BRENT PHILLIPS, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR
Mr. Brent Phillips, an Affiliate Artist/Faculty at the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston, is a highly accomplished trombonist. He brings extensive knowledge, exceptional performance, creative innovation, and pedagogical expertise to his craft.
Mr. Phillips has performed with renowned orchestras like the Dallas Symphony, Houston Symphony, and Houston Grand Opera. He holds principal trombone positions with the Abilene Philharmonic and Waco Symphony Orchestra. He was assistant principal trombone and soloist with the historic “President’s Own” United States Marine Band and served 20 years as a faculty member at Baylor University.
Since 2012, Mr. Phillips has been a faculty member at the Round Top Festival Institute and continues to solo and perform each summer on Festival Hill. An active recitalist, clinician, and adjudicator, he’s a highly sought-after musician featured at major conferences and workshops in the trombone discipline.
His acclaimed work includes three solo albums, four chamber music albums, and two recordings with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra under Japp van Zweden. He’s toured nationally and internationally with the Dallas Symphony, U.S. Marine Band, Baylor Brass, and Stentorian Consort.
Mr. Phillips’s exceptional teaching has led to the success of his students. Many have secured prestigious positions in U.S. orchestras and hold teaching posts at major universities. Their continued success in orchestral jobs and consistent placement in national and international competitions attest to his pedagogical skills and ability to nurture talented musicians.
Mr. Phillips is the founder and director of the Mountain Light Music Festival in Pagosa Springs, CO. The annual summer festival combines his teaching, pedagogy, creative programming, and lifelong love of wilderness.
Mr. Phillips has performed with renowned orchestras like the Dallas Symphony, Houston Symphony, and Houston Grand Opera. He holds principal trombone positions with the Abilene Philharmonic and Waco Symphony Orchestra. He was assistant principal trombone and soloist with the historic “President’s Own” United States Marine Band and served 20 years as a faculty member at Baylor University.
Since 2012, Mr. Phillips has been a faculty member at the Round Top Festival Institute and continues to solo and perform each summer on Festival Hill. An active recitalist, clinician, and adjudicator, he’s a highly sought-after musician featured at major conferences and workshops in the trombone discipline.
His acclaimed work includes three solo albums, four chamber music albums, and two recordings with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra under Japp van Zweden. He’s toured nationally and internationally with the Dallas Symphony, U.S. Marine Band, Baylor Brass, and Stentorian Consort.
Mr. Phillips’s exceptional teaching has led to the success of his students. Many have secured prestigious positions in U.S. orchestras and hold teaching posts at major universities. Their continued success in orchestral jobs and consistent placement in national and international competitions attest to his pedagogical skills and ability to nurture talented musicians.
Mr. Phillips is the founder and director of the Mountain Light Music Festival in Pagosa Springs, CO. The annual summer festival combines his teaching, pedagogy, creative programming, and lifelong love of wilderness.
DR. JONATHAN WHITAKER
Dr. Jonathan Whitaker is Clinical Professor of Trombone at the University of Illinois. He was previously on the faculty of the University of Alabama since 2009, where his students achieved outstanding success in national and international solo competitions and earned placements at many of the nation’s most prestigious summer music festivals.
Under Whitaker’s direction, the University of Alabama Trombone Choir performed at major national and international events including the Eastern Trombone Workshop, the International Trombone Festival, and the American Trombone Workshop. Whitaker is a frequent performer and clinician at these conferences and is highly sought after as a guest artist, with appearances at leading institutions such as The Juilliard School, New England Conservatory, Yale University, and Indiana University.
As a soloist, Whitaker has released two solo recordings—Nature’s Gift with pianist Kevin Chance and Paceline—and is featured on multiple recordings with the University of Alabama Wind Ensemble, including works by Anthony Barfield and David Maslanka. He has been deeply involved in commissioning new works for trombone, premiering major compositions by Scott McAllister, Nicola Ferro, and Jim Stephenson, and has also commissioned works by Eric Ewazen and others.
Whitaker made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2012 and has appeared as a soloist with numerous university and professional ensembles. He has performed with the New York Philharmonic on three occasions and regularly appears with the Alabama Symphony, in addition to holding positions with orchestras throughout the United States.
Dr. Whitaker holds degrees from Murray State University, the University of Minnesota, and Indiana University. He is an Edwards Artist and performs on Griego Mouthpieces.
Under Whitaker’s direction, the University of Alabama Trombone Choir performed at major national and international events including the Eastern Trombone Workshop, the International Trombone Festival, and the American Trombone Workshop. Whitaker is a frequent performer and clinician at these conferences and is highly sought after as a guest artist, with appearances at leading institutions such as The Juilliard School, New England Conservatory, Yale University, and Indiana University.
As a soloist, Whitaker has released two solo recordings—Nature’s Gift with pianist Kevin Chance and Paceline—and is featured on multiple recordings with the University of Alabama Wind Ensemble, including works by Anthony Barfield and David Maslanka. He has been deeply involved in commissioning new works for trombone, premiering major compositions by Scott McAllister, Nicola Ferro, and Jim Stephenson, and has also commissioned works by Eric Ewazen and others.
Whitaker made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2012 and has appeared as a soloist with numerous university and professional ensembles. He has performed with the New York Philharmonic on three occasions and regularly appears with the Alabama Symphony, in addition to holding positions with orchestras throughout the United States.
Dr. Whitaker holds degrees from Murray State University, the University of Minnesota, and Indiana University. He is an Edwards Artist and performs on Griego Mouthpieces.
DR. STEVE WILSON
Dr. Steve Wilson is Professor of Trombone at the University of Texas at El Paso. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from UTEP and holds both a Master’s degree and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Trombone Performance from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.
Dr. Wilson is active nationally and internationally as a soloist, a member of the Continental Trombone Quartet, and a member of the Jim Widner Big Band. He has presented recitals and master classes at numerous prominent conferences and festivals, including the Midwest Clinic, the Jazz Educators Network National Conference, the International Association of Jazz Educators National Conference, the International Trombone Festival in Brazil and China, the American Trombone Workshop in Washington, D.C., the International College Music Society Conference, the International Vernacular Congress, the Texas Band Masters Association Convention, the Texas Music Educators Association Convention, the Brazilian National Trombone Association, and at universities throughout the United States.
Recent collaborative projects include work with Bruce Adolphe, Director of Family Concerts for the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, as well as Mike Block, Kaoru Watanabe, and Shane Shannon of The Silk Road Ensemble. These collaborations resulted in a new chamber work for bass trombone, piano, cello, shinobue, and percussion, performed at the Off the Hook Arts Festival in Colorado, Princeton University, and in a sold‑out performance at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center.
Dr. Wilson is also a published author. His article, “Bringing Out the Inner Animal: How to Get the Most Out of Your Bass Trombonist,” appeared in the Texas Bandmaster’s Review and was later reprinted in School Band and Orchestra Magazine.
Dr. Wilson is active nationally and internationally as a soloist, a member of the Continental Trombone Quartet, and a member of the Jim Widner Big Band. He has presented recitals and master classes at numerous prominent conferences and festivals, including the Midwest Clinic, the Jazz Educators Network National Conference, the International Association of Jazz Educators National Conference, the International Trombone Festival in Brazil and China, the American Trombone Workshop in Washington, D.C., the International College Music Society Conference, the International Vernacular Congress, the Texas Band Masters Association Convention, the Texas Music Educators Association Convention, the Brazilian National Trombone Association, and at universities throughout the United States.
Recent collaborative projects include work with Bruce Adolphe, Director of Family Concerts for the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, as well as Mike Block, Kaoru Watanabe, and Shane Shannon of The Silk Road Ensemble. These collaborations resulted in a new chamber work for bass trombone, piano, cello, shinobue, and percussion, performed at the Off the Hook Arts Festival in Colorado, Princeton University, and in a sold‑out performance at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center.
Dr. Wilson is also a published author. His article, “Bringing Out the Inner Animal: How to Get the Most Out of Your Bass Trombonist,” appeared in the Texas Bandmaster’s Review and was later reprinted in School Band and Orchestra Magazine.
Our Board
Brent Phillips
Jonathan Whitaker
Chet Russell
John Williams
John Rothchild
Jonathan Whitaker
Chet Russell
John Williams
John Rothchild