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2018- Current: Principal Trombone New York Youth Symphony
2018- Current: Conducting Apprentice New York Youth Symphony
2017-2019: Principal Trombone Manhattan School of Music Precollege Orchestra
2017-2018: Principal Trombone ISO Symphony NYC
2019: Rutherford High School Leonard Bernstein Musicianship Award
I am a first year student at the Mannes School of Music where I study with Demian Austin, Principal Trombone of the Metropolitan Opera. I graduated from the Manhattan School of Music Precollege in the spring of 2019 where I held the role of principal trombone in the orchestra. I currently hold the position of Principal Trombone as well as Apprentice Conductor of the New York Youth Symphony where each year we perform three times at Carnegie Hall. I have had the chance to participate in masterclasses with members of the New York Philharmonic and MET Opera where I have learned many valuable lessons.
Each summer I volunteer at my local community music camp where I I teach a wide of variety of students who are touching an instrument for the very first time and students who simply want to improve on their skills. I tell students the same fundamental things that I think about while practicing which consists of regular practice and simply enjoying the music I’m playing. The first thing about learning an instrument is that it should be fun, it should never feel like a chore. I am open to new and enthusiastic students of any age!
For beginning students, I focus on the very first fundamentals of playing trombone and music which consists of simple music theory and fundamental technique of playing the trombone. Once those fundamentals are introduced and the students shows progression, I will assign etudes and solo repertoire to help improve on musicality and technique. I tend to perform for students in lessons so they can receive a better idea of how to play a specific passage as well as just playing fun pieces to get them excited in lessons. I encourage students to talk to me about whatever they want and to talk to me about any interests or concerns they may have.
It is very refreshing to be able to see the enthusiasm and eagerness of a student in lessons. As someone who still routinely takes lessons, I know firsthand how important the relationship between teacher and student can be. I’m very passionate about fostering a friendly, open environment in which students feel comfortable learning, making mistakes, and voicing opinions. In my time teaching and taking lessons, I’ve found that the growth that comes from one on one attention is like no other, and that the solid foundation that private lessons build prepares students for success in other musical settings, as well as in the classroom and, eventually, the workplace. I look forward to building connections and helping my students grow!