The UT Trombone Studio is a close-knit group of students who are supportive of each other, enjoy playing ensembles together, and frequently choose to experience extracurricular social and musical activities together. Trombone Choir, Trombone Olympics, and Trombone Studio Recitals provide performance opportunities and forums for bonding with other members of the studio. Recent studio trips include travel to Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, and Brazil.
In past few years, members of the UT trombone studio have garnered 16 first place finishes, 28 finalist citations, and 15 honorable mention postings in national and international solo and ensemble competitions. Since 2007, UT trombone alumni have been admitted to some of the most prestigious music schools, including The San Francisco Conservatory, Juilliard School, Yale University, The Eastman School of Music, Northwestern University, University of Michigan, Boston University, and the New England Conservatory, to name a few. Former studio members perform regularly with or have subbed with major ensembles such as the Atlanta Symphony, Austin Lyric Opera, Austin Symphony, Chicago Lyric Opera, Chicago Symphony, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Dallas Symphony, Houston Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Silk Road Ensemble, Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, and the Zurich Opera Orchestra. Our graduates are also active as freelance performers and educators in schools and universities throughout Texas and the rest of the United States.
For added enrichment, we often have guest trombonists give recitals and master classes in our “state of the art” performance venues. Visiting artists have included James Markey (Boston Symphony), Nathan Zgonc (Atlanta Symphony), David Garcia (Zurich Opera Orchestra), Zach Bond (Singapore), Bill Thomas (Tonhalle- Orchester Zurich), Abbie Conant (Germany), Steve Lange (Boston Symphony), Paul Pollard (Metropolitan Opera Orchestra), Joseph Alessi (New York Philharmonic), Niels-Ole Johansen (Denmark), Jorgen van Rijen (The Netherlands), Tim Higgins (San Francisco Symphony), Amanda Stewart (St. Louis Symphony), James Miller (Los Angeles), Weston Sprott (Metropolitan Opera Orchestra), Ralph Sauer (Los Angeles Philharmonic), Bones A Part (UK), Viento Sur (Argentina), Doug Yeo (Boston Symphony), Trombones de Costa Rica, Joe Burnam (Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI – Italy), Randall Hawes (Detroit Symphony), The Brazilian Trombone Ensemble, Denis Wick (Royal Academy of Music, London, England), Heinz Fadle (Hochschule fur Musik – Germany), Ron Barron (Boston Symphony), Matt Vaughn (Philadelphia Orchestra), James Box (Montreal Symphony), Michael Davis (NY recording artist and Rolling Stones trombonist), and jazz greats Jiggs Whigham, Andre Hayward, Ron Westray, Conrad Herwig, Bill Reichenbach, Delfeayo Marsalis, and Bob Brookmeyer. UT was host for the 2010 International Trombone Festival.
Nathaniel Brickens
Professor of Trombone