René Shapiro, Assistant Principal Trumpet of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, is a versatile musician who has built a reputation as a leader in the brass section, soloist, teacher, and chamber musician. With a career spanning over two decades, he has performed with some of the world’s most renowned orchestras, including the Boston Symphony, Colorado Symphony, and the Philadelphia Orchestra.

As a featured artist on BSO’s Pops Concerts, René has had the opportunity to share the stage with an impressive array of artists, including Paquito D’Rivera, Al Jarreau, John Williams, and Burt Bacharach to name a few. His travels have taken him to over a dozen countries, where he has worked with conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Lorin Maazel.

A native of San Diego, California, René is proud to call Baltimore home. In addition to his work with the BSO, he has also taught at the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra, French Woods Festival, and other organizations. When not on stage or in the classroom, René can be found on the ski slopes or in the kitchen, where he enjoys experimenting with new recipes.