James T. Decker is Associate Professor of Trombone at Texas Tech University, Principal Trombonist and Personnel Manager of the Britt Festival Orchestra,  trombonist with the Lubbock Symphony, and Music Director of the Texas Tech Trombone Choir.

Prior to his appointment at Texas Tech, Mr. Decker was Principal Trombonist with the Honolulu Symphony, Lecturer of Trombone at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Director of the Manoa Trombones, and Trombonist with the Honolulu Brass.

Mr. Decker has performed with many fine artists, including Seiji Ozawa, Leonard Bernstein, Yo-Yo Ma, Luciano Pavarotti, Sammy Davis Jr., The Temptations, Wycliffe Gordon, Diana Krall, Bill Watrous, Glen Campbell, Natalie Cole, Ray Charles, Kenny Loggins, Al Jarreau, Bill Watrous, Frankie Valli, Burt Bacharach, Don Ho, Jim Nabors, Andy Williams, Michael McDonald, Lou Rawls, and Christopher Cross.

His performing ensemble credits include the Cascade Festival Orchestra, New MExico Symphony Orchestra, Colorado Music Festival Orchestra, Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Maui Symphony, Santa Fe Pro Musica, Hawaii Opera Theater Orchestra, National Repertory Orchestra, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Stamford Symphony, Greenwich Choral Society Orchestra, National Orchestra of New York, Eroica Brass, Cosmopolitan Brass, and the Grammercy Brass.

Mr. Decker is an active recitalist and clinician. He has performed and taught at many locations throughout the United States, including Boston University, University of Wisconsin, Arizona State University, Tennessee Tech University, New Mexico State University, University of Nevada at Las Vegas, University of New Mexico, University of Northern Iowa, Merkin Concert Hall, and at Riverside Church in New York City.

Mr. Decker studied at the Juilliard School, where he received Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in Performance. In addition, James has earned a Master of Music Education degree from Herbert H. Lehman College. He has studied with some of the finest wind and brass pedagogues, including Joseph Alessi, Steven Norrell, Edward Herman, Vincent Penzarella, Jerome Callet, Keith Underwood, Arnold Jacobs, Edward Kleinhammer, Frank Crisafulli, John Swallow, and Edward Erwin.

This information has been furnished with permission from www.jamestdecker.com.

Haotian Quan
graduate teaching assistant
— instrument: tenor trombone
— pursuing Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Performance
— Master of Music degree in Performance from Boston University

Roger Kemp
graduate teaching assistant
— instrument: tenor trombone
— pursuing Master of Music Degree in Performance
— Bachelor of Music degree in Performance from Eastern New Mexico University

Xavier Moncada
— instrument: tenor trombone
— pursuing Master of Music Degree in Performance
— Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from New Mexico State University 

Matthew Belcher 
Iota Tau Alpha Treasurer
— instrument: tenor trombone
— classification: First Year
— pursuing Bachelor of Music degree with Teacher Certification

Jose Conde
— instrument: bass trombone
— classification: Sophomore
— pursuing Bachelor of Arts

Jonathan Foster
— instrument: tenor trombone
— classification: Sophomore
— pursuing Bachelor of Music degree with Teacher Certification/Jazz Studies Certificate

Jackson Franco
— instrument: bass trombone
— classification: First Year
— pursuing Bachelor of Music degree with Teacher Certification and Performance

Edwin Huerta 
Iota Tau Alpha Secretary/Community Service Representative
— instrument: tenor trombone
— classification: Sophomore
— pursuing Bachelor of Music degree with Teacher Certification

Kai Langehennig
— instrument: tenor trombone
— classification: First Year
— pursuing Bachelor of Music degree with Teacher Certification 

Jonathan Llewellyn
— instrument: tenor trombone
— classification: First Year
— pursuing Bachelor of Music degree with Teacher Certification 

Gustavo Lopez
— instrument: tenor trombone
— classification: First Year
— pursuing Bachelor of Music degree with Teacher Certification

Jacob Moore
— instrument: tenor trombone
— classification: First Year
— pursuing Bachelor of Music degree with Teacher Certification

Dakota Perelstein
— instrument: tenor trombone
— classification: Senior
— pursuing Bachelor of Music degree with Teacher Certification

Matthew Ramirez
— instrument: tenor trombone
— classification: Sophomore
— pursuing Bachelor of Music degree with Teacher Certification

Blayne Rogers
— instrument: bass trombone
— classification: Senior
— pursuing Bachelor of Music degree with Teacher Certification

Logan Settle
— instrument: bass trombone
— classification: Sophomore
— pursuing Bachelor of Music degree with Teacher Certification

Tobie Sherrill
—instrument: tenor trombone
— classification: Junior
— pursuing Bachelor of Music Degree with Teacher Certification

Sam Sommer
Iota Tau Alpha President
— instrument: tenor trombone
— classification: Senior
— pursuing Bachelor of Music degree with Teacher Certification

Mariah Valdez
— instrument: tenor trombone
— classification: Junior
— pursuing Bachelor of Music Degree with Teacher Certification

Cade Wells
Iota Tau Alpha Social Media Manager
— instrument: tenor trombone
— classification: Sophomore
— pursuing Bachelor of Music degree with Teacher Certification

Kaitin Werner
Iota Tau Alpha Vice President/SORC Representative
— instrument: tenor trombone
— classification: Sophomore
— pursuing Bachelor of Music degree with Teacher Certification