Capital Region Summer Trombone Institute

Welcome to the Capital Region Summer Trombone Institute

Monday-Thursday, July 13-16, 2026
9 a.m.-4 p.m.

A four-day intensive seminar held at the Schenectady County Community College School of Music, for middle school and high school students ages 11-18, dedicated to the study of the trombone, with an emphasis on performance and pedagogy. Led by and featuring premiere freelance musicians and educators in the area, the Capital Region Summer Trombone Institute will provide students with an educational laboratory to learn, play, and listen. All low brass instruments are welcome!

2026 Schedule

Subject to Change

Monday - Welcome and Faculty Showcase

Welcome Meeting
Group Warm Up
Trombone Choir Rehearsal
Split Masterclass (Split into Beginner and Intermediate/Advanced)
Lunch
Chamber Music Rehearsal/Coaching
Open Masterclass
Faculty Quartet Recital

Tuesday- John Keal Music

Group Warm Up
Trombone Choir
Open Masterclass
Lunch
Chamber Music Rehearsals
John Keal Music Presentation

• Led by Declan Lynch, JKM Store Manager
• Discussing and Demonstrating the Music Business Industry
• Showcasing horns in inventory

Wednesday - Guest Artist Day Featuring Ron Barron

Ron Barron Group Warm Up
Trombone Choir Rehearsal/Coaching
Jazz Improvisation Masterclass
Lunch
Chamber Music Rehearsal and Coaching
Ron Barron Masterclass

Thursday

Group Warm Up
Trombone Choir and Chamber Group Dress Rehearsal
Split Masterclass
Lunch
Open Masterclass
Wrap Up Meeting/Q&A
Final Concert

 

How to Sign Up and Cost

Register for the Summer Trombone Institute

Cost: $250 per student
Individual lessons are available starting at 4 p.m. for an additional fee of $30 for 30-minutes or $60 for 60-minutes.

Registration deadline: June 15
If you have any questions, please contact swhimpl3@gmail.com or ppandori@niskyschools.org.

Faculty

Phil Brink

Born 1945 in Evanston, Illinois. Lived in the Chicago area through Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Northwestern University. Joined the Peace Corps in 1967 and worked as a music teacher in Chile until 1969. Returning to Chicago, I worked in computers for several years and freelanced on trombone. Started doctoral work at U. of Illinois until 1973, taking a year [1970-71] to work at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks. In 1973 moved to Calgary, Canada to teach at University of Calgary and took a job as Principal Trombone in the Calgary Philharmonic.

Moved to Seattle in 1978 and again started a doctorate at the Juilliard School. There followed much freelance work with Seattle Symphony and Pacific Northwest Wagner Festival [Der Ring Des Nibelungen]. In 1986 won a job with New Mexico Symphony and added the Southwest Brass Quintet the next year. In 1988 I was invited to Hong Kong to fill a position on Bass Trombone with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. I returned to the U.S. after 12 years in the Philharmonic, also teaching at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

From 2000 to 2007 taught privately and played freelance including a concert with the Chicago Symphony. Taught at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois 2006-2007. I was invited to accept the job teaching trombone at Mahidol University, from which I retired in 2017. During that same period I was hired as Bass Trombone and Low Brass Principal with the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra.

Returning to the U.S. in 2017, moved to upstate New York to be with daughter Jennifer, Executive Director of the Glens Falls Symphony Orchestra. Now freelancing in upstate New York.

Phil Pandori

Phil Pandori is Adjunct Instructor of Low Brass (Trombone, Euphonium, and Tuba) at SUNY Schenectady County Community College where he has also previously taught Brass Techniques and currently codirects and operates the Capital Region Summer Trombone Institute. Phil has previously taught Brass Techniques at the Hartt School of Music, as well as Wind Ensemble and Low Brass Lessons at Skidmore College, and is currently an Affiliate Artist in Residence at Union College in Schenectady.

In addition to his work at SUNY Schenectady, Phil is a band director in the Niskayuna Central School District where he directs the High School Concert Band, Honors Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Band, as well as Middle and High School brass and percussion lessons. Previously, Phil has taught 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Band in the District and maintains a low brass studio. Phil has directed All-County Bands across New York State, including Saratoga-Warren, Washington, Schoharie, Franklin, Onondaga, and Jefferson-Lewis Counties.

Phil currently holds the Principal Trombone seat in the Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony Orchestra and Capital Region Wind Ensemble and works frequently as a freelance musician in the Capital Region. Phil spends most of his performance time with the New York Players Entertainment Group as the full-time trombone player for Upstate New York's premier party band. Phil has performed with Johnny Mathis, Tony DeSare, Wynton Marsalis, The Orchestra of Northern New York, Northern Symphonic Winds, Glens Falls Symphony, Saratoga Voices, Octavo Singers, Battenkill Chorale, Albany Pro Musica, Brass Abbey Brass Quintet and more.

Phil, along with his wife Catherine, owns and operates Bristol Hills Music Camp (est. 1962) - a week-long quality-intensive outdoor music camp for Band, String and Orchestra students grades 7-12 – located on Bristol Mountain just outside of Canandaigua, New York.

Phil has previously served as the New York State School Music Association Representative for Zone 7 as well as a member of the New York State Band Directors Association Executive Board as Middle School Honor Band Chair and Committee Member at Large, and currently serves as Co-Chair to the Zone 7 Area All-State Symphonic Band.

Phil earned his undergraduate degree in Music Education from the Crane School of Music, where he also minored in Jazz Studies and earned a certificate in Trombone Performance under Mark Hartman and Bret Zvacek. Phil earned his Masters’ Degree in Trombone Performance from the Hartt School of Music under Ronald Borror.

Phil Pandori is a Conn Selmer Regional Artist and plays exclusively on Bach and King trombones.

Chris Paul

Christopher Paul is an active freelance trombonist and educator, based out of Albany, NY. Mr. Paul has appeared with a variety of ensembles including the Albany Symphony, Glens Falls Symphony, The Orchestra Now, Albany Pro Musica, and Park Playhouse Productions. He has also appeared as a soloist with the McGill Contemporary Mysic Ensemble, and at the Banff Centre’s Contemporary Opera program. Mr. Paul is also the trombonist and backup vocalist of the pop punk band Millington, touring extensively with them throughout the United States and Canada, and can be heard on their latest EP “Welcome Home”. Mr. Paul received his Bachelors Degree and Graduate Diploma in Performance from the Schulich School of Music at McGill University. His principal teachers are James Box, Pierre Beaudry (Montreal Symphony Orchestra) and Ron Barron (Boston Symphony Orchestra).

Dr. Stephen Whimple

Dr. Stephen Whimple, hailing from Clifton Park, New York, is a freelance musician and educator based in the Hudson Valley. From 2022 to 2024, he performed with the Orchestra Now as an orchestral fellow. Dr. Whimple served as an Instructor and Graduate Teaching Assistant at The University of Alabama. Prior to his doctoral studies, Stephen attended the Juilliard School as an Irene Diamond Graduate Fellow, Music Advancement Program Teaching Fellow, and Morse Teaching Artist Fellow. He completed his bachelor’s degree at The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. His primary teachers include Dr. Jonathan Whitaker, Dr. Jeremy Crawford, Joseph Alessi, and Dr. Mark Hartman.

Dr. Whimple’s students have placed in all-state ensembles and youth orchestras across the country. Others have gone on to attend the Juilliard Music Advancement Program and Pre-College, the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and the University of Alabama. Students that reside in New York State have had continued success with NYSSMA scores. His studio currently consists of a wide range of experience levels and ages.

Ron Barron (Artist-in-Residence)

Ronald Barron was Principal Trombonist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1975 until 2008. He joined the orchestra in 1970 after being a member of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, and also served as Principal Trombonist of the Boston Pops for thirteen seasons. Mr. Barron is a graduate of the College-Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati, where he studied with Ernest Glover. During his college years, he also toured with the American Wind Symphony.

In 1974, Ronald Barron shared the highest prize awarded at the Munich International Competition. This included a solo appearance, where he performed the Frank Martin Ballade for trombone and orchestra with the competition sponsor, the Bavarian State Radio Orchestra. Mr. Barron was a frequent soloist with the Boston Pops Orchestra and appeared with a number of New England area orchestras and bands. As a recitalist he has performed across the U.S., Europe and Japan. In addition to numerous recordings with the Boston Symphony and the Boston Pops, Mr. Barron has recorded and performed with the Canadian Brass, Empire Brass, and Summit Brass, and has nine successful solo recordings.

Mr. Barron has been a faculty member for the International Trombone Workshop and the Keystone Brass Institute, and teaches at the New England Conservatory of Music.  He formerly taught at Boston University and the Tanglewood Music Center. He has served on the board of advisors for the International Trombone Association and the juries for the international competitions of Toulon, France, and Munich, Germany. Mr. Barron received the 2005 ITA Award from the International Trombone Association. "In recognition of his distinguished career and in acknowledgement of his impact on the world of trombone performance."

For 25 summers, during the Boston Symphony's Tanglewood season, Mr. Barron and his wife Ina operated their bed and breakfast, Échézeaux, in Richmond, MA. Through his deep interest in wine he has earned the level of “Certified Specialist of Wine” as awarded by the American Society of Wine Educators.