Jazz Trumpeter, Composer & Bandleader; Grammy & Academy Award-Nominated Film Composer; Executive Artistic Director at SFJAZZ

New Orleans, LA, USA
Live Event: Please Contact Virtual Event: Please Contact More Fee Info

Terence Blanchard Biography

Terence Blanchard is a jazz trumpeter, composer, bandleader, and Blue Note recording artist known for his contributions to jazz, film scoring, and opera. Blanchard has composed for motion pictures more than any other jazz musician, establishing a significant presence in the film industry. He began his career with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra and later joined Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, where he served as musical director. Blanchard studied at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts under composer Roger Dickerson and pianist Ellis Marsalis Jr.

Blanchard, alongside Donald Harrison Jr., joined the Jazz Messengers, succeeding Wynton Marsalis as trumpeter. After a brief hiatus to address his embouchure, Blanchard launched a solo career, releasing his self-titled debut album on Columbia Records, which reached third on the Billboard Jazz Charts. His discography includes recordings such as "A Tale of God's Will (A Requiem for Katrina)," which earned a Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album.

As a film composer, Blanchard has collaborated extensively with director Spike Lee, providing scores for films including "School Daze," "Malcolm X," "Jungle Fever," "Crooklyn," "Clockers," "Summer of Sam," "Bamboozled," and "25th Hour." He received Academy Award nominations for Original Score for "BlacKkKlansman" and "Da 5 Bloods." Blanchard is among the few African American composers to be nominated twice in the original score category at the Academy Awards. Entertainment Weekly recognized his influence on the resurgence of jazz composition in film.

Blanchard's work in opera includes "Fire Shut Up in My Bones," the first opera by an African American composer staged by the Metropolitan Opera. The recording of this production received a Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording. The New York Times described the opera as inspiring and a bold adaptation of Charles Blow's work. The Metropolitan Opera also presented an expanded production of "Champion." "Fire Shut Up in My Bones" is regarded as a significant cultural milestone in American opera.

In addition to his performing and composing career, Blanchard has contributed to jazz education and institutional leadership. He has held positions at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, the Henry Mancini Institute at the University of Miami, and Berklee College of Music. UCLA appointed him as the first Kenny Burrell Chair in Jazz Studies at the Herb Alpert School of Music. SFJAZZ named Blanchard Executive Artistic Director, where he oversees artistic programming and creative direction. His honors include being named a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master and induction into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Blanchard's career continues to influence jazz, film music, and opera.

BOOK Terence Blanchard

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 11/12/2026.

  • How do I book Terence Blanchard to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Terence Blanchard for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Terence Blanchard, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Terence Blanchard or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Terence Blanchard

    Speaking fees for Terence Blanchard, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Terence Blanchard are available upon request for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Terence Blanchard, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Terence Blanchard speak about?

    Terence Blanchard is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Executive Leadership, Music
  • Where does Terence Blanchard travel from?

    Terence Blanchard generally travels from New Orleans, LA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Terence Blanchard’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Terence Blanchard for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Terence Blanchard for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Terence Blanchard or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Terence Blanchard is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Terence Blanchard for your event is available upon request. Terence Blanchard generally travels from New Orleans, LA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Christian Tamburr, Matt Savage, Dr. Mark Lomax II, Tim Berne and Teddy Abrams. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Terence Blanchard for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.
Please Select Event Budget
Please enter your message
Please Enter Your Name
Please Enter Your Email
  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP