Paul Compton is Assistant Professor of Trombone at Oklahoma State University, a position he has held since Fall 2003. Previously, he was jazz band instructor at North Central Texas College.

Paul earned his BM from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1995, his MM from the University of North Texas in 1999 and is presently a DMA candidate at UNT. Paul recently joined the music faculty at Oklahoma State University. He taught previously at North Central Texas College and the University of North Texas. His principal teachers include Tony Baker, Vern Kagarice, Andrew M. Russell, Randall Capshaw and Bryan Andrade.

Paul is an active soloist. He has performed with the Camerata Chamber Winds three times, including the world premieres of Amalgamation for Solo Trombone and 9 Winds by Wil Swindler and Providence: Adventures Guide for Solo Trombone and 8 Winds by Joseph Spaniola. Paul recently recorded Crossroads for solo trombone and trombone quintet by Joseph Spaniola. In 2002 Paul was a semi-finalist in the Concert Artist Guild International Solo Competition and he won an Outstanding Performance Award in the Downbeat Student Music Awards for Classical Instrumental Soloist. Paul was a guest artist at the 2003 Jacksonville State University Trombone Festival, performing as guest soloist with the JSU Jazz Band.

Paul is lead trombonist of Slide Tradition, a 6 trombone and rhythm jazz group. The award winning group performed at the 2000 and 2002 International Trombone Festivals, 2000 Eastern Trombone Workshop and 2000, 2001 and 2002 Leon Brown Trombone Days. They have collaborated with trombone legends John Fedchock, Jiggs Whigham, Harry Waters, Ben Van Dijk and Steve Wiest. The groups debut CD will be released in 2003.

Paul was lead trombonist of the UNT One O'Clock Lab Band, and can be heard on Lab 1999, 2000, 2001 and Live from UNT: The Music of Kenny Wheeler. He also recorded more than ten CD's with the UNT Wind Symphony. He performed with UNT trombone ensembles that won the Emory Remington Competition (1999), Downbeat Student Music Awards Classical Chamber Ensemble Competition (1999, 2000) Kai Winding Competition (2000) and National Jazz Trombone Ensemble/Capitol Bones Competition (2000).

Paul studied with Bruce Paulson and Andy Martin at the 2001 Henry Mancini Institute in Los Angeles. He performed with a long list of artists, including Bob Brookmeyer, Regina Carter, Terrence Blanchard, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Christian McBride, Monica Mancini, Greg Field, The New York Voices, Billy Childs, Jerry Goldsmith, Elmer Bernstein and John Clayton. Paul performed with Diane Reeves at the famous Hollywood Bowl.