OSU Trombones at 2025 IWBC

The 2025 International Women’s Brass Conference took place from May 19-24, 2025 at the Hartt School of Music, Hartford, Connecticut.  The OSU Trombone Studio was fortunate to have 12 students attend this incredible event.  The event included featured guest artists, Barbara Hull, Bria Skonberg, Layan Atieh, Sasha Romero, Hilary Simms, Bente Illevold, and Meredith Q. Fuller, and featured ensembles, Monarch Brass, Navy Commodores, Athena Brass Band, and the Capitol Symphonic Winds.

In addition to attending numerous concerts, lectures, and masterclasses, our students participated in the IWBC solo and ensemble competitions.  David Johnston was awarded First Prize in the Tenor Trombone Solo Competition for ages 23 and under, and Third Prize in the Tenor Trombone Orchestral Competition for all ages.  Christa Naber was awarded Third Prize in both the Bass Trombone Solo Competition for ages 23 and under, and the Bass Trombone Military Band Competition for all ages.  Luke Weatherly was awarded Fourth Prize in the Tenor Trombone Solo Competition for ages 23 and under.  Ethan Do and Jimmy Dorsaint were award Third Prize and Fourth Prize in the Tenor Trombone Military Band Competition.  This was a total of 7 prizes for our students!

The students also gave an informal ensemble performance at the IWBC exhibit area, performing music by Eva Fabiańska-Jelińska, Steven Verhelst, Michael Praetorius, and Joe Buono, as well as Ethan Do’s arrangement of Selections from Undertale.  The Performance was conducted by OSU Visiting Assistant Professor of Trombone, Elizabeth Toles.  In preparation for the performance the students had two rehearsals at Parkville Sounds, an excellent rehearsal and recording space in Hartford.

IWBC 2025 was a truly unforgettable experience.  Thank you to everyone at IWBC, especially Lauren Rudzinskas, and Haim Avitsur, and collaborative pianists, Kristy Mezines and Hanako Yamagata.  Thank you also to our amazing friends and family that made this possible, and Dr. Lucia Unrau, Director of the OSU Greenwood School of Music.