2026 Guest Artists
David Rejano
Principal Trombone, Los Angeles Philharmonic
David Rejano is the Principal Trombone of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra since 2016. Before that, he served as Principal Trombone with the Orquestra Sinfonica de Navarra from 2002 to 2007, Principal Trombone with the Orquestra del Gran Teatro del Liceo de Barcelona (Barcelona Opera House) from 2007 to 2010, and Principal Trombone with the Münchner Philharmoniker from 2010 to 2016.
He has also performed as a guest with the Berliner Philharmoniker, Orchestre National de France, Seoul Philharmonic, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Orchestre de l’Opéra de Paris and London Symphony Orchestra.
David Rejano appears frequently as a soloist at the Festival Européen du Trombone, Concours National de Trombone de France, Sapporo Festival, Summer Brass Festival or the International Trombone Festival, as well as with top orchestras like the Vancouver Symphony or the LAPhil. He frequently works together with Zubin Mehta, Gustavo Dudamel, Valery Gergiev and Sir Simon Rattle.
As a sought-after teacher, David gives regularly Masterclasses all over the world, including the Guildhall School of London (England), Conservatoire National Superieur de Paris (France), New England Conservatory, CSU Northridge, UCLA, USC, Montclair State University (USA), Münchner Musikhochschule (Germany), Landeskonservatorium Innsbruck (Austria), Barenboim-Said Academy (Spain) and the Beijing Central Conservatory of Music (China); as well as coaches youth orchestras as the National Youth Orchestra of Spain, Youth Orchestra of Central America (Guatemala), Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (YOLA) and the Odeon Jugendorchester (Germany).
David Rejano (1982) was born in Badajoz /Spain/, and initially studied music at the Conservatory in Madrid. Then he moved to the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, with professor Gilles Millière, where he graduated with the "Diplôme de Formation Supérieur - Mention très bien à l'unanimité" and the "Prix Spécial du Jury". He was a member of the European Union Youth Orchestra -EUYO- and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra -WEDO- (with Daniel Barenboim and Pierre Boulez).
Since 2021, Mr. Rejano is the Trombone Professor at the Colburn School Conservatory. He is a Shires Performing artist and plays his own "David Rejano" artist model. He is also the Founder and designer of Rejano Mutes, a successful brand that has been a revolution in the world of Practice Mutes for brass instruments, as well as Founder of the recording label Cid Music Records, where we can hear him in one of his latest albums "Everything but Trombone".
Matthew Vaughn
Co-Principal Trombone, Philadelphia Orchestra
MATTHEW VAUGHN joined The Philadelphia Orchestra in September 1999 as Associate-Principal Trombone, was Acting Principal Trombone during the 2012-2014 seasons and is currently Co-Principal Trombone. He was Assistant-Principal and Acting-Principal Trombone of the San Antonio Symphony from 1997 through 1999. Prior to joining the San Antonio Symphony, Mr. Vaughn served in the United States Air Force Concert Band in Washington, D.C. from 1993-1997.
Vaughn has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Israel Philharmonic, Atlanta Symphony and National Symphony, and has been featured as a soloist with the Lafayette Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Temple University Band, the United States Air Force Band, the Indiana University Symphony Orchestra and the Richmond (Indiana) Symphony. Born in Dallas and raised in Richmond, Indiana, Mr. Vaughn earned a Bachelor of Music degree with high distinction and a Performer’s Certificate from Indiana University (1992), continuing with graduate work in conducting at Indiana University and George Mason University. He taught trombone and was a member of the faculty brass quintet at the University of Texas at San Antonio, founder of Bar Harbor Brass Week (2001-2016), and is a sought-after clinician and soloist. He currently teaches at Temple University and Curtis Music Institute.
Vaughn's former teachers include M. Dee Stewart, Milton Stevens and David Brumfield. He resides in South Jersey with his wife, two boys and two cats.
Faculty Directors
John Sebastian Vera, Co-Director
Principal Trombone, Pittsburgh Opera
John Sebastian Vera, co-creator of the Third Coast Trombone Retreat, became the principal trombonist of the Pittsburgh Opera in 2010. He is Head of Brass and Percussion at the Cleveland Institute of Music and also on trombone faculty at Duquesne University.
In addition to the Pittsburgh Opera, Mr. Vera was the principal trombonist of the River City Brass Band from 2015-2025 and has played with the symphonies of Dallas, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Buffalo, Kennedy Center Opera House, Malaysian Philharmonic, New York City Ballet, Vermont, Harrisburg, Charleston, American Ballet Theatre, and Orquesta Sinaloa de las Artes in Mexico amongst others.
He began his studies with Jon Bohls in Texas and continued his education at Southern Methodist University where he studied with John Kitzman of the Dallas Symphony. He then spent a year studying with Ed Zadrozny as a graduate assistant at the University of Akron, and finished his graduate work in New York City at the Mannes College of Music studying with David Finlayson and James Markey of the New York Philharmonic.
In 2011, he spent the summer in Haiti volunteer teaching and performing in the Orchestre Philharmonique Sainte Trinite as well as the Ecole de Musique Dessaix Baptiste which became one of the more profound experiences of his life.
A dedicated chamber musician, he also was a founding member of the critically acclaimed Guidonian Hand Trombone Quartet in which he played from 2008-2014. With the quartet, John performed over 100 concerts and gave master classes all over the country. Heralded by the New York Times for their "expertly played performances" they have been recipients of numerous national grants which have enabled them to commission countless composers to create new and innovative works for four trombones. In 2014 was the premiere of River of Fundament, a movie by film artist Matthew Barney, in which John recorded for and acted in along with the quartet.
Mr. Vera can also be heard on the HBO documentary The Words that Built America as well as on euphonium in the PBS documentary Abraham and Mary Lincoln, A House Divided as well as many commercial and video game soundtracks as well as James Markey’s solo release, “On Base”.
He is an artist for Thein Instruments and has a signature JSV mouthpiece line developed with Houghton Horns. His favorite musicians include Sigur Ros, Radiohead, the Books, and Efterklang. When he can get away from the trombone he most enjoys basketball, traveling and reading about psychology and social science. Check out his podcast he hosts with Nick Schwartz called the Trombone Retreat available everywhere you download your podcasts. Follow him on Instagram @js.vera.
Nicholas Schwartz, Co-Director
Principal Bass Trombone, New York City Ballet
Nick Schwartz Nicholas Schwartz has a diverse career performing across North America, Europe, and Asia. After studying at The Juilliard School with then New York Philharmonic bass trombonist Don Harwood, he moved to San Francisco where he began freelancing throughout the Bay Area.
Since 2010, he has been the principal bass trombonist of the New York City Ballet Orchestra. He has also performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, The Metropolitan Opera, The Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Ballet, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, St. Lukes Chamber Orchestra, the New York City Opera, Atlanta Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, The Malaysia Philharmonic, Mostly Mozart Festival, and Classical Tahoe. Follow him on instagram @basstrombone444
Collaborative Piano
Helen Lukan
Overneath Studios of Kalamazoo recently described Helen Lukan's piano artistry in these words: "From playing with symphonies across the region, to solo recitals and collaborations with Western Michigan University (WMU), Helen's name is synonymous with exquisite piano-craft." A Chicago native, Helen has long been highly regarded as a versatile collaborative pianist in West Michigan and is gaining national notice as a respected collaborator with such groups as the Boston Brass. While she has vast experience accompanying a diverse range of soloists, performing music in every genre, she has an affinity for the trumpet repertoire having worked with trumpeters, Mary Bowden, Dr. Stephen Jones, Rex Richardson, Michael Sachs, and WMU Professors Scott Thornburg and Dr. Robert White.
In addition to an ongoing association with the Boston Brass, Helen has performed Gershwin's Three Preludes as a featured artist for the KBR Steinway Sessions Live at Overneath Studios. She has been a featured soloist with the Western Winds, performing another Gershwin favorite, Rhapsody in Blue, and has performed with TubaCOR at Eastman Conservatory for the Women in Music Series. Helen has charmed audiences with her collaborative programs, America: A Musical Tribute! with soprano, Katelin Spencer, and Four-Hand-Frenzy with sister, Clare Chenoweth. Helen is the featured artist, and co-creator with husband Cameron S. Brown of the multi-media presentation, A Kaleidoscope of Sound.
While serving as the principal pianist for the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, Helen also performs regularly with the Grand Rapids Symphony, and frequently substitutes with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, and the Battle Creek Symphony. She has also performed with the Florida Symphony.
Besides her collaborative work with regional orchestras and other ensembles, Helen accompanies a host of students and faculty for recital performances at WMU's School of Music where she earned a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance under the instruction of Phyllis Rappeport and Dr. Robert Ricci. She received her undergraduate degree at Bradley University where she studied with Dr. Edward Kaizer. Her early piano instruction was under the guidance of Bill Stapleton of Chicago.
Along with the online KBR Steinway Sessions Live performance, Helen's musical mastery can be heard on the compact disc recordings, Music to Dream By, Nancy Steltmann, cellist, From the Start, Elizabeth Start, composer and cellist, and Shamanic Journey, Deanna Swoboda, tubist. Helen can be contacted through her website at www.HelenLukan.com.
Pianist Ellen R. Sommer is a sought-after pianist, chamber musician, and coach. Her reputation for excellence has led to extensive engagements throughout the United States, Canada, Central and South Americas, Europe and Asia. Recent performances include recitals at the Milan Conservatory and the Instituto Cervantes in Paris. Additionally Sommer was invited to present a series of concerts and master classes in San Jose, Costa Rica at the Universidad de Costa Rica, and Casa de la musica in Quito, Ecuador.
Ellen can be heard on numerous professional recordings, including five under the auspices of Potenza Music, Naxos, Parma, and Albany Records. Most recently Ellen and flutist, Daniel Velasco recorded an album of Ecuadorean flute and piano commissioned works. This Naxos recording , Flauta Andina, was released in August 2022. Additionally Ellen recently recorded the string sonatas of Luis Humberto Salgado as part of an ongoing Naxos recording project of Salgado’s music with colleagues at the University of Kansas School of Music.
Ellen is a founding member of Navo Trio, a fresh and inspiring ensemble for violin, oboe and piano. Recent recipients of a Barlow Foundation grant, this ensemble is dedicated to promoting female composers. Navo Trio has commissioned several new works for violin, oboe and piano, with composers such as Alex Shapiro, Alice Ho and Althea Talbot-Howard.
Performance Psychology
William Mann
William Mann is the principal trombonist of the Atlanta Opera and Associate Professor of Trombone at Georgia State University and has been on faculty since 2013. Prior to his appointment at GSU, William taught at Morehead State University, the University of Missouri, Prairie View A&M University and the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor. In addition to college teaching, William taught instrumental music in the Texas Public Schools and served as a private studio teacher for over 12 years.
William is currently Principal Trombone with the Atlanta Opera, Second Trombone with the Atlanta Ballet, the Des Moines Symphony, and the Columbus Symphony (GA) Orchestras. His orchestral experiences also include performances with the Atlanta, Chattanooga, Lexington Philharmonic, Ohio Valley, West Virginia, Quad-City, Missouri, Tuscaloosa, Meridian, Victoria and Waco Symphony Orchestras. He has also performed with the Austin Lyric Opera, as well as the Victoria Bach, Texas Music and Hot Springs Music Festivals, and the 49th Armored Division Band. His jazz experience includes performing with the Di Martino Osland Jazz Orchestra (DOJO) and the Waco Jazz Orchestra, among others.
As a founding member of the American Trombone Quartet, William has appeared at the International Trombone Festival, the Lille Trombone Festival (Lille, France), the Midwest Trombone Euphonium Conference, the Big 12 Trombone Conference, Illinois State University, the University of Iowa, the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, and James Madison University.
William is regularly sought after as a lecturer, clinician and performer throughout the United States and Brazil, including the Blue Lake Music Camp in Blue Lake, MI, the Bay View Music Festival in Bay View, MI, the Third Coast Trombone Retreat in Montague, MI, and the Festival Nacional de Musica in Goiania, Brazil, in addition to many universities and schools across the United States.
William received his Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees in trombone performance from the University of Texas at Austin in addition to a Bachelor of Music Education from Baylor University.
Financial Planning
Scott Stratton
Scott Stratton is the founder and President of Good Life Wealth Management, a Registered Investment Advisor in Little Rock, Arkansas. Scott is also a trombonist and writes about financial planning for professional musicians at FinanceForMusicians.com. Scott holds the Certified Financial Planner (CFP(R)) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designations, as well as a Certificate in Financial Planning from Boston University. He has been a full-time financial advisor since 2004. Scott is a Fiduciary, which means that he is required to place client interests ahead of his own. He provides financial planning to individuals to help them achieve financial security and grow their net worth, addressing areas such as budgeting, saving, investing, retirement planning, tax strategies, college funding, risk management, and estate planning.
That's his day gig, but on many nights and weekends, Scott works as a free-lance trombonist. Scott has been the principal trombonist of the Garland, Las Colinas, and Arlington Symphonies in Texas since 2001 and is second trombonist with the Irving Symphony. He performs with his quintet, the Perennial Brass, and for a number of church gigs. Scott studied at the Oberlin Conservatory with Raymond Premru, and received a MM, DMA, and Performer's Certificate from the Eastman School of Music, as a student of Dr. John Marcellus. Formerly, Scott was an adjunct professor in low brass at the State University of New York at Geneseo and at Texas Christian University.