Skip to main content

Time:

Friday
December, 21, 2018
08:30 AM - 09:30 AM

Location:

Ballroom W190

Category

CHAMBER ENSEMBLES

Conductor

Justin Cook

Program

Download

Performer Details

Performer Bio Synopsis

The Natural Slides Trombone Ensemble is the select trombone performing ensemble within the University of Central Arkansas Trombone Studio. This ensemble consists of the top tenor and bass trombones within the studio and is considered the premier ensemble of the UCA trombone studio. The members are undergraduate music education and performance majors as well as graduate performance majors. In combination with the BearBones Trombone Choir, the Natural Slides has performed all over the country. Most recently performing at the American Trombone Workshop in Washington D.C., the Big 12 Trombone Conference at Texas Tech University, the Arkansas Music Educators Conference, the Texas State Trombone Symposium at Texas State University, and the 2018 International Trombone Festival at the University of Iowa. Members of the UCA trombone studio have been successful in national and international competitions and have continued their studies at some of the nation’s most prestigious music schools.

Natural Slides Trombone Choir - University of Central Arkansas

Conductor's Bio

Justin Cook is the Assistant Professor of Trombone at the University of Central Arkansas where he teaches studio trombone, trombone choir, brass ensembles, and low brass methods.  Prior to his appointment at UCA, Dr. Cook was on the faculties of Tarleton State University, Eastfield College, and the University of North Texas.  In addition to his college teaching, Justin has been on staff at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake, Michigan, Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps in Rockford, Illinois, and is currently the Festival Manager for the International Trombone Festival. Justin Cook holds a Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Trombone Performance degree from Northern Arizona University, a Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting from Northern Arizona University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Texas.  He has studied conducting with Dr. Daniel Schmidt and Eugene Corporon, and trombone with Dr. Peter Vivona, David Vining, Jan Kagarice, Dr. Vern Kagarice and Tony Baker.  While at the University of North Texas, Justin performed as a member of the internationally acclaimed North Texas Wind Symphony, and can be heard on the GIA Windworks series “Teaching Music Through Performance in Band”.  During the summer of 2009, Dr. Cook was chosen as one of 18 international tenor trombonists to attend the Alessi Seminar where he had the opportunity to work with Joseph Alessi and Peter Ellefson.  Recently, Justin has been featured as a soloist with the Northern Arizona University Wind Symphony, Tarleton State University Wind Ensemble, and the University of Central Arkansas Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble.  Justin is a member of the Bell Street Four Trombone Quartet, winners of the 2008 ITA Trombone Quartet Competition and featured performer at the Texas Music Educator’s Convention. He is also a member of The Pinnacle Brass Quintet, the resident brass quintet at the University of Central Arkansas. Dr. Cook was named Honorable Mention in the International Trombone Association’s Frank E. Smith Solo Competition in 2008.  As a freelancer, Dr. Cook has performed with the Arkansas Symphony, Lone Star Wind Orchestra, Abilene Philharmonic, Irving Symphony, Las Colinas Symphony, San Angelo Symphony, Fort Smith Symphony, Lyric Stage Musical Productions at the Irving Arts Center, Dallas Summer Musicals, and The Arkansas Repertory Theatre.  Equally at home as an educator and performer, the UCA trombone studio has seen tremendous success since Dr. Cook’s arrival. The studio has tripled in size and now features two trombone choirs: The BearBones Trombone Choir, and the Natural Slides Trombone Ensemble. The trombone choirs have performed at the American Trombone Workshop in Washington D.C., the Big 12 Trombone Conference at Texas Tech University, the Arkansas Music Educator’s Conference, the Texas State Trombone Symposium and have been invited to perform at the 2018 International Trombone Festival at the University of Iowa. Dr. Cook’s students have graduated and been accepted to some of the nation’s most prestigious universities. While in Texas, Dr. Cook served as the brass caption head and worked on staff with the Flower Mound High School Marching Band and Concert Bands. In Arkansas, he is an active band and brass clinician as well as an active marching band adjudicator throughout the region. Justin Cook is an Edwards Performing Artist and performs exclusively on Edwards Trombones.

Back