The Blue Ridge Trombone Quartet performs a variety of works for trombone quartet, including standard repertoire, arrangements done by the group’s members, and new works commissioned specifically for the quartet. The group was formed in 2012 and has performed across the country at numerous colleges, universities and music conferences. The members of the Blue Ridge Trombone quartet are Nathan Dishman (Iowa State University), Drew Leslie (Colorado State University), Cory Mixdorf (University of Arkansas), and Sean McGhee (Akron and Canton Symphony Orchestras).
The Blue Ridge Trombone Quartet is a professional chamber ensemble dedicated to the performance of music composed and arranged for trombone quartet. The group formed in 2012 and had its first meeting in Boone, NC right off of the Blue Ridge Parkway, which stretches the length of the Appalachian Mountains and inspired the name Blue Ridge Trombone Quartet. Since then, the group has travelled across the country to numerous colleges, universities and conferences to perform standard repertoire, arrangements done by the group’s members and new works commissioned specifically for the quartet. A recent highlight for the ensemble was commissioning and performing “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” by Jeff Cortazzo with the United States Army “Pershing’s Own” Concert Band at the American Trombone Workshop.
Dr. Nathan Dishman is Assistant Professor of Trombone at Iowa State University and previously served on the faculty at the University of Virginia and Morehead State University (KY). His book, “A Guide to Daily Maintenance for Trombone,” is published by Ensemble Publications. Dr. Dishman has frequently performed and presented at the International Fellowship of Conductors, Composers, and Collaborators. He has appeared as soloist at the international level with the Amazonas Philharmonic (Manaus, Brazil), City of Joao Pessoa Wind Ensemble (Brazil), and the State of Paraiba Brass Band (Brazil). He was also one of six tenor trombone participants selected by Joseph Alessi to take part in the prestigious Alessi Seminar. Dr. Dishman’s solo album, Conversations, includes several jazz and classical crossover pieces. He currently performs with the Charlottesville Opera, Blue Ridge Trombone Quartet, Central Iowa Brass Quintet and has been a member of the Cave Run Symphony Orchestra, DiMartino Osland Big Band, Charlottesville Symphony, Des Moines Symphony, Saint Joseph Symphony, Lee’s Summit Symphony, and Liberty Symphony. Dr. Dishman is an Edwards Instruments performing artist. His primary teachers include JoDee Davis, Roger Oyster, Nancy Vogt, Paul Pollard, Paul McKee, and Bruce Tychinski.
Dr. Drew Leslie joined the faculty of the Colorado State University School of Music, Theatre and Dance in the fall of 2019 and is currently the Assistant Professor of Trombone. He has broad experience as a professional trombonist and music educator, performing and teaching throughout the world in a number of different settings. Recent performance highlights include the Colorado Symphony, Hawaii Symphony, Charlotte Symphony, Eugene Symphony, performances at the International Trombone Festival and the American Trombone Workshop, and recitals in Oregon, Kentucky, Virginia, Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, Ohio, Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina. Additional performance highlights include the Santo Domingo Festival Orchestra of the Dominican Republic, Jungfrau Music Festival (Switzerland), Mid-Europe Festival (Austria), Wiltz Open-Air Festival (Luxembourg), and Festival Veranos de la Villa (Spain). Equally as passionate about music education, Leslie has presented numerous masterclasses at universities across the country and served on the faculty of the Cannon Summer Music Camp. Dr. Leslie received his D.M.A. from the University of Texas at Austin, his M.M. from the Manhattan School of Music, and his B.M. from the University of Michigan. He also spent four summers studying and performing at the Aspen Music Festival and School. His primary instructors include Nathaniel Brickens, Per Brevig, Michael Powell, David Jackson, H. Dennis Smith, and Jonathan Holtfreter. Drew Leslie is a Conn-Selmer Artist-Clinician and performs on Vincent Bach trombones.
Sean McGhee is the Bass Trombonist of the Akron Symphony, the Canton Symphony, and the Kentucky Symphony in addition to playing in the Blue Ridge Trombone Quartet. He maintains a studio of young low brass musicians and directs the Tri-State Ensemble’s trombone choir, a high school level ensemble. Sean enjoys running up the hills of Cincinnati where he makes his home walking his large dog in the woods and fixing up old houses.
Dr. Cory Mixdorf is proud to be a part of the distinguished faculty at the University of Arkansas. In addition to his teaching duties, Dr. Mixdorf maintains a regular schedule as a guest artist and clinician on the national and international levels. In addition to frequent solo recital tours, his most recent endeavors include performing at the 2021 and 2018 International Trombone Festivals, the 2018 American Trombone Workshop, and touring Germany and recording a CD with the brass ensemble. Dr. Mixdorf is the Principal Trombonist with the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra, has served as Acting Principal Trombone with the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, Acting Second Trombonist with the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra, and has also performed with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra, the Symphony Orchestra Augusta, the New World Symphony, and the Dayton Philharmonic among others. Before his appointment at the University of Arkansas, Dr. Mixdorf served as Assistant Professor of Trombone at Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA, adjunct instructor of brass at Vincennes University, associate instructor at Indiana University, and adjunct instructor of trombone at St. Ambrose University. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Northern Iowa as well as Master of Music and Doctor of Music degrees in trombone performance from Indiana University. His principal teachers include Peter Ellefson, M. Dee Stewart, Nancy Vogt, D. Paul Pollard, Bruce Tychinski and Brad Edwards. Dr. Mixdorf is a Greenhoe Trombones Featured Artist.
Note:
Masks are required for all patrons regardless of age in all areas of the UCA.
Please observe social distancing of 6′ between other patrons in all areas of the UCA.
Concert programs are available in a virtual format only and may be viewed via a QR code at the performance when available.
