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Are you a former student or trombone graduate of Western ��һ�鶹��Ƭ�� University? If your name is not on the list and you would like it added, please contact Steve Wolfinbarger.

Carrie Krueger-Bates: Carrie was recently a doctoral graduate assistant in the School of Music at ��һ�鶹��Ƭ�� State University. She is now living in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina.

Shawn Bell, B.M.'06: Shawn was a doctoral student at ��һ�鶹��Ƭ�� State University. Following his WMU graduation he was selected to be part of the prestigious Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Program at the Kennedy Center, Washington, DC., followed by completing his master of music degree in jazz studies at Northern Illinois University.

Hana Beloglavec, B.M.'11: was recently named the third trombone professor in the history of the program at Florida State University. She was formerly trombone professor at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Hana is a frequent performer with well-known groups such as the Monarch Brass and , and she has several solo recordings to her credit. Hana has won numerous competitions and awards for her performance, the most recent of which was The American Prize in Instrumental Performance. She was a featured soloist with the US Army Band at the American Trombone Workshop in March, 2020. 

James Bicigo, M.M.'93: Dr. James Bicigo is on the music faculty at Burman University in Canada. Previous he was an Associate Professor of Music at the University of Alaska—Fairbanks. Jim has been a guest artist at several International Trombone Festivals (ITF), and he is a Yamaha Performing Artist. 

Eric Bowman, B.M.'12: Eric completed his doctorate in jazz studies as the Henry Mancini Fellow and master's in jazz performance with a full assistantship at the University of Miami, Miami, FL. Eric won numerous national and international competitions, and has performed with many well-known artists.

Earlie Braggs, M.M.'01: Earlie is a freelance trombonist and clinician for King Trombones. He has had the pleasure of backing up and touring with many known jazz artists and entertainers ( from his recently-released CD).

Tylar Bullion, M.M. '18:  is the adjunct instructor of trombone and jazz at the University of Central Arkansas. Following graduation from WMU, he freelanced for a year in the Charlotte, North Carolina area, serving as a trombonist at the Carowinds Amusement Park. Tylar was then hired as the adjunct jazz trombone professor at the University of North Carolina, Pembroke. 

Joe Busuito, B.M '09, MM '15:  is the Assistant Professor of Bands at East Carolina University. Prior to his appointment at ECU, he was the Assistant Director of Athletic Bands at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, where he was an instructor for the Marching Scarlet Knights and Pep Bands and also conducted Rutgers University Symphony Band and Brass Ensemble. He is also a candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Conducting at the University of Illinois. Previously he was a teaching assistant at WMU where he received his MM in Wind Conducting, where he was named the recipient of the Award for Excellence in Leadership and Service. Joe also completed his undergraduate degree at WMU in music education as a trombone student of Dr. Wolfinbarger. Before returning to WMU he was Associate Director of bands at Oxford High School (MI). 

Connor Clayton, B.M. '18: Connor Clayton was admitted with a full scholarship to attend the Academy of Music and Drama at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, where he has been studying with one of Europe's most well-known trombone teachers Ingemar Roos. Connor won a job contract in the GöteborgsOperan in Sweden, where he performed Vexel Trombone (2nd, with obligation to play 3rd) for the season.

Evan Clifton, B.M. '15:  is newly appointed Adjunct Professor of Trombone at Tennessee State University. He has become a highly sought after bass trombonist throughout the country, performing with The Cleveland Orchestra, Nashville Symphony, Alabama Symphony, and Grand Rapids Symphony, to name a few. He also can often be found performing in the recording studios of Nashville. As a student at WMU Evan enjoyed a great deal of success at both national and international competitions. Evan has commissioned several for bass trombone, and has appeared as a guest at the Vanderbilt Trombone Symposium. 

Tony Colella, '20: Following a nationwide audition, M.M. student was selected as the winner of the vacant trombone opening in the renowned US Army Field Band in Washington, D.C. In addition to being featured on occasion as soloist, he performs as one of three tenor trombone members of the section. Staff Sergeant Colella also serves as the trombonist in the US Army Field Band Brass Quintet.   

Evan Conroy, B.M.'09: is bass trombonist of the Louisiana Philharmonic, as well as full time adjunct trombone professor at Southern University in Baton Rouge. Evan is an in demand orchestral and teaching artist, performing with the Kansas City Symphony, Alabama Symphony, Jacksonville Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony, San Antonio Symphony and the Lucerne Festival Academy. He has presented recitals and master classes at major universities throughout the country. Prior to winning a position with the Louisiana Philharmonic Evan was a master's student at the Juilliard School of Music in New York where he was a student of Boston Symphony Orchestra bass trombonist James Markey. During his year at Juilliard, Evan was named a finalist with bass trombone auditions for both the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the Naples, Florida, Philharmonic (see Alumni Spotlight).

Raphael Crawford, B.M.: is a Chicago-based improvisor, session musician, composer, and educator. He currently serves as Adjunct Lecturer in Jazz Studies and Trombone at DePaul University. Raphael has performed with countless well-known artists, including Ramsey Lewis, Tom Jones, Gloria Estefan’s “On Your Feet,” The Who, Wycliffe Gordon, Incognito, Tito Nieves, Lalo Shiffrin, Jon Faddis, Steve Turre, Vincent Gardner, Johnny Rivera, and many others. Headline stage performance include the New Orleans Jazz Fest, Montreal Jazz Fest, Chicago Jazz Fest, Ravinia, Pritzker Pavilion and Ryman Auditorium. 

Jared Dalgleish, M.M. '17: After serving as the Interim Professor of Trombone at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, is the Adjunct Professor of Low Brass at California State University, Bakersfield. He also serves as the principal trombonist in the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra, and he is the Director of Bands at Norris Middle School in Bakersfield, CA. 

Erik Dancy, M.M.'12: Erik the Elementary Music Curriculum Coordinator at Raytown School District in the greater Kansas City, Missouri area. He works in both the instrumental and vocal areas. He also stays busy as a freelance trombonist in the region. 

Dan De Kok, M.M.'87: Daniel De Kok is a retired K-12 music educator who now works in the library at Lincoln University of Pennsylvania. He has served as the associate principal trombone, Southeastern Pennsylvania Symphony Orchestra, as well as a freelance trombonist and vocalist in and around Philadelphia.  

Ryan Demkovich, B.M.:   is currently the Director of Bands at Pearland High School in Pearland, Texas. Under his direction, the Pearland High School Band has been a Bands of America (BOA) Regional Championship, Super Regional Championship, and University Interscholastic League (UIL) State Marching Band Contest finalist. Prior to his position at Pearland, he was the Director of Bands at Stephen F. Austin (SFA) High School in Fort Bend ISD. Ryan obtained his master's degree in conducting from the University of Houston. 

Evan Dorner, M.M.'10: Evan is a staff assistant at the Duke University School of Medicine. Prior to his time at Duke, he worked for the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Illinois, most notably as a Hall Lead for the Ellnora Guitar Festival. He was also a tennis coach for more than a decade, coaching players of all ages and skill levels. Evan has a BA in Instrumental Performance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as well as an MM from Western ��һ�鶹��Ƭ�� University. Evan participated in the competitive Pokorny Low Brass Seminar 2010 held at the University of Redlands in California. He was also one of three finalists for the bass trombone chair with the Akron (Ohio) Symphony Orchestra.

Brandon Drew, B.M.'08: Following graduation Brandon worked as a professional trombonist with the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, "Jewel of the Seas."  Brandon then joined the Army as a bandsmen in 2012 and was stationed at Fort Drum (in upstate NY) where he was a part of the 10th Mountain Division Band for three years.  He was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from January - May of 2014. In October of 2015 he moved to Fort Bragg where he is currently part of the Army Ground Forces Band.  

Omar Elmusa, B.M. '19: Omar completed his master's degree from DePaul University, where he received a large scholarship to study trombone performance. He is now a freelance performer in the Chicagoland area. 

Will Ford, B.M. '18:  is the Jazz Studies Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Trombone/Euphonium at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas. Will previously taught at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana and maintained a private studio in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 

Craig Freeman, M.M. '11: Craig is the band director at Maple Street Magnet School and Hillside Middle School in Kalamazoo. He is also a Lead brass instructor at Kalamazoo Kids in Tune, an El Sistema-inspired, after-school music program. Craig is also an active freelance trombonist in the southwest ��һ�鶹��Ƭ�� area.

Chris Green, M.M.'08: Chris was recently hired as the trombone professor at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is also completing his doctorate at Louisiana State University.

Scott Grupke, B.M.'03: Scott is an active freelance bass trombonist and low brass instructor in southwest ��һ�鶹��Ƭ��. He serves as bass trombonist with the Adrian Symphony Orchestra, the Gull Lake Jazz Orchestra, and The Bone Road Trombone Quartet.

Gabe Guglielmina, B.M. '18: Gabe is the Box Office and Audience Services Manager at . Gabe was selected into the Professional Performance Certificate program at Penn State University where he studied with Mark Lusk.

Ben Hahn, B.M. '19: Ben Hahn is currently in his third year of classwork at the University of North Texas where he serves as the Center Brass Graduate Assistant. Ben has performed with several professional ensembles including the Des Moines Metro Opera and the Fort Worth Symphony. Simultaneously, Ben has performed the Nino Rota Concerto and the Launy Grondahl Concerto with the University of Iowa Symphony Orchestra and the University of North Texas Concert Orchestra, respectively. At the 2024 International Trombone Festival, Ben competed as one of three finalists in the Frank Smith solo competition and performed on a Performing Artist Showcase recital.

Katie Hahn, M.M.'06: Katie is Band Director at Lincoln High School, Thief River Falls, Minnesota.

Michael Haisten, M.M.'04: Michael is a graduate of the Paris Conservatory. He currently resides in Indianapolis, Indiana where he teaches music in the Pike Township School Corporation. Mike has completed additional work on his doctorate at the University of Illinois.

Justin Hamann, B.M. '21: Justin is the adjunct Instructor at . He is also completing his doctorate in trombone performance at Florida State University. He was recently recognized as the winner of the International Trombone Association's Larry Wiehe Solo Competition, as well as the SE Trombone Symposium's SE Shires Solo Competition. 

Chris Evan Hass, B.M. '16: The music of has been performed worldwide by some of today’s finest musicians. This includes members of the New York Philharmonic, U.S. Naval Academy Band, Sinta Quartet, Dallas Winds, Nashville Symphony Orchestra, U.S. Army Band, Eastman Saxophone Project, and U.S. Air Force Band. His works have been performed across the United States and has received international recognition, with performances throughout Asia and in Australia, New Zealand, and Switzerland. It has been performed by groups such as the New York Philharmonic Principal Brass Quintet, the Sinta Saxophone Quartet, and the Third Coast Trombone Choir. His compositions have been heard at such illustrious events as the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, the World Saxophone Conference, the 2019 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, the International Trumpet Guild, and various International Trombone Festivals.

Dave Hepinstall, B.M.'10: Dave is the Director of Bands for the Plainwell (��һ�鶹��Ƭ��) Public Schools.

Anibal Hernandez, M.M.'15:  joined the faculty of the Greater Miami Youth Symphony in 2019. Prior to joining GMYS he was part of Carnival Entertainment for 3 years as part of the Horn Trio, Playlist and Showband. In his experience as a freelance musician Anibal has played with several latin american artists like Christian Castro, Luis Fonsi, Kany García, Cultura Profética, Vicente García, Millo Torres y el Tercer Planeta, Humberto Ramírez’s Big Band among many others. He has also played in numerous Broadway Musical Productions around the United States and Puerto Rico. 

Vicente Hernandez, B.M. '19: Vicente studied on his master's degree in trombone performance as a graduate assistant at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.    

Chris Van Hof, B.M. '06: Dr. is the trombone professor at Ball State University. Prior to teaching at Ball State, Chris was the trombone professor at Colorado State University. He is active as a clinician and recitalist throughout the US, Central and South America, as well as an arranger (see Alumni Spotlight). Chris served as the Host of the 2019 International Trombone Festival, held at Ball State University in July, 2019, is the Assistant Manager of the International Trombone Festival, and he was recently a featured soloist with the Eastman Wind Ensemble. Chris is a frequent sub in the trombone section of the Indianapolis Symphony. 

Adam Houk B.M. '07: Adam won the one-year principal trombone position with the Madison (Wisconsin) Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed with the Quad City (Iowa) Symphony Orchestra. Adam was selected as an Associate Trombone Member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago for the 2009-2010 year and he has performed with the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra. He is also on the sub list with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.

Amy Holtz, B.M.'91: Amy is the Grandville (��һ�鶹��Ƭ��) Middle School Band Director.

Jennifer Hyslop-Conway, B.M.'98, M.M.'03: Jennifer is the Director of Bands, Loudon High School, Loudon, Tennessee.

Alyson Johnson, B.M. '24: Alyson accepted a graduate assistantship in trombone at Arizona State University, where she is pursuing her master's degree in trombone performance. In addition to her studies, she is freelancing and teaching lessons in the Phoenix area. Since 2021, Alyson has also been working as the salaried bookkeeper for the International Trombone Festival.

Eric Joslin, B.M.'94: Eric Joslin, band director and music teacher at Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools, has been nominated for the Benzie County Record Patriot's Extraordinary Educators program. He previously served as the Director of Bands, Standish-Sterling Central Public Schools, Standish, ��һ�鶹��Ƭ��.

Benjamin Kadow, M.M.'02: Senior Master Sergeant performs trombone with the United States Air Forces in Europe Band at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. In addition to his musical duties, Sergeant Kadow serves as the band Superintendent. Prior to that, he performed with the U.S. Air Force Heartland Band of America at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, and was a member of the Offutt Brass. As a band member he has toured extensively throughout the country and around the world. 

Aaron Kadrmas: Master Sergeant Aaron Kadrmas is a recently retired trombonist in the U.S. Army Field Band and the U.S. Army Field Band Brass Quintet, Washington, D.C. Master Sergeant Kadrmas toured extensively throughout America with both groups.

Grant Keel, M.M. '23: Grant is a trombone graduate assistant at Florida State University pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree. While at WMU, Grant was recognized as an Honorable Mention selection in the International Trombone Association's Alto Trombone Competition. 

Sandy Kessler, B.M.'99: Sandy is the trombone Instructor at the Fine Arts School of the State College Universidad Autonoma de Querétaro, Mexico, and Director of the Querétaro Municipal Youth Band (see Alumni Spotlight).

Michael Klepp, B.M.'16: Mike accepted a position as Director of Bands in the Reed City (MI) Public Schools. He will be in charge of music from grades 6-12. 

David Krosschell, B.M.'98:  is currently on faculty at Seattle Pacific University where he teaches the trombone studio, as well as brass techniques and ear training classes. He has performed with the Seattle Symphony, Yakima Symphony, Seattle Wind Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, the North Carolina Opera Company, Fayetteville Symphony, Opera Carolina, Fort Worth Symphony and Opera, Illinois Symphony, Peoria Symphony, Dallas Jazz Orchestra, and Grand Rapids Symphony.

David Lambert, M.M.'02: David Lambert served as the trombone professor at Jacksonville State University in Alabama. He was a 1999 Downbeat Award winner, past winner of the Eastern Trombone Workshop Jazz Division, and a two-year participant in the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. His writings on jazz trombone techniques have been published in The Instrumentalist Magazine. 

Ruth Lindgren-Livengood, B.M.'06, M.M.'08: Ruth is the Director of Bands at Niles Brandywine High School (��һ�鶹��Ƭ��). During the last four years under her guidance, the size of the program increased five fold. They recently added a jazz band to the curriculum, and a para-pro was hired to assist with the program. The band's overall success was highlighted with a Division 1 rating at Festival this past year.

Andrea Mack, M.M. '01: Andrea Mack is a graduate assistant with the band program at the University of Nebraska. She recently served as Director of Bands at Manistee Area Public Schools in Manistee, a position she has started in 2016. She conducted the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and high school bands and jazz bands. Andrea held similar positions in Allegan and Litchfield, ��һ�鶹��Ƭ��, as well as Fort Madison, Iowa, and St. Paul, Minnesota. In 2020, she was recognized by the membership of MSBOA as the State Teacher of the Year for Band.  In 2019, Manistee High School Symphonic Band was selected to perform at the ��һ�鶹��Ƭ�� Music Conference, and has performed at the Great Lakes Concert Band Festival at Eastern ��һ�鶹��Ƭ�� University in 2019, 2022 and 2023. She also served on the MSBOA State Executive Board as the VP for Jazz Activities.

Jeremy Marks, M.M.'10:  is the Assistant Professor of Trombone at Bowling Green State University. Prior to that he was Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. He was also the Assistant Professor of Low Brass at the University of Louisiana, Monroe, and low brass teacher at Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Blinn College (Texas). Jeremy was one of four trombonists in the Northside Trombone Quartet, winners of the 2013 International Trombone Quartet Competition. He is a web assistant for the International Trombone Association, and he is a frequent performer/presenter at the International Trombone Festival. 

Brian Massey, B.M.'10: Brian is a Sales Manager for Sweetwater in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Prior to coming to Sweetwater, he was in fulltime church ministry as a worship leader. He has also served as a public school music teacher.

Neil Maxa, B.M.'88: Since graduating from WMU, has had an impressive trombone career in Las Vegas. He has freelanced every major celebrity showroom in town, backing such acts as Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Paul Anka, Frankie Valli, B.J. Thomas, The Temptations, The Buckinghams, The O’Jays, Boyz II Men, The Righteous Brothers and Paul Shaffer. He has also performed in the house band at the “2021 and 2022 Latin Grammys,” backing Gloria Estefan, Bad Bunny, and Sebastian Yatra. He appeared on the bandstand for the 2022 Grammys (internationally televised from Las Vegas’s MGM Grand Arena), and he backed up and performed with some of the most well-known musicians, entertainers, international recording artists, bands and productions in the world.

Leland Matsumura, M.M. '16:  performs with the US Navy Fleet Bands, where he is currently stationed in Chicago. He has been a freelance trombonist throughout the upper Midwest and western US. He has been an occasional sub in the section of the Seattle Symphony. Leland is an artist with Edwards Instruments.    

Brian McCullough, B.A.'81: is a faculty member at the University of Minnesota where he teaches Alexander Technique classes in the School of Music. He is known throughout Minnesota for teaching individual lessons and group classes to a wide variety of performing artists ranging from amateurs to professionals. For several years Brian was member of the Rochester (Minnesota) Orchestra.  He started his career in symphony orchestra and nonprofit management and also was the longest-serving Administrator at American Society for the Alexander Technique.

Rob Medd, M.M.'15: Rob Medd is an Associate Band Director at Pleasant Valley High School in Bettendorf, Iowa. The school has just over 1,500 students, about 315 of whom are in the band program. They have four concert bands, three jazz bands, and a large marching band. There are three other directors who are at the high school with Rob. Rob teaches the marching band in the fall along with one concert band, and one jazz band in the winter and spring. The marching band does not compete, but goes to Disney every other year. In 2015-16 they had 67 Division 1 ratings at the state solo and ensemble festival, and they also had 10 students make all-state with an additional five alternates. 

Andy Mitchell, B.M.'07: is the trombone professor at Youngstown State University and Lecturer of Trombone at Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music. He is a very active freelance trombonist throughout the upper Midwest. Recently he filled in as the temporary, one-year vacant trombone professor at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. He is a frequent substitute trombonist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and he has been one of the busiest freelance trombonists in Detroit. You'll occasionally find him subbing in the trombone sections of The Cleveland Orchestra or the Pittsburgh Symphony.  

Louie Morand, B.M.'07: Louie is a board-certified music therapist, and is currently completing a master's degree in music therapy at WMU. He works in several clinical settings, and specializes in providing treatment that addresses social, inter-personal, and behavioral skill development with clients in youth detention facilities in West ��һ�鶹��Ƭ��. 

Paul Mundo, B.M.'95, M.M.'97: The former Director of Bands at Plainwell High School, Plainwell, ��һ�鶹��Ƭ��, Paul is teaching public school music at Challenger School in the Glendale, Arizona. Paul is also trombonist with the ��һ�鶹��Ƭ�� rock group "The Verve Pipe," and he was featured on their 2009 album release.

Nate Musch, M.M.'12: Nate is an Instructor and Lecturer in Music, Department of Fine and Performing Arts, College of Arts, Sciences and Education, The University of ��һ�鶹��Ƭ��-Flint. Nate teaches trombone and euphonium at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, ��һ�鶹��Ƭ��. He frequently performs with the Grand Rapids Symphony and has been a member of the West ��һ�鶹��Ƭ�� BrassWorks, a brass quintet formed in 2014 comprised of WMU School of Music alumni and retired applied faculty. As the doctoral trombone fellow at the University of ��һ�鶹��Ƭ��, he recently passed all of his preliminary exams and achieved doctoral candidacy.

A. J. Muusse, M.M. '16: AJ is a frequent bass trombone sub with various orchestras in ��һ�鶹��Ƭ��, including the Grand Rapids Symphony and Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. 

Chris Nigrelli, B.M.''90: is a Professor of Music at Lenoir-Rhyne College, Hickory, NC. He is also the principal trombonist of the West Piedmont Symphony and a founding member of the Charlotte Chamber Brass. Chris has served in leadership roles for Western Piedmont Symphony and Harper School of Performing Arts and a member-at-large for North Carolina Bandmasters jazz section. During the 2021-2022 academic year he served as the interim director of bands and is the co-conductor of the wind symphony.

Emily Cox-Redmond, B.M.'06: Emily is Director of Bands for Gobles (��һ�鶹��Ƭ��) Public Schools.

Claudia Schmitz, M.M.'09: Claudia was recently the Director of Bands at both the middle school and high school, Bloomingdale, MI. For 2013-14 she taught music in South America.

Ed Schoendorff, B.M.'98: Ed is a music teacher for the Manchester School District, Manchester, MI.

Chris Shook, B.M.'73: is the Secretary-Treasurer of the International Trombone Association. He served as Principal Trombonist of the Battle Creek (MI) Symphony for many years, and he is serving as President of the Jim Gilmore, Jr. Foundation in Kalamazoo, MI. 

Jay Siverson, B.M.'02, M.M.'04: Following graduation from WMU Jay Siverson attended The Cleveland Institute as a trombone performance major and the University of Nebraska, where he was a trombone graduate assistant in the School of Music. After working and living in South Korea, he now resides in the Seattle, WA area. 

Ive Sodawalla, B.M.'07: Ibe Sodawalla is the Executive Director/CEO and founder of the Legends Performing Arts Association from Kalamazoo MI, the organization that sponsors the Legends Drum & Bugle Corps. He is the Vice-Chair for the DCI Open Class Advisory Committee and was selected as the 2009 DCI Open Class Corps Director of the Year. He is also the brass arranger for the Legends Drum and Bugle Corps and arranges for a number of high schools and colleges across the country.

Nicole Stahl (Peabody), B.M.'94: Book Production Manager, Jenkins Group, Inc., Traverse City, MI.

Shawn Sudduth, B.M: Shawn Sudduth has been an Associate Professor of Music and Coordinator of Music Education Studies at University of Cumberlands, Williamsburg, KY. She also taught in the public school system for over 20 years. 

Steve Sudduth, M.M.'88: is in his first season as the director of Athletic Bands at Calvin University. He also serves as the director of the Lansing Concert Band and is enjoying his 15th season as conductor of the Southern Stars Symphonic Brass (a professional brass band in Crossville, TN). Recently, he was the interim director of bands and music education at the University of West Florida. Dr. Sudduth previously taught at the University of the Cumberlands (KY), the University of South Dakota, Dickinson State University (ND), and Pfeiffer University (NC).  

Mike Suter: Mike was a freelance bass trombonist in the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas. As a clinician for Kanstul Musical Instruments, he designed the MS169i bass trombone. He was a former member of the Stan Kenton Orchestra, and member and founder of both the National Slide Quartet and the 11-piece band, Slidewerke. Mike has a number of albums to his credit, and he recently re-issued his bass trombone method, "Exploring the In-Line Bass Trombone."

Elijah Swan, M.M. '21: Following the completion of his master's degree at WMU, Elijah has been working on his doctorate at Louisiana State University. His quintet was recently named a semifinalist in the chamber music division of the International Trombone Guild. During the summer, 2023, he was selected as a Participant in the Southeast Trombone Symposium (STS) in Columbus, GA. He also be attended the Atlantic Brass Symposium and the Raphael Mendez Brass Institute.

Cheryl Gibbons Thomas, B.M.'02: is the Director of Bands, Three Rivers Public Schools, Three Rivers, MI. In 2013, She was named Teacher of the Year in MSBOA District 6.  Currently, Cheryl subs in the trombone section of the Kalamazoo Concert Band, and she co-directs during Camp Wakeshma's Band Camp/Summer Music Camp week in June with Beth Clipfell (formerly Jonker) from Mattawan.

Mai Lan Vo, B.M. '11:  is the Assistant Director of Bands for the Three Rivers (MI) Community Schools. She also performs on bass trombone with the Kalamazoo Concert Band.

Brian Wagner, B.M. '02, M.M.'10: Brian was the adjunct trombone instructor at Cornerstone University.

Jeffrey A. Wardlaw, B.M.'90: Dr. Jeffrey Wardlaw served as an Assistant Professor of Music at Clarion University in Clarion, PA. He is now the Tutoring and Testing Coordinator at the university.

Ian Warshaw, M.M. '23: After completing his master's degree at WMU, Ian was accepted into the competitive trombone program at Roosevelt University. He is also serving a second term as Associate Trombone in the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. While at WMU, Ian was a finalist in the International Trombone Association's Lewis Van Haney Orchestra Excerpt Competition.

Kyle Weirick, B.M. '93: Kyle Weirich is Director of Orchestras at Elkhart High School and Coordinator of K-12 Music for Elkhart Community Schools. Kyle is Principal Trombone in the Elkhart County Symphony Orchestra.

Mark Wells, B.M.: Director of Bands, East Grand Rapids Middle School, Grand Rapids, ��һ�鶹��Ƭ��.

Chase West, M.M. '20: joined the faculty of the University of South Alabama as the Visiting Assistant Professor of Trombone in fall of 2024. He previously held the positions of Assistant Director of Bands and Instructor of Trombone at Southern Arkansas University, Instructor of Low Brass at Kellogg Community College, and band director at Phillips Preparatory School and Saraland High School. He is an active clinician at high schools and middle schools, having taught at schools across ��һ�鶹��Ƭ��, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Texas, and Arkansas. An active member of the International Trombone Association, Chase serves as the Competitions Coordinator for the ITA, responsible for the implementation of 14 annual competitions with an international pool of applicants and judges.

Lauren Westerly, B.M.'12: Lauren graduated from WMU with a double major in music and Spanish. She is now teaching Spanish I and II in the Carlton, ��һ�鶹��Ƭ��, public schools. Lauren stays active on trombone as a member of both the Farmington Community Band and the Farmington Big Band.

Matthew Westgate, B.M.'00, M.M.'06: is the Department Chair and Director of Wind Studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (Amherst, MA), the Commonwealth’s flagship campus, where he conducts the UMass Wind Ensemble and oversees the graduate and undergraduate conducting programs. In 2016, he was nominated for the UMass “Distinguished Teaching Award,” the only student-driven recognition of teaching on campus. University of Massachusetts ensembles under his direction have been invited to perform at multiple College Band Director National Association Conferences (Yale University, 2018; U.S. Coast Guard Academy, 2016) and on concert tours of Ecuador (Quito, Otavalo) in May 2024, and Ireland (Dublin, Galway, Cork, Killarney) in summer of 2017. Prior to his work at UMass, he was the Director of Bands at Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH.

Tim Wight, B.M. '18: Tim Wight is currently a DMA student at the University of North Texas, where he is a Teaching Fellow. Prior to UNT, he completed his Master's degree at Southern Methodist University. Tim also teaches around 40 high school and middle school students and frequently performs with orchestras in the DFW area, such as the Plano, Richardson, and Irving symphony orchestras. He has recently been a finalist for the U.S. Navy Band, West Point Band, and U.S. Army Field Band auditions.