Mr. Trotter earned both his Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees in Conducting the University of Michigan, the #1 ranked conducting training program in the United States.  During his residence at U-M, he also served as Music Director of numerous ensembles and helped train undergraduate conductors.  While still a Masters student at university, Trotter was selected as one of ten emerging conductors (and the only Canadian) to conduct the Eric Ericson Chamber Choir, Ars Nova Copenhagen, and the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra as part of the Eric Ericson International Master Class on Choral and Orchestral conducting.  In 2007, while completing work on the same degree, he was awarded second prize overall (the best result for a North American conductor) in the Graduate Division of the American Choral Directors Association Student Conducting Competition, involving Masters and Doctoral-level conductors from several countries.  

In 2008, Trotter was awarded the highest value individual grant from the Canada Council for the Arts, and during the summer season was selected to conduct in concerts with Canada's National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Oregon Bach Festival Chorus and Orchestra.  Alongside his full-time studies in 2008/09, Trotter directed the 80-voice U-M Arts Chorale, served as Interim Music Director of the Windsor Classic Chorale, and was Guest Chorusmaster for the Windsor Symphony Orchestra.  During the 2009 summer season, he led the Michigan Sinfonietta in a featured performance of two organ concerti at an American Guild of Organists convention. 

 A versatile artist, Trotter's work now ranges from traditional choral/orchestral repertoire and new music and film score recording to various forms of outreach and advocacy as a consultant/clinician, adjudicator, conducting teacher, writer, and speaker.  He is well known for his ability to connect with audiences, and is very interested in linking young musicians with the world of professional music making. He has written articles for several music publications, and is a contributing author for the upcoming book Teaching Music Through Performance in Choir – Volume 3, published by GIA.