCG Community Music School, and works for the School of Music's Box Office.
2022-2026
Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam
Collins earned a dual Bachelor of Music degrees in Music Education (Band Track) and Trumpet Performance from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam in 2026. She completed the General Honors Program as a Presidential Scholar and graduated with a 3.97 GPA. Collins studied classical trumpet under the mentorship of Dr. Christopher Keach and Dr. Brianne Borden, while her jazz studies were guided by Dr. Michael Dudley and Dr. SeungYoung Hong.
2018-2022
Eastman Community Music School
Collins was a member of the Eastman Youth Jazz Orchestra (2019–2022) and served as second trumpet in the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (2021–2022). She studied with Herb Smith, Dr. Colin Gordon, Dr. James Mick, and Wes Nance, developing expertise in both jazz and orchestral performance.
Hochstein Community Music
At Hochstein, Collins studied jazz trumpet with Dr. Dave Chisholm and Mr. Richard Delaney of the Mambo Kings. She also performed with the Honors Jazz Combo and the Youth Wind Symphony.
