Learning Environment
The learning environment is generally relaxed, nurturing and supportive. Everyone freely shares their thoughts in a positive way to foster improvement.
School of Music
studios
trombone
School of Music Trombone Studio
Welcome to the TTU Trombone Studio! We emphasize mutual support, positive encouragement, and a never-ending pursuit of excellence in everything we do to help everyone become better musicians, trombonists, and people. All of us here at Texas Tech University are Committed to Your Success ... for Life!
The Texas Tech campus is a healthy, vibrant environment where students can focus well on their studies and adjust to college life. Learn more about campus traditions and university admission policies by visiting the Undergraduate Admissions web site and the Graduate School web site.
What Sets Us Apart
Culture
We are continually fostering a culture of diligent, hard work and success. Through structure, organization and discipline, studio members are given the tools to truly cultivate their musicianship.
Faculty
Professor Decker has a personal connection with all of the studio members. He supports us through the collegiate journey both in and out of class.
Musical Growth
Students are presented with opportunities for enhanced musical growth and development. Several studio members have had their own compositions performed at prestigious conferences and events, such as the International Trombone Festival and the Texas Music Educator's Association Convention.
Expertise
The studio has a wide variety of backgrounds and expertise.
Alumni Success & Careers
Career Success
- Patrick Perry has been accepted to and is the new Graduate Teaching Assistant at Missouri State University.
- William Combs has won a position with the US Army Band.
- Gabriel Aguilar has been hired as Assistant Band Director at Cornerstone Christian Schools.
- Matthew Aguirre has been hired as the Head Band Director at New Deal High School.
- Zachariah Davis has been hired as Trombone Professor at Blinn College.
- Mason Cooke successfully auditioned for and is a member of the Santa Clara Vanguard.
- Chase Deases is the new Director of Bands at Winter Haven High School in Polk County, Florida.
- Dr. Joyce Hsu has been appointed as Adjunct Instructor of Trombone at the University of Texas at El Paso. She also directs the UTEP Trombone Choir.
- Wyatt Ely is the new Band Director at Post High School is Post, Texas.
- Alexander Theiss has been accepted as a DMA Performance Major at the New School, Mannes College of Music, New York City.
- Hunter Stockton is the Brass Staff Instructor for the Guardians Drum and Bugle Corps.
- Nicholas Grigar has been appointed as the new Graduate Teaching Assistant at Ball State University.
- Micah Hood released a CD Recording entitled 'Baracutanga'.
- Jason Duck has been named Assistant Band Director at Wyllie East High School.
- McPherson, Joseph, Teaching Appointments, Joseph McPherson has been announced as the new Assistant Band Director in the Mason ISD.
- Nathan Ewing has been named Assistant Band Director at Nimitz High School in the Irving ISD.
- David Burris has been appointed Assistant Instructor of Low Brass in the Coppell Independent School District, instructing both middle and high school students.
- Michael Flanary has been appointed band director at Pasadena Middle School.
- Alexander Theiss was accepted as a scholarship participant at the Rafael Mendez Brass Institute.
- Nathan Tanouye is now one of the main arrangers for Pop Star Celine Dion.
- Michael Harrison has been appointed Band Director of Hutto High School in Austin, TX.
- Robert Thomas has been appointed Assistant Band Director at City View High School.
- William Combs the Denver Philharmonic Principal Trombone Audition, William is now a member of the Denver Philharmonic, an orchestra that performs 6 Classical Concerts/Year.
- David Leslie has been appointed Music Director at Bush Gardens in Virginia. There, he directs performance, plays tenor and bass trombone and manages entertainment personnel.
- Jeffrey Stuart has been appointed High School Band Director at the Odyssey Institute for Advanced and International Studies.
Special Events
TTU Trombone Studio Sponsored Events
FALL 2026
Monday, October 12, 2026
Ben Pierce – Guest Artist Euphonium and Tuba Recital
8:00 P.M. – Texas Tech University – Hemmle Recital Hall
Monday, October 19, 2026
Trombone Studio Recital
8:00 P.M. – Texas Tech University – Hemmle Recital Hall
Friday, October 30, 2026
Asher Blu-Fullingim and Scott O’Brien Joint Jazz Junior Recital
6:00 P.M. – Texas Tech University – Hemmle Recital Hall
Sunday, November 1, 2026
Alex Ortiz DMA Chamber Recital
2:00 P.M. – Texas Tech University – Hance Chapel
Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Trombone Ensembles Concert
8:00 P.M. – Hemmle Recital Hall
Friday, November 6, 2026
IGNITE
8:00 P.M. – Buddy Holly Hall
Sunday, November 8, 2026
Xavier Moncada DMA Solo Recital
2:00 P.M. – Hance Chapel
November 18, 2026
Michael Becker Guest Artist Bass Trombone Recital
8:00 P.M. – Hemme Recital Hall
Tuesday, December 8, 2026
Trombone Choir Holiday Concert
6:00 P.M. – TTU School of Music – East Rehearsal Hall
Friday, January 15, 2027 to Sunday, January 17, 2027
The Big 12 Trombone Conference
www.big12tromboneconference.com
Visiting Guest Performers
Many of the finest musicians and educators of the trombone world have come to Texas Tech to work with members of the studio and perform for the School of Music students and for audiences of the community and region. These visiting artists have included:
- Joseph Alessi
- Jay Evans
- John Fedchock
- Carlos Jiménez Fernández
- Marshall Gilkes
- Wycliffe Gordon
- Alex Iles
- Andy Martin
- Ilan Morgenstern
- Steve Norrell
- James Nova
- Denson Paul Pollard
- Gerry Pagano
- Bill Reichenbach
- Peter Steiner
- Trombones de Costa Rica
- Charles Vernon
- The Viento Sur Trombone Quartet
- Ko-ichiro Yamamoto
- Douglas Yeo
- Larry Zalkind
Biographies
Professor James T. Decker
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.
Graduate Students
Xavier Moncada
Alex Ortiz
graduate teaching assistant
Jose Roman
graduate teaching assistant
- instrument: tenor trombone
- pursuing Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Performance
- Master of Music degree in Performance from Texas Tech University
Alex Ortiz
graduate teaching assistant
- instrument: tenor trombone
- pursuing Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Performance
- Master of Music degree in Performance from Duquesne University
Jose Roman
graduate teaching assistant
- instrument: tenor trombone
- pursuing Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Performance
- Master of Music degree in Performance from Ball State University
Undergraduate Students
Heather "Stefy" Alvarado
Iota Tau Alpha President
— Instrument: Tenor Trombone
— Classification: Junior
— Pursuing Bachelor of Music degree with Teacher Certification
Jae Perez
Iota Tau Alpha Vice President/SORC Representative
— Instrument: Tenor Trombone
— Classification: Senior
— Pursuing Bachelor of Music degree with Teacher Certification
Justin Wooten
Iota Tau Alpha Secretary
— Instrument: Tenor Trombone
— Classification: Junior
— Pursuing Bachelor of Music degree in Composition
Naomi Espinosa
Iota Tau Alpha Treasurer
— Instrument: Tenor Trombone
— Classification: Senior
— Pursuing Bachelor of Music degree with Teacher Certification
Haden Crawford
Iota Tau Alpha Social Media Chair
— Instrument: Tenor Trombone
— Classification: Sophomore
— Pursuing Bachelor of Music Degree with Teacher Certification
Natalie Mata
Iota Tau Alpha Historian
— Instrument: Bass Trombone
— Classification: Senior
— Pursuing Bachelor of Music Degree with Teacher Certification
Grady Blecher
— Instrument: Tenor Trombone
— Classification: First Year
— Pursuing Bachelor of Music Degree with Teacher Certification
Harrison Biggers
— Instrument: Tenor Trombone
— Classification: Senior
— Pursuing Bachelor of Music degree with Teacher Certification
Asher Blu-Fullingim
— Instrument: Tenor Trombone
— Classification: Senior
— Pursuing Bachelor of Music Degree in Jazz Performance
Jorge Castaño
— Instrument: Tenor Trombone
— Classification: Senior
— Pursuing Bachelor of Music degree in Composition
Jonathan Cuellar
— Instrument: Tenor Trombone
— Classification: First Year
— Pursuing Bachelor of Music Degree with Teacher Certification
Samuel Ditto
— Instrument: Tenor Trombone
— Classification: Sophomore
— Pursuing Engineering and Applied Studies
Jacob Guerra
— Instrument: Tenor Trombone
— Classification: Senior
— Pursuing Applied Studies in Trombone
Wyatt Henson
— Instrument: Bass Trombone
— Classification: Sophomore
— Pursuing Bachelor of Music Degree with Teacher Certification
John McWilliams
— Instrument: Bass Trombone
— Classification: Junior
— Pursuing Bachelor of Music degree with Teacher Certification
Bailey Newton
— Instrument: Tenor Trombone
— Classification: Junior
— Pursuing Bachelor of Music Degree with Teacher Certification
Scott O'Brien
— Instrument: Bass Trombone
— Classification: Senior
— Pursuing Bachelor of Music Degree in Jazz Performance
Stephen Pearson
— Instrument: Tenor Trombone
— Classification: Sophomore
— Pursuing Bachelor of Music Degree with Teacher Certification
Dylan Pratt
— Instrument: Tenor Trombone
— Classification: Junior
— Pursuing Bachelor of Music Degree with Teacher Certification
Isaac Slagle
— Instrument: Tenor Trombone
— Classification: First Year
— Pursuing Bachelor of Music Degree with Teacher Certification
Nash Spradley
— Instrument: Tenor Trombone
— Classification: First Year
— Pursuing Bachelor of Music Degree with Teacher Certification and Business
Benjamin Wages
— Instrument: Tenor Trombone
— Classification: First Year
— Pursuing Bachelor of Music Degree with Teacher Certification
audition information
Auditions
School of Music audition dates for admission in Fall 2027:
- Saturday, January 30, 2027
- Saturday, February 20, 2027
- Saturday, February 27, 2027
Alternatively, private auditions may still be scheduled at a mutually agreeable date and time with Professor Decker.
Scholarships
Special financial incentives exist at TTU. Check out the available scholarships.
Program Highlights
The TTU Trombone Studio engages in many outreach and performance activities, including full solo and ensemble performances at conferences, schools and houses of worship, just to name a few. Studio members are active educators, give private lessons, lead sectionals and perform clinics at various secondary schools.
MORE HIGHLIGHTS
The Texas Tech Trombone Studio regularly participates in presentations and performances at the conferences listed below. Clicking on the corresponding images will direct you to that event’s website.
School of Music
-
Address
2624 18th Street | Box 42033 | Lubbock, TX 79409-2033 -
Phone
806.742.2274 -
Email
schoolofmusic@ttu.edu