2024 Guest Artists
Brian Wendel
Principal Trombone, Cleveland Orchestra
Brian Wendel joined The Cleveland Orchestra as Principal Trombone in August of 2022, appointed by Franz Welser-Möst. He previously served as Principal Trombone of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) for five seasons, beginning in 2017. Enjoying the thrill of solo performances and competitions, he has appeared as a soloist with the Vancouver and Prince George Symphonies, Denver University Brass Ensemble, and the Juilliard Trombone Choir, and was winner of the Music International Grand Prix — Winds and Brass category (2021), Online Trombone Competition (2020), Alessi Seminar Asia Competition (2018) and two International Trombone Association competitions (2014 and 2016). He has also performed with the Seattle Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, and New York Philharmonic Brass Ensemble. He received his bachelor’s degree from The Juilliard School under the mentorship of Joseph Alessi.
Mr. Wendel’s lifelong vision of releasing a solo album came to fruition during the COVID-19 pandemic. His exclusive time at home with his wife and newborn in 2020 shone a light on the significance of what “home” means, in both a musical and personal sense, which is on display on this album. Entitled This is Home, the album features works by Scriabin, Bach, Crespo, Prokofiev, and himself. Released on June 18, 2021 (a birthday release!), it can be purchased on his website or streamed on all platforms.
Mr. Wendel is passionate about teaching, and served as Adjunct Professor of Trombone at the University of British Columbia (UBC) from 2019 until his move to Cleveland. Most recently, he was a featured artist at the Lamont School of Music at Denver University, and has taught masterclasses at Indiana University, Alessi Seminar Asia, the Yong Siew Tow Conservatory (Singapore), and the University of Toronto, performing recitals at several of these programs. He has enjoyed teaching for other training programs like NYO-USA 2, PRISMA Festival, VSO Institute, and Vancouver Trombone Week, which he co-founded and led with VSO bass trombonist Ilan Morgenstern. Mr. Wendel and Mr. Morgenstern’s contributions to the music education scene in Vancouver received media attention from CTV Morning Live and CBC Music and were recognized for their positive influence. In the realm of chamber music, Mr. Wendel has performed at the United Nations, Madison Square Garden, Rogers Arena, and the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C. For Mr. Wendel, engaging and connecting with audiences in the chamber setting is one of his great joys of performing.
As a student, he spent summer months as an Orchestral Fellow at the Music Academy of the West, Pacific Music Festival, American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria, the National Orchestral Institute, and the Alessi Seminar. He was an inaugural member of the 2013 National Youth Orchestra of the United States. In summer 2019, he was invited to return to Pacific Music Festival as a distinguished alumnus to take part in the festival’s 30th anniversary performances of Mahler’s Eighth Symphony.
Mr. Wendel grew up in the rural town of Conway, Massachusetts. Starting on the piano at age six and the trombone at age nine, he studied both classical and jazz music, and in high school was a student at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School. Some of his early musical mentors include David Sporny, Norman Bolter, Andy Jaffe, and his dad, Renato Wendel. Outside of music, he loves to travel whenever and wherever he can. Together with his wife (and violist) Karen, and their two young boys, they are all excited for many new adventures in Cleveland.
Peter Steiner
International Soloist
Italian trombonist Peter Steiner’s playing has been described as “beautifully controlled with a vocal sound” and he is recognized around the world as “a new trombone star within his generation” who “plays with total control”. In 2019 he was honoured as a Prize Winner at the XVI International Tchaikovsky Competition in Russia.
His 2023/2024 season will feature the World Premiere of Kevin Day’s Double Concerto No. 2 together with pianist Constanze Hochwartner and the Fort Worth Symphony, as well as performances of Ferdinand David’s Concertino with the Philharmonisches Orchester Würzburg and Bartlesville Symphony Orchestra. He will also perform the Concerto by Derek Bourgeois together with the Taipei Chinese Orchestra.
At the age of 23, Peter Steiner was appointed Trombonist of the Vienna State Opera and Vienna Philharmonic for the 2016-2017 season. Prior to that engagement he served as Principal Trombonist with the Colorado Symphony for the 2014-2015 season. He has performed as guest trombonist with the Munich Philharmonic, Staatskapelle Dresden, New York Philharmonic, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Symphony Orchestra and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Steiner has soloed with numerous ensembles around the world including, the Mariinsky Orchestra, Orquestra Sinfõnica Brasileira and Central Ohio Symphony. A strong advocate of new music, Peter has premiered many compositions, among many highlights are the World Premieres of the UFO Concerto for Trombone by Johan de Meij and the Trombone Concerto by Dimitri Cervo.
Mr. Steiner began his studies at the Music Conservatory in his hometown of Bolzano, Italy before continuing his studies at The Mozarteum of Salzburg (Austria). In 2016 he graduated from The Juilliard School in New York City with a Performance Diploma. His major teachers and influences include Joseph Alessi, Warren Deck, Nitzan Haroz, and Dany Bonvin.
Mr. Steiner performs exclusively on Bach Trombones - his signature is the Artisan 47XPS.
Constanze Hochwartner, piano
Austrian artist Constanze Hochwartner is an international touring solo organist and pianist as well as part of the Duo Steiner-Hochwartner. Her 2023/2024 season features a fall organ tour through Europe and the USA, as well as piano tours throughout Asia and the USA. A season highlight will be the World Premiere of Kevin Day’s Double Concerto No. 2 together with trombonist Peter Steiner and the Fort Worth Symphony.
Constanze received her first piano lessons at the young age of three, before being accepted into a class for gifted students in 2005 at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz, Austria. After graduating from high school, she switched her focus from piano to organ and started her studies in concert performance for organ with Univ. Prof. Ulrich Walther. Simultaneously, she studied instrumental and vocal pedagogy with an additional focus on piano and graduated in the Fall of 2017. In October 2019 she finished her Master's degree studying with Univ. Prof. Karin Tafeit (organ) at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz. She has also been mentored by Univ. Prof. Gunther Rost.
Constanze has given solo performances around the globe, including organ concerts in Europe, the United States and South America. She performed as a soloist in the Graz Cathedral in 2015 and 2016 and at the “Grazer Orgelfrühling” 2016 in the Herz Jesu-Kirche in Graz. In June 2017 she gave a recital in the parish church of St. Xaver in Leoben and concerts with the brass ensemble of the University of Music and Performing Arts.
In 2017, Constanze began collaborating with trombonist Peter Steiner and formed the Duo Steiner-Hochwartner. For their debut 2017/2018 season the Duo maintained an ambitious international performance schedule, including an 8-week USA tour (40 concerts), a concert at the Wartburg Festival (Eisenach,Germany), and a series of concerts in Europe (Austria, Italy, and Switzerland). The 2018/2019 season highlights include a 3-month World Tour with both solo organ recitals and performances with the Duo in South America, Asia, Europe and the United States. Other performances with the Duo during the 2018-2019 season included a tour in Japan and two additional USA tours. Her 2019/2020 season involved a world tour including solo performances on the organ as well as Duo concerts in Asia, Australia, Europe and the USA.
Constanze’s debut album SAPPHIRE, in collaboration with Peter Steiner, was released in July 2019 under the Berlin Classics label. Their CD Release Tour brought them to Europe, Asia, Australia and the United States. Her second album BINARY STAR, on which Constanze plays organ, was released in May 2021, again under the Berlin Classics label and in collaboration with Peter Steiner. The Christmas album THE FIRST NOËL – a Collection including both instruments (organ and piano) paired with trombone was released in December 2021. Her most recent album 2022 was brought to the public on an extensive 3 month album release tour this past summer.
Hochwartner/Steiner Duo
Pianist/organist Constanze Hochwartner and trombonist Peter Steiner have been performing together as a Duo since 2017. Their 2022/2023 season will feature a 5-month US tour as well as concerts in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Korea, Italy, Japan, and Singapore. Together they have toured Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America.
The first collaboration album SAPPHIRE was released in July 2019 under the Berlin Classics label, followed by BINARY STAR, on which Constanze plays organ (released in May 2021). In addition they also recorded THE FIRST NOËL – a Christmas Collection including both instruments (organ and piano) paired with trombone was released in December 2021. The most recent album 2022 was released in July 2022.
Faculty
John Sebastian Vera, Co-Director
Principal Trombone, Pittsburgh Opera and River City Brass
John Sebastian Vera, a native of Texas, became the principal trombonist of the Pittsburgh Opera in 2010 and also joined the River City Brass as principal Trombone in 2015. He is also professor of trombone at Duquesne University and faculty member at the Cleveland Institute of Music where he teaches a course on Music Entrepreneurship and Digital Media as well as coach chamber music.
In addition to the Pittsburgh Opera, Mr. Vera 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.
Wellness and Movement
Gabriel Colby
Playing trombone, physical fitness, and unraveling life’s challenges are the motivators that spur Gabriel Colby on a daily basis. He’s taken life lessons from each of these facets and curated robust health and wellness programs to improve lives. Gabriel shares his transformative approach through lecture engagements focused on music, the music business, and wellness.
Based in Pittsburgh, PA, Gabriel is in-demand as both a recording and performing trombonist. He is principal trombone for the Nu Deco Ensemble, a cutting-edge chamber orchestra operating out of Miami, Florida and co-principal trombone of the River City Brass Band, the only ensemble of its kind in America.
Outside of these large ensembles, Gabriel plays in and manages two other groups. His brass quintet, C Street Brass performs classical, and pop favorites in recital halls and performing arts centers across the country. Beauty Slap, a genre-bending electronic funk band, comprised of a DJ, keyboards, and horns, tours nationally, and plays sold-out shows in and around Pittsburgh. Both groups are focused on education and given workshops at: Carnegie Mellon University, University of South Carolina, San Francisco State University, California State University Stanislaus, and others. Gabriel earned a B.M. and G.P.D. from Peabody Conservatory, and a M.M. from Carnegie Mellon University. In his free time Gabriel enjoys
In addition to performing and recording, Gabriel is a certified trainer. He utilizes his personal experience recovering from injury and studying a variety of movement disciplines to help musicians and non-musicians alike become pain free and feel more confident, playful, and powerful in their bodies. As a speaker, he has given workshops and seminars at West Virginia University, Third Coast Trombone Retreat, Carnegie Mellon University on both the business of music as well as movement, fitness, and pain solutions as a musician. In his free time, Gabriel enjoys all kinds of fitness training, golf, rock climbing, and eating ice cream.
Performance Psychology
William Mann
William Mann is the 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.
Business/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.
Staff
Steve Gellersen
Operations Manager
A native Texan, Steve Gellersen is currently living in East Lansing, MI where works at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts on the campus of Michigan State University in multiple capacities. He has performed as a bass trombonist throughout the country with ensembles such as the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Cleveland Pops Orchestra, Blossom Festival Orchestra, and the Palm Beach Opera.
Mr. Gellersen began studying trombone in San Antonio with Ron Wilkins, with a focus on jazz. He began his collegiate studies, and discovered his passion for orchestral playing, at Duquesne
University with Murray Crewe and continued on to complete his undergraduate degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music studying with Rick Stout. Steve returned to Cleveland a few years later to continue his graduate studies, before receiving a certificate at Carnegie Mellon University.
Mr. Gellersen has been working in an administrative capacity at the Third Coast Trombone Retreat since its first year and followed this new interest with a Masters Degree in Arts and Cultural Management at Michigan State.
When away from the trombone Steve enjoys NBA basketball, fantasy football, and considers himself an accomplished Instagram hot sauce influencer.