Rolla Durham was born and raised in Illinois. He has been principal trumpet of the Richmond Symphony since 1975, winning this position shortly after graduating from the Juilliard School with a BM (’74) and MM (’75) in music performance. He was awarded a Naumburg Orchestral Scholarship to complete his graduate studies. While at Juilliard he free-lanced extensively in the New York/New Jersey area, performing with many contemporary and classical music ensembles, brass quintet young persons concerts, and substituting with musical organizations such as the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. He has also served as a substitute player with the St. Louis Symphony. His major teachers include William Vacchiano, Melvyn Broiles, and Robert Nagel.

Rolla makes his home in Glen Allen, Virginia, with his wife Andrea and two sons, Timothy and Andrew.