Program Faculty
Jeff Dunn, Tenor Trombone Faculty
Jeff previously served as a Private Trombone Instructor for Tomball ISD, where he provided private lessons for low brass students in grades 6 through 12. Jeff also directed the Tomball High School Trombone Choir, and is the founder of the original Tomball Trombone Institute.
Previously, Jeff has performed with the Texas Brass Ensemble, the Eastman Jazz Ensemble, and toured with the American Wind Symphony Orchestra. Jeff has presented clinics at Tarleton State University, Ithaca College, as well as the TMEA Convention, NYSSMA Conference, and International Trombone Fesitval. Additionally, Jeff served as the Assistant Director for Administration for the School of Orchestral Studies at the 2013 New York State Summer School for the Arts.
Jeff is currently pursing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Eastman School of Music, and previously received his M.M. degree in Trombone Performance and Literature at the Eastman School of Music, and a B.M. in Performance and Music Education at Ithaca College.
More information available at www.jeffdunntrombone.com
Jeff previously served as a Private Trombone Instructor for Tomball ISD, where he provided private lessons for low brass students in grades 6 through 12. Jeff also directed the Tomball High School Trombone Choir, and is the founder of the original Tomball Trombone Institute.
Previously, Jeff has performed with the Texas Brass Ensemble, the Eastman Jazz Ensemble, and toured with the American Wind Symphony Orchestra. Jeff has presented clinics at Tarleton State University, Ithaca College, as well as the TMEA Convention, NYSSMA Conference, and International Trombone Fesitval. Additionally, Jeff served as the Assistant Director for Administration for the School of Orchestral Studies at the 2013 New York State Summer School for the Arts.
Jeff is currently pursing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Eastman School of Music, and previously received his M.M. degree in Trombone Performance and Literature at the Eastman School of Music, and a B.M. in Performance and Music Education at Ithaca College.
More information available at www.jeffdunntrombone.com
Dr. Ben David Aronson, Tenor Trombone Faculty
Trombonist Ben David Aronson is a performer and educator based in Rochester, New York. He performs extensively with Symphoria, Central New York’s new symphonic orchestra. He has also performed with the philharmonic orchestras of Rochester, Buffalo and Erie, as well as the Harrisburg, Altoona, and Williamsport symphony orchestras, and with the Finger Lakes Opera and Syracuse Opera. As a chamber musician, he performs with the Symphoria Brass Quintet and as a founding member of the Hohenfels Trombone Quartet. With Hohenfels he has recorded an album, “Hohenfels on Tap,” toured Germany and Austria, and performed at countless Oktoberfest celebrations throughout New York State. As a jazz musician, he has performed with the ECMS Jazz Educators Big Band, the Gap Mangione Big Band, and the Eastman Jazz Ensemble. He also plays regularly with Orquesta Antonetti, one of Rochester’s premiere salsa orchestras. Most Sunday nights he plays sackbut and sings as a member of the Christ Church Schola Cantorum. Ben David received his DMA from the Eastman School of Music in 2015, and is on the faculties of Rochester’s Hochstein School of Music, the Eastman Community Music School, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and SUNY Geneseo.
Trombonist Ben David Aronson is a performer and educator based in Rochester, New York. He performs extensively with Symphoria, Central New York’s new symphonic orchestra. He has also performed with the philharmonic orchestras of Rochester, Buffalo and Erie, as well as the Harrisburg, Altoona, and Williamsport symphony orchestras, and with the Finger Lakes Opera and Syracuse Opera. As a chamber musician, he performs with the Symphoria Brass Quintet and as a founding member of the Hohenfels Trombone Quartet. With Hohenfels he has recorded an album, “Hohenfels on Tap,” toured Germany and Austria, and performed at countless Oktoberfest celebrations throughout New York State. As a jazz musician, he has performed with the ECMS Jazz Educators Big Band, the Gap Mangione Big Band, and the Eastman Jazz Ensemble. He also plays regularly with Orquesta Antonetti, one of Rochester’s premiere salsa orchestras. Most Sunday nights he plays sackbut and sings as a member of the Christ Church Schola Cantorum. Ben David received his DMA from the Eastman School of Music in 2015, and is on the faculties of Rochester’s Hochstein School of Music, the Eastman Community Music School, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and SUNY Geneseo.
Cory Wurtz, Bass Trombone Faculty
Bass trombonist Cory Wurtz is a native of the Texas Panhandle, and currently serves as a private lesson instructor in Tomball ISD and the bass trombonist of The Amarillo Symphony. While in his hometown of Canyon, he attended West Texas A&M University, studying with Dr. Raimundo Morales and later Dr. John Shanks, and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education in 2015. While at WTAMU, he performed as a member of the WTAMU Trombone Choir at the Eastern Trombone Workshop in 2011 and the International Trombone Festival in 2014, and the WTAMU Symphonic Band at the Texas Music Educators Association and Convention in 2012. He went on to receive his Master of Music degree in Trombone Performance from Northwestern University, studying under the tutelage of Michael Mulcahy, Timothy Higgins, Douglas Wright, Christopher Davis, and Randy Hawes. While at Northwestern, he performed as a member of the Northwestern University Trombone Choir, who would win the ITA Emory Remington Competition in 2017, and performed as the winners under the direction of instructor Christopher Davis at the International Trombone Festival in Los Angeles, California. Cory has previously served as the bass trombonist of The Orchestra Iowa in Cedar Rapids and The Madison Symphony in Wisconsin, and additionally has performed with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.
Bass trombonist Cory Wurtz is a native of the Texas Panhandle, and currently serves as a private lesson instructor in Tomball ISD and the bass trombonist of The Amarillo Symphony. While in his hometown of Canyon, he attended West Texas A&M University, studying with Dr. Raimundo Morales and later Dr. John Shanks, and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education in 2015. While at WTAMU, he performed as a member of the WTAMU Trombone Choir at the Eastern Trombone Workshop in 2011 and the International Trombone Festival in 2014, and the WTAMU Symphonic Band at the Texas Music Educators Association and Convention in 2012. He went on to receive his Master of Music degree in Trombone Performance from Northwestern University, studying under the tutelage of Michael Mulcahy, Timothy Higgins, Douglas Wright, Christopher Davis, and Randy Hawes. While at Northwestern, he performed as a member of the Northwestern University Trombone Choir, who would win the ITA Emory Remington Competition in 2017, and performed as the winners under the direction of instructor Christopher Davis at the International Trombone Festival in Los Angeles, California. Cory has previously served as the bass trombonist of The Orchestra Iowa in Cedar Rapids and The Madison Symphony in Wisconsin, and additionally has performed with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.
Luke Vacca, Tenor Trombone Faculty
Luke Vacca is a trombone teacher and performer based in northern Houston. He currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Low Brass at Stephen F. Austin State University, as well as a clinician and private lessons instructor for Magnolia ISD, Willis ISD, Spring Branch ISD, and Music & Arts in The Woodlands, TX. He performs regularly with the Texas Brass Ensemble, Groove Knight (an Austin-based wedding band) and various other ensembles as a freelancer.
Luke received his master’s degree in trombone performance from the University of Texas at Austin in 2021, where he studied with Dr. Nathaniel Brickens and Paul Deemer. He was a regular member of UT’s top performing ensembles including the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Orchestra, New Music Ensemble and Trombone Choir. As a member of the UT Trombone Choir, he performed at the Texas Music Educators Association in 2020, and the International Trombone Festival in 2021.
Luke also holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Stephen F. Austin State University, where he studied trombone with Dr. Deb Scott. During his studies at SFA, he held several leadership roles in the school’s top ensembles, was a featured soloist with multiple performance groups and earned finalist honors in the annual SFA Concerto Competition. In addition, Luke performed at the Texas Music Educators Association with the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra and Trombone Choir.
Luke Vacca is a trombone teacher and performer based in northern Houston. He currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Low Brass at Stephen F. Austin State University, as well as a clinician and private lessons instructor for Magnolia ISD, Willis ISD, Spring Branch ISD, and Music & Arts in The Woodlands, TX. He performs regularly with the Texas Brass Ensemble, Groove Knight (an Austin-based wedding band) and various other ensembles as a freelancer.
Luke received his master’s degree in trombone performance from the University of Texas at Austin in 2021, where he studied with Dr. Nathaniel Brickens and Paul Deemer. He was a regular member of UT’s top performing ensembles including the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Orchestra, New Music Ensemble and Trombone Choir. As a member of the UT Trombone Choir, he performed at the Texas Music Educators Association in 2020, and the International Trombone Festival in 2021.
Luke also holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Stephen F. Austin State University, where he studied trombone with Dr. Deb Scott. During his studies at SFA, he held several leadership roles in the school’s top ensembles, was a featured soloist with multiple performance groups and earned finalist honors in the annual SFA Concerto Competition. In addition, Luke performed at the Texas Music Educators Association with the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra and Trombone Choir.
Byron Clements, Program Administrator
Byron Clements is the Director of Bands at Tomball Junior High School in Tomball, TX. This is his sixteenth year of teaching band and his first at Tomball Junior High. Mr. Clements studied music education at Blinn College in Brenham, TX under the direction of Mr. Larry Campbell, and finished his Bachelor of Music Education in 2001 at the University of Houston (Go Coogs!!) where he studied trombone under Mr. Brian Kauk. Prior to teaching at Tomball Junior High, Mr. Clements taught in Kingwood, Texas at Creekwood Middle School and before that he taught at Truitt Middle School in Cypress Fairbanks ISD. Bands under his direction have won numerous UIL Sweepstakes awards and many Superior and Best in Class awards in music festivals throughout Texas. When Mr. Clements is not directing band, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Julie and two daughters, Cadence and Brynlee. His oldest daughter, Cadence is in her first year of playing French horn in the Tomball Intermediate School beginning band under Mr. Clements tutelage. He is one “proud papa”!
Byron Clements is the Director of Bands at Tomball Junior High School in Tomball, TX. This is his sixteenth year of teaching band and his first at Tomball Junior High. Mr. Clements studied music education at Blinn College in Brenham, TX under the direction of Mr. Larry Campbell, and finished his Bachelor of Music Education in 2001 at the University of Houston (Go Coogs!!) where he studied trombone under Mr. Brian Kauk. Prior to teaching at Tomball Junior High, Mr. Clements taught in Kingwood, Texas at Creekwood Middle School and before that he taught at Truitt Middle School in Cypress Fairbanks ISD. Bands under his direction have won numerous UIL Sweepstakes awards and many Superior and Best in Class awards in music festivals throughout Texas. When Mr. Clements is not directing band, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Julie and two daughters, Cadence and Brynlee. His oldest daughter, Cadence is in her first year of playing French horn in the Tomball Intermediate School beginning band under Mr. Clements tutelage. He is one “proud papa”!