Omar Lateef, Trumpet

Winds, Brass, and Percussion Coordinator Area Coordinator

Assistant Teaching Professor

FIU University Brass Choir Ensemble Director

Office Location: 143A

Omar Lateef is a distinguished trumpeter, educator, and musical leader whose career bridges the worlds of classical, jazz, and commercial music. With a foundation built at two of the world’s most prestigious conservatories—The Juilliard School (B.M., 2003) and the Yale School of Music (M.M., 2005)—Lateef has spent over two decades performing at the highest levels across genres and continents.

Currently serving as Teaching Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Area Coordinator for Winds, Brass, and Percussion at the Wertheim School of Music at Florida International University, he is a dedicated mentor and advocate for the next generation of musicians. Beyond the classroom, he brings his artistry to life as a Trumpet Performing Specialist with Miami’s acclaimed Nu Deco Ensemble and as lead trumpet of the Paradise Big Band, an affiliate group of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

Lateef’s career spans a rich tapestry of performance, including classical engagements with orchestras such as the Detroit Symphony, Moscow Chamber Orchestra, and Jefferson City Symphony. From 2008 to 2018, he brought musical excellence to the high seas as both sideman and Music Director for Carnival Cruise Line, helping to reimagine live entertainment at sea.

A seasoned touring artist, Lateef has shared the stage with a wide range of iconic performers including Wynton Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, Jon Faddis, Kurt Elling, Kathleen Battle, Julie Andrews, and Paul Anka. Whether performing on a concert stage, leading a jazz band, or guiding students toward their artistic goals, Omar Lateef continues to shape and elevate the landscape of modern trumpet performance.