The festival is an immersive professional and artistic development experience for emerging artists who qualify by audition. Students work closely with senior faculty through small-group collaboration, one-on-one coaching, and structured sessions focused on performance excellence, leadership, and career readiness.
These musicians give back their talents to the Pagosa community by performing a range of concerts in various local settings. MLMF provides breathtaking concerts featuring students, guests, and prolific guest artists.
Mountain Light Music Festival Fellow have gone onto careers in top arts organizations and institutions in the nation, including the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony and Dallas Opera Orchestra.
Fellow Program highlights:
These musicians give back their talents to the Pagosa community by performing a range of concerts in various local settings. MLMF provides breathtaking concerts featuring students, guests, and prolific guest artists.
Mountain Light Music Festival Fellow have gone onto careers in top arts organizations and institutions in the nation, including the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony and Dallas Opera Orchestra.
Fellow Program highlights:
- Tuition-free
- Professional training
- Masterclasses and private instruction
- Nonprofit experience
- Executive Arts Leadership Program course credit/internship
- Creative collaboration
- Deepened creative purpose, and understanding vocation
Logan Thurman is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in trombone performance at the University of Houston under Brent Phillips. He has also studied under Phillip Freeman of the Houston Symphony, as well as Mike Warny of the Houston Ballet. Logan plays in various groups around the Houston area, including the Houston Brass Collective and the Space City Slides. Recently, his quartet at UH was named honorable mention in the ITF trombone quartet competition.
Judith Olivas and Im an undergraduate Music Education student at the University of Texas at El Paso. She has been playing tenor trombone for only 10 years now, and is excited to be attending the Mountain Light Music Festival! Finding opportunities to learn and grow as a performer and educator. She is a student of Dr. Steve Wilson and can't wait be in Colorado and work alongside these amazing fellows and faculty. Judith brings skill, artistry and poise to the Mountain Light Music Festival Trombone Summit.
Matt Williamson is currently the Adjunct Instructor of Low Brass at Monmouth College and serves as Principal Trombone of the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic and the Second Trombone of both the Dubuque and Champaign Urbana Symphony Orchestras. He is currently a Doctoral Student and Teaching Assistant in Dr. Jonathan Whitaker’s studio at the University of Illinois in Urbana Champaign. Previously, Matt has served on the faculty of Millikin University and has frequently performed as a substitute in the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra, and New Mexico Philharmonic. Matt earned his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees at Indiana University. His former teaches include Peter Ellefson, M. Dee Stewart, and Max Bonecutter.
Nolan White is currently an undergraduate student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign pursuing his bachelors degree in trombone performance. Nolan previously served as Principal Trombone of the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, and has performed with groups such as the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, Owensboro Symphony Orchestra, and the Five Cities
Baroque Festival Orchestra. In 2025, Nolan competed as a finalist for the International Trombone Association's Lewis Van Haney Philharmonic Prize, and has received recognition as a finalist for the International Trombone Association's 2026 Alto Trombone Competition, as well as First Alternate for the American Trombone Workshop's 2026 Division II Solo Competition. Nolan
is an alumnus of the Round Top Festival Institute.
Baroque Festival Orchestra. In 2025, Nolan competed as a finalist for the International Trombone Association's Lewis Van Haney Philharmonic Prize, and has received recognition as a finalist for the International Trombone Association's 2026 Alto Trombone Competition, as well as First Alternate for the American Trombone Workshop's 2026 Division II Solo Competition. Nolan
is an alumnus of the Round Top Festival Institute.
Jonathan Kirchem is a trombonist and educator based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. He recently earned a Master of Music in Trombone Performance from the University of Illinois, where he studied with Dr. Jonathan Whitaker and performed with the University of Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony, and Trombone Choir at venues including the American Trombone Workshop and the Midwest Clinic.
A native of Richardson, Texas, Jonathan received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Southern Methodist University, studying with John Kitzman and Chris Oliver of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. During his time at SMU, he performed with the Meadows Symphony Orchestra, Meadows Wind Ensemble, and Mustang Band, appearing as both an ensemble member and soloist.
Jonathan currently resides in Dallas, where he maintains an active career as a freelance trombonist and educator.
A native of Richardson, Texas, Jonathan received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Southern Methodist University, studying with John Kitzman and Chris Oliver of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. During his time at SMU, he performed with the Meadows Symphony Orchestra, Meadows Wind Ensemble, and Mustang Band, appearing as both an ensemble member and soloist.
Jonathan currently resides in Dallas, where he maintains an active career as a freelance trombonist and educator.
Adam Almeter is Principal Trombone of the Dayton Philharmonic and Evansville Philharmonic. He was previously Principal Trombone of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and taught low brass at Mississippi and Millsaps Colleges. Adam was a founding member of the contemporary classical group NEW JXN. He has also worked with the orchestras of South Bend, Dubuque,
Lafayette (IN), Carmel and Indianapolis. Adam recently earned his master’s degree at the University of Illinois and was the recipient of the Robert Gray Award. A native of Chicagoland, Adam has studied with Jon Whitaker, Peter Ellefson and Max
Bonecutter.
Lafayette (IN), Carmel and Indianapolis. Adam recently earned his master’s degree at the University of Illinois and was the recipient of the Robert Gray Award. A native of Chicagoland, Adam has studied with Jon Whitaker, Peter Ellefson and Max
Bonecutter.
Jackson Parker is a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate in Trombone Performance at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he serves as a graduate teaching assistant for the Illinois Athletic Bands. He has performed with the Millikin-Decatur Symphony, appeared as a featured artist with the Hindsley Symphonic Band, and has served as a substitute trombonist with the Champaign-Urbana and Owensboro Symphonies.
Originally from Leitchfield, Kentucky, Jackson holds degrees from Western Kentucky University and the University of Alabama, where he worked as a graduate teaching assistant and contributed to the operations of the University Bands and Million Dollar Band. He remains active as a performer, private teacher, and brass instructor for marching bands.
Originally from Leitchfield, Kentucky, Jackson holds degrees from Western Kentucky University and the University of Alabama, where he worked as a graduate teaching assistant and contributed to the operations of the University Bands and Million Dollar Band. He remains active as a performer, private teacher, and brass instructor for marching bands.
Rayvon Allen is a Music Performance student at the University of Texas at El Paso and an emerging bass trombonist with a diverse brass background. Originally a tuba player for six years, beginning in eighth grade and continuing through the early years of college, Rayvon transitioned to bass trombone to further explore his passion for performance and artistic expression.
Dedicated to musical growth and collaboration, Rayvon is excited to participate in the Mountain Light Music Festival, where he looks forward to studying alongside distinguished faculty and fellow musicians who share his commitment to excellence. He is grateful for the opportunity to learn, perform, and contribute to the festival community while continuing to develop as a performer and artist.
Dedicated to musical growth and collaboration, Rayvon is excited to participate in the Mountain Light Music Festival, where he looks forward to studying alongside distinguished faculty and fellow musicians who share his commitment to excellence. He is grateful for the opportunity to learn, perform, and contribute to the festival community while continuing to develop as a performer and artist.