My Teachers

Bruce Lazier

I first met Bruce when I was in 5th grade. I had only been playing trombone for a year and I was playing in the local community band when Bruce was asked to play a solo with the band. Little did I know at the time, Bruce had already established a very successful private lesson studio in the town where I went to high school. Bruce studied with two of the legendary trombone professors of the 20th century, Buddy Baker at Northern Colorado and John Swallow at Yale University. He was a very successful freelancer in many cities but settled in Pittsburgh, PA when he became the second trombonist of the River City Brass Band. To this day Bruce has one of the sweetest tenor trombone sounds and plays with an ease in the upper register that continues to floor me. I know for sure that the seven years I spent under is tutelage made me the trombonist and musician that I am today.

Robert Matchett III

Very few people are fortunate to have a trombone player as their high school band director. I was fortunate to have one of the most successful professional trombonists in the greater Pittsburgh area as my high school band director. Bob was the one who encouraged me to play bass trombone in the first place. Bob was the best example of how working hard at the skills required to be successful as a professional trombonist pays off in all genres. He taught me the importance of being able to sight read at a high level as well as being able to play a wide range of styles. I cherished the time we spent and continue to spend together as opportunities to continue to learn and grow as both a musician and a trombone player. Bob continues to inspire me today with his level of musicianship and strive for maintaining a level of excellence in everything he you do.

Mark Lusk

I don’t quite know where to begin with talking about Mark. To this day, he is the most influential individual on me as a trombonist, person, and musician. I first met Mark in 2010, when I was a sophomore in high school, and my high school band director took me and a classmate of mine out to State College for the annual Furhling Posaunen. I then had at least one interaction, sometimes multiple, with Mark over the next several years. When it came to deciding where I went to college for my undergraduate degree, I knew that studying with Mark was my top priority. He is a bass trombonist who has played the trombone in almost every possible capacity available. Mark taught me more than just how to be a better trombone player, he taught me how to always say something meaningful with what I play, and how to always put the music first. He taught me how to use the bass trombone as a vehicle for musical expression. Ultimately, much of the musician I am today is as a result of the four years I spent studying with him. Every time I return to State College to visit him, I leave with a renewed drive to continue pushing forward, and continue to put the music first above all else. Mark will always be my teacher, and I will always be his student far past the four years that I spent at Penn State.

Allen Barnhill

I was not exposed to Mr. Barnhill as a player or a teacher until I began my search for graduate programs. Fortunately for me, Mr. Barnhill and Mark are both Eastman graduates. The result was there being some similarities in their approach to teaching and playing. Mr. Barnhill really helped my playing reach the next level, and the main reason why was because of his focus on doing the very basic things at a very high level. His emphasis on always making a great sound and staying as relaxed as possible in the process really opened my eyes as a player. His deep knowledge of orchestral repertoire helped me understand the deep level of study necessary for the preparation and performance of these works. His playing in his 40 plus years in the Houston Symphony Orchestra can easily be described as effortless, tasteful, and always musically driven.