Learn all about the ITF
WHAT IS THE INTERNATIONAL TROMBONE FESTIVAL?
The International Trombone Festival is an annual multi-day event featuring all things trombone. Artists, teachers, students, professionals, industry leaders, and hobbyists gather to celebrate and explore the many facets and styles of trombone playing, teaching, and craftsmanship. The location of the ITF moves around the world on an annual basis. Most festivals occur in the United States, but the ITF frequently occurs in other countries worldwide.
Annual ITF programming includes diverse performers.
Our featured Artists are invited to perform, and they represent the pinnacle of trombone artistry and teaching.
Presenters are chosen from a competitive pool of applicants, and they share full recitals, lectures, and clinics on various topics.
Student Ensembles also apply through a competitive process, and those chosen to perform share prelude concerts before Artist recitals.
The International Trombone Association solo and ensemble competition finals are held at the ITF each year.
Exhibitors populate our expansive exhibit hall with instruments, gadgets, sheet music, and much more.
The Youth Workshop runs alongside and in conjunction with the ITF to support the development of the next generation of trombone artists.
The Composers’ Workshop occurs during the ITF, with a small cohort of composers chosen from a very competitive pool of applicants. These composers work daily with our featured guests and have their music performed by ITF Presenters and Artists.
MEET THE ITF TEAM
The ITF is organized by its staff, under the guidance of the ITF Board. While the Host for each ITF changes each year as the site changes, the staff maintain continuity and development from year to year.
Karen Marston, ITF Director
Karen Marston is currently on the faculty of Mt San Antonio College in Walnut, CA, where she works with students in both applied and ensemble settings. She is the founder of numerous successful chamber ensembles, including the Empress Trombone Quartet, Aurora Brassealis, the TexiCali Trio, Omni Brass, and the Resonance Brass Choir, and is an active freelancer in the Southern California area. In addition to her duties as director, Karen is dedicated to diversity and inclusion, and at the 2021 ITF, she organized a performance of the International Womens Trombone Choir, bringing together over 30 female trombonists from across the country.
Justin Cook, ITF Manager
Justin Cook is the Associate Professor of Trombone and Jazz at the University of Central Arkansas. In addition to his college teaching, Justin is currently a consultant with the Music City Drum and Bugle Corps, and is on faculty for the Southeast Trombone Symposium. In the summer of 2022 Dr. Cook was the host of the International Trombone Festival at the University of Central Arkansas.
Chris Van Hof, ITF Assistant Manager
Chris is the Associate Professor of Trombone at Ball State University, where he has taught since 2017. He is Principal Trombone of the Carmel (IN) Symphony Orchestra, a frequent substitute/extra trombone with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and an active freelancer throughout the United States' midwest. He was Host of the 2019 International Trombone Festival in Muncie, Indiana, USA.
Carol Jarvis, ITF Board President
Carol Jarvis is one of the most in-demand session musicians in the UK. A multi-award-winning trombonist, keyboard player, arranger, orchestrator, voiceover artist, presenter and keynote speaker, Carol has toured and recorded extensively with starts such as Sting, Queen, Seal, Rod Stewart, Amy Winehouse, Bon Jovi, Ellie Goulding and appeared on many renowned television programs with stars such as MUSE, Harry Connick Jr, Michael Bublé, Taylor Swift and so many more. Carol can also be found working with internationally renowned ensembles and some of the world’s top orchestras such as playing guest principal trombone with the London Symphony Orchestra on many soundtracks.
Andrea Van Hof, Youth Workshop Director
Andrea Van Hof is an experienced educator in the United States, having taught instrumental, general, and choral music in Michigan, New York, Wisconsin, Colorado, and Indiana. Currently the music teacher at Amy Beverland Elementary School in Indianapolis, Indiana, she is also engaged as an educational leader in her home district the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township. She has directed the ITF Youth Workshop since 2019.
Bradley Palmer, ITF Board Chair
Dr. Bradley Palmer is the Professor of Trombone at Columbus State University’s Schwob School of Music, where he has taught since 1999. He is the Chair of the International Association Executive Board, and is a founding faculty member of the Southeast Trombone Symposium. He hosted the 2013 and 2021 International Trombone Festivals.
Steve Wolfinbarger, ITF Board Treasurer
Steve Wolfinbarger is the Professor of Trombone at Western Michigan University. Named Michigan Professor of the Year, students in his studio have been named finalists and winners in numerous national and international competitions. Former students teach at more than 25 universities across the country. A Past President of the International Trombone Association, he is currently the Treasurer of the International Trombone Festival Board.
Deb Scott, Composers Workshop Director
Dr. Deb Scott is the professor of trombone and bass trombone at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. She is a performing artist for Rath Trombones, England and is active world-wide as a soloist and clinician. She is a recent member of Monarch Brass. Scott’s solo CD, Playing Favorites, was released in 2017 by Navona Records. She has twice been a featured soloist and faculty member in Santa Fe, Argentina at Trombonanza, the largest brass festival in South America.
HOST AN ITF
HOST AN ITF
PAST FESTIVALS
Take a journey in the ITF Wayback Machine and visit our web archive of recent festivals, including artist lists, blog posts, and more.