Theresa J. May (she/her) is a versatile trumpeter, educator, and advocate originally from Shaker Heights, Ohio. She holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Dayton. Currently, Theresa serves as an adjunct faculty member at Cuyahoga Community College, where she teaches Applied Trumpet and World Music.

A passionate advocate for equity and inclusion, Theresa co-founded the Chromatic Brass Collective, which champions diversity in the brass community. She is also a member of the International Society for Black Musicians (ISBM), an organization dedicated to elevating Black musicians and their contributions to music scholarship. Her dedication has earned her accolades such as the 2022 “Room in the House” Fellowship from Karamu House, supporting the production and self-release of her debut album, Renewed, under her artistic moniker, Di·zy·got·ic Energy. In 2024, Theresa was honored with the Creative Impact Fund, an unrestricted grant fostering artistic growth and regional impact.

As a dynamic performer and educator, Theresa maintains a thriving private studio and an active performance schedule. She has performed with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, international touring band Mourning [A] BLKstar, and in the Colour of Music Festival. Highlights of her career include being a featured soloist at the 2022 International Women’s Brass Conference and with the University of Dayton Wind Ensemble in 2024. She has been spotlighted in the International Trumpet Guild Journal and Noteworthy, the journal of the International Women’s Brass Conference.

Theresa's versatility extends to national tours, including performances with the Broadway Sinfonietta for the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse live score (2023). Most recently, she performed in the Cleveland run of the Broadway production MJ the Musical.