Alto/Tenor Trombone

Heidi is an accomplished arranger, trombonist, euphonium performer, and educator in the Portland Metro Area.

She performs in the Portland Choir & Orchestra and is the Winds Program Manager for Bravo Youth Orchestras in Portland, OR.

Alto/Tenor Trombone

Before moving to Portland, Oregon, Ron was an active performer and teacher in northern Texas and Louisiana, performed with the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, organized the Mid-South Trombone Ensemble and Shreveport Sackbut Consort, and specialized in early trombone literature. As a specialist, he played alto sackbut under renowned conductors like Christopher Hogwood, Ton Koopman, and Jan Kleinbussink.

A member of the International Trombone Association, Dr. Babcock wrote reviews and a cover article for the ITA Journal, performed at festivals, and retired from Portland State University’s School of Music after 31 years. He continues performing with various ensembles and has published works for trombone. His solo CD, Trombone Treasures, includes previously unrecorded works from standard trombone literature.

Ron studied trombone with Roy Pickering at Louisiana Tech University and Irvin L. Wagner at the University of Oklahoma. He earned his Doctorate in Trombone Performance from the University of North Texas in 1994, studying with Vern Kagarice.

Tenor Trombone/Conductor

David Bryan brings over thirty years of wide-ranging performing experience as a professional trombonist. He is a member of the orchestras for both Portland Opera and Oregon Ballet Theater, and has performed and recorded with the Oregon Symphony. He has also performed with symphony orchestras in Honolulu, Seattle and Eugene, and is the principal trombonist of the Oregon Coast Music Festival. David has backed up many international artists in their northwest appearances, from Natalie Cole to Luciano Pavarotti, and has played in the pit orchestras for touring musicals featuring artists such as Jerry Lewis and Marie Osmond. His work as a lead trombonist in local groups such as the Woody Hite Band, the Carlton Jackson/Dave Mills Band and the Portland Jazz Orchestra. David played lead/solo trombone on many of Norman Leyden’s popular big band specials. He also enjoys long-standing membership and musical friendships in the Columbia Brass, Oregon Renaissance Band, and Pioneer Brass.  David received a Bachelor of Music degree from Linfield College. He conducts the Big Horn Brass, Solid Brass and the Northwest Horn Orchestra.

Soprano/Alto/Tenor Trombone

Bio to Follow

Alto/Tenor Trombone

Larry Coates holds a bachelor’s degree in music and music education from California State University, Sacramento, and a master’s degree in conducting from Sam Houston University. His primary trombone instruction has been with Lester Lehr and Ernie Hills, while he has also received lessons from Joseph Alessi, George Roberts, Mark Lawrence, and Wycliffe Gordon.

Since 1998, Larry has been a music educator in Sacramento and Portland, where he has received recognition for his exceptional teaching. He was named the Blazer “All-Star” Teacher in 2002 and the Beaverton “Outstanding Performing Arts Instructor” in 2006. Additionally, he served on the board of the Oregon Music Education Association from 2005 to 2014.

Larry has performed with various musical ensembles, including the Camellia Symphony Orchestra, the California Winds, the Bay Bones, the Pacific Crest Wind Symphony, the Oregon Symphonic Band, the Rose City Trombones, the Oregon Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, and numerous brass quintets. In 2019, he was appointed Principal Trombone of the Sunnyside Symphony Orchestra, a position he has held since 2017. Larry has also showcased his talents as a featured soloist with various orchestras, bands, and brass groups.

In 2014, Larry founded Wall-To-Wall Home Inspections, LLC, which has since grown to employ six dedicated professionals. The company has achieved significant success and now provides comprehensive property inspections throughout the Northwest region.

Larry is happily married to his college sweetheart since 1993. He enjoys spending time with his older daughter, caring for his animal companions, volunteering at animal sanctuaries, and engaging in mountain biking with his friends.

Alto/Tenor Trombone

Jason earned his bachelor’s degree in trombone performance from the University of California at Santa Barbara where he studied with Bill Booth of the Los Angeles Opera and Hollywood Bowl Orchestras. In addition to being a founding member of Bridge City Brass, Jason maintains an active performance schedule as Principal Trombone of the Oregon Mahler Festival Orchestra, 2nd Trombone of the Salem Orchestra, Solo Trombone with the Ne Plus Ultra Jass Orchestra, Cascadia Trombone Quartet, and now as a member of the Northwest Trombone Collective. While enjoying an active freelance schedule performing a wide variety of genres, ensembles, and recording projects, Jason is a passionate proponent for music education in public schools and can be found working as a solo guest artist/clinician and low brass instructor around local Portland Metropolitan area public schools.

Tenor Trombone

Andrew Harris brings a vast array of experience to the collective.

He has performed with brass ensembles such as the Big Horn Brass, Pioneer Brass, Columbia Brass Quintet, Metropolitan Brass Company, Saxhorn Social Orchestra, and Humboldt State Faculty Brass Quintet.

Andrew has also performed with orchestras, including the Oregon Coast Music Festival Orchestra (member), Bravo! Vancouver, Oregon Symphony Orchestra, Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Portland Festival Orchestra, Portland Chamber Orchestra, Oregon Repertory Singers, Choral Arts Ensemble, Portland Symphonic Choir, Pacific Northwest Chamber Orchestra, Peter Britt Music Festival Orchestra, and the Sun River Music Festival Orchestra.

Additionally, Andrew has performed with symphonic bands such as the Oregon Symphonic Band, Portland Wind Symphony, Portland Civil War Band, and U.S. Marine Corps field bands.

In the jazz and pop genres, He has performed with bands such as Rob Scheps Big Band, Trombone 8, Woody Hite Big Band, Moody Blues Orchestra, and Paul Revere and the Raiders.

Andrew has also toured Japan with the University of Oregon Symphonic Band and performed with the Lewis and Clark College Wind Ensemble.

Andrew has studied with renowned musicians such as Arnold Jacobs, Frank Crisafuli, Per Brevig, Miles Anderson, Roy Main, and Dick Nash.

Alto/Tenor Trombone

Bio to Follow

Tenor Trombone

Brad McMillan pursued trombone studies at Clackamas Community College and Portland State University while actively performing with the Portland Youth Philharmonic.

Brad’s extensive musical experience encompasses numerous prestigious big bands in the region, including the Vanport Jazz Band and the Caterina New Big Band. He is also a member of the Rose City Trombone Choir, having showcased his talents on the TEDx Portland Main Stage and at the International Trombone Festival. Additionally, Brad has collaborated with various other groups, such as the True North Jazz Sextet, Bureau of Standards Big Band, Loafers Rock Band, Picante Latin Jazz, Antidotes Jazz Sextet, and is now honored to join the Northwest Trombone Collective.

Tenor Trombone

Megan is an active freelance musician in the Portland Metro area. While attending the University of Oregon, she performed with the Green Garter Band and briefly studied with Henry Henniger, exploring diverse performance opportunities that deepened her passion for the instrument.

Megan has cultivated a wide-ranging musical career spanning genres such as rock, funk, jazz, EDM, gospel, and classical, among others. She currently performs with the Oregon Symphonic Band, Solid Brass, Rose City Trombones, and a few local rock groups, while also subbing with other ensembles and bands throughout the Willamette Valley.

Tenor/Bass Trombone

Gayle Neuman, a performer on violin, recorder, sackbutt, modern trombone and many other instruments, is also a vocalist who has received international acclaim for her renditions of the “Song of Seikilos,” the “Chorus from Orestes,” and others upon the release of Ensemble De Organographia’s CD Music of the Ancient Greeks. Several of the tracks from that recording have also appeared in the Norton Scores Recorded Anthology of Western Music, and numerous films and television programs. She appears as herself in the award-winning film “Buddymoon” and recorded music for the 2016 film "Ben-Hur". She composed and arranged music for the 2015 production of “Mary Stuart” for Northwest Classical Theatre, and has performed for audiences in the U.S., Japan, Israel, Turkey, Greece, Canada, Norway, Germany, and for members of the royal family in Jordan. She co-founded and co-directs the Oregon Renaissance Band, now in its 33rd season. Gayle has played under the baton of Monica Huggett and Ton Koopman. She teaches the online Consort Class with participants in three countries, a recorder ensemble class at Portland’s Community Music Center, and has given workshops and presentations at many institutions including Oberlin Conservatory, Rice University, Cleveland Museum of Art, and the Getty Center. She has built, with her husband Phil, over 450 early wind and stringed instruments including krummhorns, cornamusen, douçaines, racketts, and vielles. 

Soprano/Tenor/Bass Trombone

Phil Neuman, a performer on recorder, sackbutt, various other early wind and stringed instruments and modern bass trombone and tuba, co-founded and co-directs the Oregon Renaissance Band and the Fireside Social Orchestra. He has performed for the Regensburg Early Music Festival and recorded the CDs Carnevale and Now make we joye. He appears in the award-winning movie “Buddymoon” directed by Alex Simmons, and recorded music on ancient instruments for the 2016 film Ben-Hur. He has played for audiences on three continents, including performances at ancient theater sites in Greece. He teaches regularly at several early music workshops, conducts the Advanced Recorder and Renaissance Winds class at the Community Music Center in Portland, and teaches the online Consort Class with participants located throughout North America. Phil has performed with the American Bach Soloists, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Chicago Chorale, and the Handel & Haydn Society Orchestra. With his wife Gayle, he has built over 450 early wind and stringed instruments including krummhorns, cornamusen, douçaines, sordunes and racketts. 

Tenor Trombone

John Northe David Douglas High School and subsequently taught there for 31 years after obtaining a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Lewis and Clark College while joining the American Federation of Musicians.

His career encompasses various musical endeavors, including performances in circuses, ice shows, Dixieland and show bands. He has also collaborated with over 15 Broadway touring company musicals and has provided accompaniment to numerous entertainers, such as Bob Hope, Natalie Cole, Mel Torme, and Tony Bennett.

John’s classical training includes engagements with the Portland Opera, Portland Festival Orchestra, Oregon Symphony Pops, Oregon Symphonic Band, Vancouver Symphony, and other esteemed orchestras.

Bass/Contrabass Trombone

John is the Founder of the Northwest Trombone Collective.

He is the Principal Bass Trombonist of Orchestra Nova Northwest,, Oregon Coast Music Festival, Siletz Bay Music Festival, Big Horn Brass, Portland Chamber Orchestra,  Art Abrams Swing Machine Big Band,  King Machine, and the Portland Choir & Orchestra.

John is a Voigt Brass Artist and performs on the Voigt J-475 Contrabass Trombone with dual tuning (F/C/Db/A and F/D/Bb/Ab) systems. He is also an Artist for Long Island Brass Mouthpieces.

Ohnstad has performed with the Oregon Symphony, the Eugene Symphony, the Vancouver (WA) Symphony, the Newport Symphony, the Oregon Ballet, Portland Opera, Rose City Trombones, Andrea Bocelli, the Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass, the Oregon Bach Festival and the Mt. Angel Abbey Bach Festival.

John studied at the University of Arizona. Upon graduating, he spent the summer at EPCOT Center in the Walt Disney World All-American College Orchestra.

Through international audition, John became a Fellow at the 2017 Alessi Seminar, an intensive week of trombone instruction and performance.

In January 2024, he premiered Brian Sadler’s Concerto for Contrabass Trombone with the Portland Columbia Symphony. In May of 2024, John collaborated again with Sadler to commission “Lightning Strikes Again” a solo work for Contrabass Trombone.

His teachers include Richard Ballou, Rick Tippets, Marc Wolters, Gary Nelson, Chris Leuba, Jeffrey Reynolds, Tom Ervin, Richard Obregon and George Roberts.

He enjoys being married to his lovely wife of 25 years and raising their two boys.

Alto/Tenor Trombone

Bio to Follow

Tenor Trombone

Greg Scholl has played trombone in Orchestra Nova Northwest since 1996; he became principal trombone in 2000. He is also principal trombone in the Vancouver and Newport symphonies, and plays locally in the Portland Brass Quintet and the Portland Festival Symphony. He has performed with the Oregon Ballet Theatre, the Oregon Symphony, the Portland Opera, the Salem Chamber Orchestra, the Portland Chamber Orchestra, the Portland Symphonic Choir, the Willamette Master Chorus, and the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus, as well as the Oregon Repertory Singers and the Portland Symphonic Choir. Greg was formerly second trombone in the Austin Lyric Opera.

He obtained a trombone performance degree at the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied with Donald Knaub. Prior to that he studied with Peter Kline and David Brown in San Antonio, TX. Greg plays in the Portland modern jazz duo Dos Hermanos de Hale Bopp. Greg also plays guitar and trombone in a variety of styles with local bands and performers, including the Rhythm Dogs, Goombahttsi, and Elvis Presley Tribute Artist Justin Shandor.

After rejecting the millions of dollars people offered him to play the trombone, Greg obtained a law degree in 1995 from Lewis & Clark Northwestern School of Law. During most business days he can be found practicing law as the director of the capital case team at the Metropolitan Public Defender. He enjoys spending time with his family and dogs, reading, camping and hiking, collecting things like Conan the Barbarian comic books, LP records, and concert recordings of the Grateful Dead, and being married to incredible bassoonist Margaret McShea.

Bass Trombone

Sam Stewart, a native Oregonian, has been obsessed with the trombone ever since he was told he couldn’t play trumpet in middle school. After attending Portland State and Northwestern University, he moved back home to pursue a career as a freelance musician and luthier. By day he can be found fixing instruments at Bridge City Guitar, and by night, he can be found fixing more instruments at Bridge City Guitar. Sam performs actively on both trombone and guitar with a wide variety of bands, ranging from musicals to rock bands and everywhere in between, as well as maintaining an active teaching schedule.

Bass Trombone

When Shayna picked up the bass trombone for the first time, she immediately fell in love with the sound of the instrument. Since then, she's played with many Portland area groups, including Bureau of Standards Big Band, Vanport Jazz Band, Afincando, Lily Wilde Orchestra, Willamette Falls Symphony, Vanguard Portland Youth Jazz Orchestra, Northwest Jazz Orchestra, Oregon Symphonic Band, Rose City Trombones, Rebirthing the Cool Bebop and Beyond, Gresham Salvation Army Brass Band, Krebsic Orkestar, and the Steve Spiegl Big Band, among others. 

Tenor Trombone

John is an active freelance musician on the West Coast, and is the Trombone instructor at Reed College and Low Brass instructor at George Fox University. He is also a Winds Teaching Artist for BRAVO Youth Orchestras, and maintains a private lesson studio. He attended Portland State University studying with Marc Wolters and Christopher Leuba, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Mark Lawrence, receiving a degree in Music Performance.

John enjoys playing with many groups in and around Portland where he is second trombone with Orchestra Nova Northwest, a member of Big Horn Brass, and principal trombone with Portland Choir and Orchestra. He also subs with Vancouver Symphony, Newport Symphony, and other ensembles around town. He was a regular substitute with the Dallas Wind Symphony, and a founding member of the trombone quartet Slide Handlers while living in Dallas, Texas. He has been married to his partner Karen for over 33 years, and loves raising their 18 year old daughter.

Conductor

Dr. Jeffrey Williams joined the University of Oregon School of Music faculty in the fall of 1980.  His initial assignment was to teach trombone, euphonium, and tuba, and to direct the jazz bands.  Over the course of his thirty years at the UO, he continued to teach trombone and directed the trombone ensemble and the brass choir.  From 2004 until his retirement in 2010, he also served as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies in Music.  Throughout his tenure at the university he was principal trombone of the Eugene Symphony.  After moving to Portland he joined the Rose City Trombones and became their conductor in 2015.

Jeffrey Williams holds bachelor’s and doctoral degrees from the University of North Texas and a master’s from the University of Illinois.  Prior to coming to Oregon he taught at Miami University (Ohio), at Texas State University, and in the public schools of Garland and Richardson, Texas.  He has performed with the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, the Fort Worth Symphony and Opera Orchestras, and the American Wind Symphony.

Jeff has found conducting to be one of his most gratifying musical experiences.  He looks forward to being part of the Northwest Trombone Collective.

Upcoming Performances!