Rhea Calder is a trumpet player grounded in authenticity. With roots in folk, roots, and acoustic traditions, she uses her horn to voice the kinds of stories often sung with guitar. Her sound is organic and layered—horns over finger-picked strings, hand drums, or even crackling fireplaces.
Originally a folk vocalist, Rhea picked up trumpet to add melodic counterlines to her songs. Over time, the horn became her main voice. Her albums often explore themes of place, identity, and belonging, with trumpet lines that feel like warm conversations.
Her record Homespun Maps weaves together family stories, folk poems, and trumpet-driven refrains. It has earned a following among both roots fans and experimental musicians.
In teaching, Rhea emphasizes phrasing, storytelling, and the emotional arc of a piece. Her students learn how to communicate feeling through articulation and texture—not just volume or speed.