James T. Decker

James T. Decker, Associate Professor of Trombone, holds the Master of Music Education degree from Herbert H. Lehman College, the Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School, and the Bachelor of Music degree from the Juilliard School. His principal teachers were Joseph Alessi, Steve Norrell, Jim Pugh, Edward Herman, Vincent Penzarella, and Jerome Callet.

He has performed with a wide range of ensembles, including the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, where he served as Principal Trombonist for 17 years, the Britt Festival Orchestra, the Tucson, West Texas, Lubbock and New Mexico Symphony Orchestras, the Abilene Philharmonic, and various brass chamber groups.

Mr. Decker's solo career has included several recitals at premier universities throughout the United States as well as several solo performances of significant works with symphonic ensembles, including the Samuel Jones Trombone Concerto “Vita Accademica” and the John Mackey “Harvest Concerto”.

His commercial experience includes performances with Diana Krall, Michael McDonald, Al Jarreau, Toto, Ray Charles, Burt Bacharach, Toni Tennille, Kenny Loggins, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Frankie Valli, Glen Campbell, Lou Rawls, Sammy Davis Jr., Natalie Cole, The Four Tops, The Temptations, and Christopher Cross. His teaching experience is extensive, including instruction of trombone, euphonium, jazz, brass chamber music, and full symphonic band at the elementary, junior, and high school levels, in addition to private studio and classroom teaching at the college level.

You can view the Texas Tech Trombone studio home page.