has been the principal trombonist of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra since 2015. Prior to his current position, he has held principal trombone positions with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, and was a fellow at the New World Symphony.
A native of Roanoke, Virginia, he received his bachelor’s degree in Music Education with a minor in Jazz Studies from James Madison University and his Master of Music in trombone performance from Yale University. In addition to his orchestral appointments, he has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Utah Symphony Orchestra, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Rochester Philharmonic, and the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra.
As an educator, John has served as a trombone instructor at Hamilton College and the University of Northern Colorado, and has presented masterclasses and recitals across the country. John is an active contributor of music to the trombone repertoire, composing and arranging music primarily for trombone ensembles and for trombone and loop pedal. When not playing trombone, John enjoys the majesty of the Colorado outdoors, the yeasty warmth of sourdough bread, the sound of a camera shutter, and the plink of a ukulele.
Written in during the quarantine of 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, this piece was written for trombone and loop pedal. It expresses a range of emotions including grief, anger, frustration, and helplessness in the face of isolation, fear of the pandemic, and ongoing social injustice. Revised February 2021.