Author: Karen Marston

2026 Schedule

Please note the schedule is subject to change. Check back for updates!

9:00am-9:30am – Group warm ups

College/Adult: Recital Hall with Bob Sanders
High School Students: M200 with Shelly Suminski

9:45am-10:30am – Morning Session 1

College/Adult: Visit Exhibits
High School Students: M200 reading session with Karen Marston

10:45am-11:30pm – Morning Session 2

College Students: Recital Hall reading session with Shelly Suminski
Adults: M200 reading session with Bob Sanders
High School Students: Visit Exhibits

11:45pm-12:30pm – Artist Masterclass, Recital Hall, Denis Jiron

12:30pm-1:15pm – Lunch 

1:15pm-2:00pm –  Masterclass, Recital Hall, Tiffany Johns

2:10pm-2:25pm – Trombone Choir Concert 1

Mount San Antonio College Trombone Octet, Dr. Karen Marston, Director

2:30pm-3:15pm – Artist Recital, Recital Hall, Denis Jiron

3:20-3:55pm – Trombone Choir Concert 2

Cal State Long Beach Trombone Choir, Steve Trapani, Director
SoCal Intercollegiate Trombone Choir, Bob Sanders, Director

4:00pm-4:45pm – Artist Recital, Recital Hall, Tiffany Johns

5:00pm – Closing Concert, Bones West 

2026 Artist: Denis Jiron

Denis Jiron is a native of Los Angeles, California and enjoys a varied career that includes performing with symphony orchestras, pop acts, Afro-Cuban/salsa artists, TV shows, big bands, and education. Denis was appointed acting-2nd trombone of the Los Angeles Philharmonic from 2017–2018.

He has also held positions with the Riverside Philharmonic (Principal Trombone) and the Hofer Symfoniker (2nd/1st Trombone) and has been guest trombonist with the LA Opera, Sapporo Symphony, Philharmonie Luxembourg, Pacific Symphony, Detroit Symphony, and Toronto Symphony orchestras. Denis is currently principal trombone of the Jackson Symphony and Midland Symphony orchestras.

He has appeared with many artists and shows, including Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Queen Latifah, Kanye West, Andrea Bocelli, Sting, Gladys Knight, Chris Botti, The Voice, American Idol, The Ellen Show, The Tonight Show, the American Music Awards, Amanda Miguel, Diego Verdaguer, The Midnighters, the Budman/Levy Jazz Orchestra, Al McKay – Earth Wind & Fire Experience, Tito Nieves, Eddie Santiago, Jimmy Bosch, and many others.

In 2004, Denis founded and directed the Afro-Cuban orchestra Rumbankete, which released its first album in 2011. He has held adjunct trombone professor positions at California State University Los Angeles and California State University San Bernardino.

Denis earned his BM degree from California State University Northridge and his MFA degree from the California Institute of the Arts, as well as studying at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Trossingen and later the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Mannheim. Dr. Jiron earned his DMA degree from Michigan State University as a University Distinguished Fellow.

Currently, Dr. Jiron serves as Assistant Professor of Trombone at the Don Wright Faculty of Music at Western University in London, Canada.

Denis Jiron will appear at SoCal Trombone Day thanks to the generous support of Conn-Selmer.

2026 Artist: Tiffany Johns

Tiffany Johns is a multi-instrumentalist brass player and keyboardist from Los Angeles, California. Regularly performing and recording across Southern California and beyond, Tiffany maintains a diverse portfolio of musical styles and instruments.

Originally from the Washington, D.C. area, Tiffany started on euphonium in the 5th grade. She picked up trombone and bass trombone in high school, and has been hooked on brass doubling ever since. In Southern California, she can be seen most often playing in jazz bands, funk bands, studio sessions, opera orchestras, and the world-famous Disneyland Band.

Tiffany has performed and recorded with a number of world-renowned artists, including Bernard Purdie, Bootsy Collins, Fred Wesley, Jacob Collier, Gordon Goodwin, and Jason Derulo. She can be heard on numerous albums on multiple instruments, including two that were Grammy-nominated (Intercambio by the Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet and Canto América by La Orquesta Sinfonietta). She was a featured artist at the 2025 International Trombone Festival in London, Ontario.

In addition to performing and recording, Tiffany is an active composer and regional Emmy award-winning arranger. She has had arrangements and compositions performed both in the United States and abroad.

2025: Schedule

Wondering what’s happening at SoCal Trombone Day?  Here’s the scoop!  Note that the schedule is subject to change, so check back here for updates!

SoCal Trombone Day 2025 – Schedule

8:30AM
Box Office Opens

9:00-9:30AM GROUP WARMUPS
HIGH SCHOOL: DR. KAREN MARSTON, RECITAL HALL
COLLEGE: DR. LORI STUNTZ, M200
ADULT: BOB SANDERS, M108

9:30-10:20AM SPLIT SESSION
HIGH SCHOOL: READING SESSION WITH DR. KAREN MARSTON, RECITAL HALL COLLEGE/ADULT: VISIT EXHIBITS

10:30-11:20AM MASTERCLASS
DR. BRADLEY EDWARDS, RECITAL HALL
Performers:
Toma Harrison, Cal State LA, Teacher: Dillon McIntyre
Olivia Jackson, Cal Poly Pomona, Teacher: Lori Stuntz; Repertoire: Hindemith
Justin Healy, Cal State Fresno, Teacher: Russ Zokaites, Repertoire: Grondahl

11:30AM-12:20PM SPLIT SESSION
HIGH SCHOOL: VISIT EXHIBITS
COLLEGE: READING SESSION WITH DR. LORI STUNTZ, M200
ADULT: READING SESSION WITH BOB SANDERS, RECITAL HALL

12:20-1:00PM
LUNCH (Exhibit Hall is open!)

1:00-1:50PM SPLIT SESSION
HIGH SCHOOL QUARTET COMPETITION, RECITAL HALL
Adjudicators: DR. LORI STUNZ AND BOB SANDERS
MASTERCLASS: “TIPS AND STRATEGIES FOR PERORMANCE ANXIETY,” DR. KAREN MARSTON, M200

2:00-2:40PM CONCERT
MT SAC TROMBONE CHOIR/SOCAL INTERCOLLEGIATE TROMBONE CHOIR, RECITAL HALL

2:45-3:30PM ARTIST MASTERCLASS
TONY BAKER, RECITAL HALL
Performers:
Nathanael Peters, Biola University, Teacher: Michael Rushman; Repertoire: David
Andrew Cho, Pasadena City College, Teacher: Mark Miller; Repertoire, Grondahl
Manuel Alvarado, Cal Poly Pomona, Teacher: Lori Stuntz; Repertoire, Serocki

3:30-4:15PM CONCERT
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY TROMBONE CHOIR
DR, BRADLEY EDWARDS, DIRECTOR, RECITAL HALL

4:30-5:15PM GUEST ARTIST RECITAL
TONY BAKER AND VALERIA MORGOVSKAYA, RECITAL HALL

5:30PM FINALE CONCERT
BONES WEST, RECITAL HALL

2025 Guest Ensemble: ASU Trombone Choir

The ASU (Arizona State University) Trombone Choir was begun under the leadership of Douglas Yeo in 2013. The ensemble began presenting regular performances both at the university and in the local community. The group had recorded two professional CD’s.

Photo credit: Camryn Campbell

Under the leadership of Brad Edwards, the ensemble was invited to perform at the 2017 International Trombone Festival (ITF) in Redlands, California and 2023 ITF in Salt Lake City, Utah. Other performances include appearances at the Musical Instrument Museum, the Tempe Center for the Arts, and a performance of the national anthem for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Photo credit: Camryn Campbell
In recent years, the group has begun to focus more in choosing repertoire that helps to showcase both female and BIPOC composers. Many of our performances feature student conductors and sometimes include student arrangements and compositions. The ensemble is open to all students at the university both graduate and undergraduate and is proud to include non-majors.

2025 Guest Artist: Dr. Bradley Edwards

Trombonist Brad Edwards has appeared as a soloist before audiences in the United States and Europe, including Germany, Norway, and Spain. He has twice played concerti with the Army Band at the American Trombone Workshop.  Audiophile magazine praised his CD, “Trombone And…” saying, “The performances are all excellent.”

Dr. Edwards teaches at Arizona State University and has previously taught at the University of South Carolina and University of Northern Iowa.  He is best known for his pedagogical books including, Lip Slurs, Lip Slur Melodies, The Intermediate books (Trombone, Euphonium, and Tuba) as well as the Trombone Craft, Simply Singing for Winds and the Patterns and Snippets books.  His newest books are the Melodious books (Trombone, Bass Trombone, Tuba). These books have sold nearly 40,000 copies.

He has also composed 176 one-minute audition solos for all woodwinds and brass. These solos have been adopted for all-state auditions in South Carolina, North Carolina, Utah, and Minnesota. They can be found at AuditionSolos.com. He composed and recorded 24 Concert Pieces for trombone and piano. Videos of these pieces are available at the Hornbone Press channel on Youtube and at HornbonePress.com. Of his other compositions, Three Calls for unaccompanied trombone was chosen as a competition piece for both the American Trombone Workshop (ATW) and the International Trombone Festival (ITF). His piece Night Suite (from Circadian Suite) was selected for the ITF’s Emory Remington trombone choir competition.

Each month, he releases an free educational PDF, TBZ Monthly, which has melodies, lip slurs, technical/rhythm exercises, playing tips, and more. All this content can be found at his website, TromboneZone.org. He also posts a regular series of trombone tips on Instagram.

Dr. Edwards was a member of and soloist with the Air Force Band in Washington D.C. and has held positions as Principal Trombonist with a number of regional orchestras. Currently he is the Principal Trombonist with the South Carolina Philharmonic. He has performed with the Phoenix Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Baltimore Opera, National Symphony and Charlotte Symphony. In the summers he performs with the Summit Brass while teaching at the Rafael Mendez Brass Institute in Denver.

2025 Featured Guest Artist: Tony Baker

Our 2025 Featured Guest is the incredible TONY BAKER!  

Professor of Trombone at the University of North Texas for over 20 years, Tony is equally at home playing both Classical and Jazz, and has enjoyed an international career as a soloist for decades.

A versatile musician, Tony performs with the Dallas Opera Orchestra and has worked with ensembles such as the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Opera, and numerous symphonies across the U.S.

An internationally acclaimed soloist, Tony has performed at prestigious events such as the International Trombone Festival, the Reykjavik Cultural Festival, and the Festival International D’Art Lyrique in France. He has also given masterclasses at institutions like the Royal Northern College of Music and the University of Texas at San Antonio.

In addition to his classical work, Tony is an accomplished jazz trombonist, having performed with the Woody Herman Band, Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, and artists like Wynton Marsalis and Steve Turre. He has also recorded with the Grammy-nominated Sounds of Blackness and served as a jazz clinician at various workshops, including those at the University of North Texas.

A dedicated educator and performer, Tony Baker continues to shape the future of trombone and jazz music.