Trombone Studio

Trombone and euphonium have a storied history at the Eastman School of Music. When the school was founded by philanthropist George Eastman in 1921, Emory Remington became the first in a legacy of teaching excellence. Donald Knaub, George Osborn, and Dr. John Marcellus each carried on this tradition, continued now by Professors Kellogg and Zalkind.

Eastman trombone and euphonium graduates have become some of the finest instrumentalists around the world. Alumni of the Studio occupy premiere positions in the world’s leading ensembles, including the San Francisco Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Over the years, Eastman Trombone alumni held positions in the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Toronto Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and many more. Former students have been appointed to music faculties at various Schools of Music across the United States including Yale University, Manhattan School of Music, UCLA, Interlochen Arts Academy, Indiana University, and The Peabody Institute.

Professors Kellogg and Zalkind collaborate as co-directors of the Eastman Trombone Choir and swap studio lessons one week each semester, enabling students to work privately with both professors. Current studio members regularly participate in top music festivals and actively perform in other Eastman student ensembles, including the Wind Ensemble, Philharmonia, Jazz Ensemble, and Musica Nova Ensemble. Students also work with renowned guest artists such as Joseph Alessi, John Rojak, David Murray, Vanessa Fralick, and Gordon Wolf in the 2015-2016 school year alone.

The Eastman School has hosted the International Trombone Festival twice, first in 1991 with past president and founding member of the International Trombone Association and Co-Director of the Eastern Trombone Workshop, John Marcellus, hosting and again in 2014 with current professor Mark Kellogg and John Marcellus as co-hosts.

To schedule a visit and for more information on Undergraduate and Graduate studies within the Eastman Trombone and Euphonium Studio, please contact Professors Mark Kellogg and Larry Zalkind.

Founded in 1941 by Emory Remington, the Eastman Trombone Choir is highly regarded around the world as one of the best ensembles of its kind. Currently, Professors Kellogg and Zalkind serve as co-directors.

Emory Remington, professor of trombone for nearly fifty years at the Eastman School, established the concept of the present day Trombone Choir as a pedagogical extension of the private trombone class to include a musical ensemble experience. This concept has been imitated throughout most colleges and universities in the United States and abroad. Remington’s successor, Professor Donald Knaub, directed the Choir from 1972 to 1977, and expanded the scope of the Choir to include more contemporary music and concert activities. Professor John R. Marcellus, who directed the ensemble from 1978 to 2014, continued this tradition as the Choir went on its first tour of Germany and Holland in 2000, performing at the International Trombone Festival in Utrecht. The Choir also appeared at the International Trombone Festivals in Nashville in 1979 and 1987. In 2001, the Choir was the winner of the International Trombone Association Emory Remington Trombone Choir Competition.

In 1991, the Choir performed at the International Trombone Workshop, which was held at the Eastman School to celebrate the centennial of Emory Remington. Over the years, the choir has appeared at many Eastern Trombone Workshops, New York Brass Conferences, the Western Mass Trombone Workshop, Montreal Low Brass Workshop, NAfME, and NYSSMA conventions.  In 2013 the Trombone Choir was selected as a featured ensemble at the 2013 Eastern Trombone Workshop.

The Choir has performed annually since 1989 at the Frühling Posaunen Festival in collaboration with the Trombone Studios at Ithaca College and Penn State University. Other local concerts and performances have been with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Rochester Oratorio Society, Hochstein School of Music, and churches throughout the Rochester area. For many years the choir was a feature of the Rochester Bach Festival. The Choir has also recorded for Mark Records, Stolat Records, and for Williams Music.

The Eastman Summer Trombone Institute (ESTI) has been in existence since 2005. This week-long event usually takes place in late July into early August. It provides high school, college, young professional and even adult amateur trombonists with an opportunity to perform and learn together. Each day of the Institute includes a group warm-up, a master class, a trombone quartet coaching, a special topics demonstration/discussion (issues such as orchestral section playing, improvisation, doubling, career goals, audition strategies, etc.) trombone choir rehearsal and usually some type of evening concert or event. Guided by Eastman faculty and alumni, ESTI prides itself on providing a positive, collaborative environment where each individual is challenged to be his or her best self.

For more information about summer insititutes, visit Summer@Eastman.