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

Julio Rivera
graduate teaching assistant
— instrument: tenor trombone
— pursuing Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Performance
— Master of Music degree in Performance from University of Central Florida

 

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

Dillon Bednarz
— instrument: tenor trombone
— classification: Sophomore
— pursuing Bachelor of Music Degree with Teacher Certification

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

Asher Blu-Fullingim
— instrument: tenor trombone
— classification: First Year
— pursuing Bachelor of Music Degree with Teacher Certification

Jonathan Foster
— instrument: tenor trombone
— classification: Senior
— pursuing Bachelor of Music degree in Performance/Jazz Studies Certificate

Jackson Franco
Iota Tau Alpha Secretary/Community Service Representative
— instrument: bass trombone
— classification: Junior
— pursuing Bachelor of Music degree with Teacher Certification and Performance

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

Jonathan Hewitt
— instrument: tenor trombone
— classification: Sophomore
— pursuing Bachelor of Music Degree with Teacher Certification and Performance

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

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

Natalie Mata
— instrument: tenor trombone
— classification: First Year
— pursuing Bachelor of Music Degree with Teacher Certification

Jacob Moore
Iota Tau Alpha Vice President/SORC Representative
— instrument: tenor trombone
— classification: Junior
— pursuing Bachelor of Music degree with Teacher Certification

Jae Perez
— instrument: tenor trombone
— classification: First Year
— pursuing Bachelor of Music Degree with Teacher Certification

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

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

Chris Sedberry
— instrument: bass trombone
— classification: Sephomore
— pursuing Bachelor of Music degree with Teacher Certification

Jaxon Connor Smith
— instrument: bass trombone
— classification: FIrst Year
— pursuing Bachelor of Music degree with Teacher Certification

Joshua Weaver
Iota Tau Alpha Treasurer
— instrument: tenor trombone
— classification: Sophomore
— pursuing Bachelor of Music degree with Teacher Certification

Kaitin Werner
— instrument: tenor trombone
— classification: Senior
— pursuing Bachelor of Music degree with Teacher Certification