Big 12 Trombone Conference

The 24th Annual Big 12 Trombone Conference is scheduled to take place January 15 - 17, 2027.

The feature Guest Artist of the Conference are Brian Hecht - Utility Trombonist - Dallas Symphony and Ko'ichiro Yamamoto - Principal Trombonist - Seattle Symphony

Proposals for clinics and performances are now being accepted. Additional details and timeframes appear on the proposal tab below.

Please check back for additional updates.

Call for Proposals

Proposals are currently being accepted.

If you would like to submit a clinic proposal, or if your student or professional ensemble would like to perform at the conference, please email conference coordinator James T. Decker.

For clinics, please include the title and brief synopsis of a clinic. If handouts or PowerPoints of the clinic have already been created, you may submit them, although this is optional.

New performing groups may submit up to 10 minutes of recently recorded music in either a video or audio format, along with a rough draft of a proposed program or a listing of selections you would like to perform.

For additional questions, please email Professor Decker.

2026 Conference Faculty and Guest Artists

Please check back here for further updates

Conference Host: Professor James T. Decker

Brian Allen

Michael Becker

Dr. Zachariah Davis

Dr. Bruce Faske

Dr. Andria Fennig

Benjamin Hahn

Dr. Justin Hamann

Dr. Craig Hull

Don Lucas

Dr. Pedro Martinez

Dr. Haotian Quan

Jeff Ramey

Austin Richardson

Dr. Jonah Weller

Check back for further updates

Competition Information

SOLO COMPETITIONS

Here is the repertoire for the 2027 Big 12 Solo Competitions:

Big 12 Tenor Trombone Solo Competition

Preliminary Round: Jorgensen - Romance for Trombone and Piano (Edition Wilhelm Hansen)
Final Round: Pryor - Fantastic Polka (Carl Fisher)

Big 12 Bass Trombone Solo Competition

Preliminary Round: Bozza - New Orleans (Alphonse Leduc)
Final Round: White - Tetra Ergon, Movements I and II (The Brass Press/Editions Bim(Jean-Pierre Mathex)

Please check back for updates.

To pay the solo competition fee online, please use the Buy Now Button Below

2027 Preliminary Schedule

More events to be announced - itinerary subject to change

Friday, January 15

5:30pm:: Registration opens– Hemmle Recital Hall Lobby

6:30pm: Opening Night Performance - featuring the Flatlands Low Brass Choir and the Texas Tech University Trombone Choir - TTU School of Music - Hemmle Recital Hall.

7:30pm: Clinic/Presentation - Michael Becker - "Using Art Song to Create Musical Expression" - West Rehearsal (Band) Hall

8:00pm -Feature Presentation- The Millenial Brass Quintet - "The Working Quintet: Building a Career Through Brass Chamber Music" - Hemmle Recital Hall

8:30pm: Clinic/Presentation - Dr. Haotian Quan - "Why Simple Teaching Tricks Work: A Motor Learning Framework for Trombone Pedagogy" - West Rehearsal ( Band) Hall

Saturday, January 16

8:00am: Registration opens – Hemmle Recital Hall Lobby

8:30am: Warm-up Session - Austin Richardson - West Rehearsal (Band) Hall

9:30am: Visit and Explore Exhibits

10:00am:Feature Performance - University of Alabama Trombone Choir - Hemmle Recital Hall

10:00am:Clinic/Presentation - Dr. Jonah Weller - "Process Over Product" - West Rehearsal (Band) Hall

11:00am: Feature Guest Artist Master Class - Ko'ichiro Yamamoto Hemmle Recital Hall

1:30pm: Feature Guest Artist Masterclass - Brian Hecht - - with a special prelude concert by the West Texas A&M Buff Bones Initiative - Hemmle Recital Hall.

2:30pm:Visit and Explore Exhibits

3:00pm: Feature Performance - UTRGV Trombone CHoir - Hemmle Recital Hall

3:00pm:Clinic/Presentation - Don Lucas - "Going Offroad" - West Rehearsal (Band) Hall

4:00pm:Visit and Explore Exhibits

4:30pm: Feature Performance - United States Air Force Band of the West Brass Quintet - Hemmle Recital Hall

4:30pm: Clinic/Presentation - Brian Allen - "Games We Play - A Creative Method for Beginning Trombonists" - West Rehearsal (Band) Hall

5:30pm: Big 12 Faculty Showcase – Hemmle Recital Hall

7:30pm - Special Prelude Performance - Americas High School Trombone Choir - Hemmle Recital Hall

8:00pm Feature Guest Artist Recital: Brian Hecht of the Dallas Symphony and Ko'ichiro Yamamoto of the Seattle Symphony- Hemmle Recital Hall

10:00pm: Post Concert Gathering at the Overton Hotel, 2322 Mac Davis Lane Lubbock Texas 79401 Tel. 833-993-3837

Sunday, January 17

10:00am: Clinic/Presentation: - Dr. Benjamin Hahn - "Understanding Finances: So You Want to Be a Freelancer." - West Rehearsal (Band) Hall

10:30am:Clinic/Presentation - Dr. Craig Hull - "Applicable Analysis and Performance Techniques for the Student Trombonist Demonstrated in Henri Tomasi’s Concerto pour Trombone et Orchestre” - East Rehearsal (Choir) Hall

11:00am:Clinic/Presentation - Marte Kennedy - "Playing for Fun: A 'Play for Play' pedagogy for successful beginner trombonists" - West Rehearsal (Band) Hall

11:30am: Clinic/Presentation: - Dr. Justin Hamann - "From Choir Loft to Low Brass: An Interactive Guide to Arranging Choral Music for Trombone Choir" - East Rehearsal (Choir) Hall

12:30pm: Big 12 Solo Competitions - Hemmle Recital Hall.

Lodging and Local Travel Information

CONFERENCE LOCATION

The Texas Tech University School of Music is located at the corner of 18th & Boston Avenue in Lubbock. The parking lot in front of the School of Music is free-to-park on Saturday and Sunday. If you arrive on Friday for Registration, you will need to pay the automatic parking kiosk in order to ensure that you do not receive a ticket. The kiosks do accept debit/credit cards. Friday parking regulations are in effect until 8:00p.m.

Visit the Campus Locations Web Site for information on and directions to facilities on the TTU Campus.

GROUND TRANSPORTATION

If you are flying into Lubbock and are relying on ground transportation, the city features a bus system that has dedicated routes to Texas Tech University. For further information about the "CitiBus" schedules and fares, please visit the Citibus Web Site.

For your return trip, some hotels also offer a complimentary airport shuttle. Please refer to each hotel's web site for further details.

For additional details regarding lodging, local travel and other special items of interest, please click on the Visit Lubbock Link

OTHER RECOMMENDED LODGING TO CONSIDER

Woodrow House Bed & Breakfast
2629 19th Street
Lubbock, TX 79410
(806) 793-3330

La Quinta Inn & Suites — Lubbock Downtown Civic Center
601 Avenue Q
Lubbock, TX 79401
(806) 763-9441

Registration and Tickets

You may pay your conference registration fees or purchase tickets for Andy Martin's feature performance and any of the concerts through the registration and order forms below. Credit and debit cards are accepted.

You do not need to purchase tickets for Andy Martin's feature performance if you have already registered for the entire conference. The General Admission ticket prices apply to all concerts other than the feature concert and to non-registered audience members only.

Conference Prices

FULL CONFERENCE ADMISSION - $40.00

FULL CONFERENCE ADMISSION - FACULTY PRESENTER - $20.00

FULL CONFERENCE ADMISSION - STUDENT PRESENTER - $15.00

Andy Martin Master Class Admission - $15.00

Feature Guest Artists' Performance - $15.00/Students and Seniors - $10.00

General Performance Admission - $10.00

MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL Full Registration - $15.00

Register for the conference:

Prices