Gregory Alley has been teaching trumpet at Hope College since 2023. He began playing trumpet in elementary school at age ten. A native of Grand Rapids, he has been a member of the Grand Rapids Youth Symphony, Kent Philharmonia, and Jubal Brass and has played extra with the Grand Rapids Symphony trumpet section. During his graduate studies in Lansing, Michigan, he was a member of the Lansing Symphony. 

In 1984, he began his full-time career in the US Army’s West Point Band, from which he retired as the trumpet section leader in 2007 after 23 years. While there he founded the Regimental Brass Quintet and the Titus Trumpet Ensemble. 

After returning to West Michigan, Professor Alley joined the King’s Brass, a nine-piece Christian touring brass ensemble; he performed and recorded with them for 10 years in over 1,300 performances worldwide. Currently, he is a member of the Holland Symphony Orchestra and is an active freelance performer.

In addition to teaching at Hope, he is an adjunct trumpet instructor at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids. In the past he also taught trumpet at Calvin University, Grand Valley State University and Aquinas College. 

Among the various places he’s presented master classes are Brigham Young University, Central Michigan University, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, University of Minnesota, Norwegian Academy of Music, St. Olaf College and Interlochen Arts Academy.

His articles and photographs have appeared in professional journals including The Windplayer, The International Trumpet Guild Journal, and The ITEA Journal.

Education

• M.Mus., applied trumpet, Michigan State University, 1983
• B.A., applied trumpet, Cornerstone University, 1981

Outside the College

Professor Alley is married to Deb Alley, and they have four daughters and two granddaughters. He enjoys reading, photography and biking, and is currently building a small wooden sailboat with his oldest daughter.