Justin C.-

Hi! My name is Justin, and music has always been a huge part of my life. Though my primary instrument is trombone, I am also skilled in playing the piano. I began to take lessons seriously at the beginning of my sophomore year of high school. I quickly went through adult piano books and began playing the sonatas of Mozart my second year of lessons. My interest in video game music grew immensely during high school, so I have learned several piano arrangements from games as well. As for trombone, I have played since I was 11. I quickly grew into an outstanding musician, proving my skills by making the Mississippi All-State Lions Band my junior and senior years of high school. We traveled to Hong Kong in 2005 then thenon in 2006, ultimately winning both championships in a parade marching performance. At MSU, I played in marching band, brass quintet, jazz band, trombone ensemble, symphonic band, and wind ensemble. Singing comes naturally, so I have enjoyed using my voice for choir and solo performances since I was around 15. I participated in the concert choir, men’s choir, and chamber singers at Mississippi State University-performing Beethoven’s 9th symphony with the Tupelo Symphony Orchestra and Haydn’s “Creation” with the Meridian Symphony Orchestra. I currently am on a choral scholarship with the First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, MS. Finally, my skills in writing music are rather strong. I’ve completed 34 works to date, and only 6 of my works have not been performed. Six of my works are published with PEL Music Publishers. My repertoire is varied, ranging from songs, to a sonata for alto saxophone, to concert band pieces. While pursuing my master’s degree at the University of Kentucky, I completed one of my most notable works “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” for tenor, baritone, and piano-performed in a private concert for the Lexington Opera Society. Please consider having me as your teacher. I know that we will get much done as long as you come in ready to learn, and you take the new concepts that I bring to the table and practice! See you soon!