Dr. Pursell enjoyed a distinguished 21 year career as the Senior Ceremonial Trumpeter with the United States Air Force Band in Washington, DC, with over 5,000 performances in 38 states and 14 foreign countries. In addition to teaching, Dr. Pursell plays solo engagements with band or orchestra, and makes clinic appearances at high schools, colleges and music conferences.

Dr. Pursell's Doctor of Musical Arts degree in trumpet performance was received from the University of Maryland, and he holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from West Chester State College. He has studied trumpet with such prominent teachers as Mel Broiles, Seymour Rosenfeld, Emerson Head and Kenneth Laudermilch, and has performed under the baton of such illuminaries as Eugene Ormandy, Max Rudolf, Claudio Abbado and Robert Shaw. He is a published author, with numerous articles on trumpet pedagogy and history in national music journals.