Biography
Trombonist John Mindeman has distinguished himself as a performer, teacher, arranger and composer in the United States and overseas. He is currently Associate Professor of Trombone and Euphonium at Western Illinois University, where he teaches trombone and euphonium, music theory, low brass techniques, and performs with the Lamoine Brass Quintet, the faculty ensemble in residence at WIU. John also enjoys giving solo recitals, teaching master classes, and playing chamber music throughout the Midwest.
John's career as a trombonist has included performances with the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Music of the Baroque, the Ravinia Festival Orchestra, the Joffrey Ballet, Chicago Opera Theater, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Brass Quintet, and the Millar Brass Ensemble. He has played under some of the finest conductors of our time, including Zubin Mehta, Daniel Barenboim, Rafael Kubelik, Christian Thielemann, Roberto Abbado, Mistislav Rostropovich, and Semyon Bychkov. He has also played with popular artists such as Joni Mitchell, Chet Atkins, the Three Tenors (Domingo, Pavarotti, Carreras), Andrea Boccelli, Nanci Griffith, Audra McDonald, Idina Menzel, and Garrison Keillor. He was a member of two overseas orchestras, the Filarmonica de Santiago (Chile), and the Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional of Costa Rica.
From 1999 to 2009, John taught and performed at the Birch Creek Music Performance Center in Door County, Wisconsin, a unique summer program for young musicians age 13-19. In addition, he has taught at Wheaton College, Knox College, Northern Illinois University, Roosevelt University, and North Central College.
An active arranger and composer, he has a substantial catalog of works for brass and other ensembles, many of which are available for sale on this website. His arrangements have been performed by the New York Philharmonic Brass, The Charleston Symphony Brass, The Washington Symphonic Brass, The Monarch Brass, The Elgin (IL) Symphony Orchestra, The Quincy (IL) Symphony, and The Millar Brass Ensemble. As a composer, John has written works for orchestra, piano, oboe, string quartet, string trio, and mixed chamber ensemble. He is currently writing a commissioned work for trombone and piano which will be premiered at the International Trombone Festival in Indiana in July 2019.
John's talents as a performer and arranger can be heard on the following recordings: Brass Surround, with the Millar Brass Ensemble (Delos); Joy, Joy, with Tenor David Phelps (Spring Hill); Trio for Trumpet, Horn, and Trombone on the disc The Trumpet Music of Verne Reynolds (Mark); and the premiere recording of the Trombone Concerto by Dexter Morrill on the disc Three Concertos with the Northern Illinois Philharmonic (Centaur).
John received a Bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College, a Master’s degree from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, and a Performer’s Certificate in jazz trombone from Northern Illinois University. He is grateful to have studied trombone with superb musicians such as Edward Kocher, George Krem, Edward Kleinhammer, Arnold Jacobs, Charles Vernon, and Tom Garling. He lives with his wife Miriam in Macomb, IL, and loves building electric guitars in his spare time.
John's career as a trombonist has included performances with the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Music of the Baroque, the Ravinia Festival Orchestra, the Joffrey Ballet, Chicago Opera Theater, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Brass Quintet, and the Millar Brass Ensemble. He has played under some of the finest conductors of our time, including Zubin Mehta, Daniel Barenboim, Rafael Kubelik, Christian Thielemann, Roberto Abbado, Mistislav Rostropovich, and Semyon Bychkov. He has also played with popular artists such as Joni Mitchell, Chet Atkins, the Three Tenors (Domingo, Pavarotti, Carreras), Andrea Boccelli, Nanci Griffith, Audra McDonald, Idina Menzel, and Garrison Keillor. He was a member of two overseas orchestras, the Filarmonica de Santiago (Chile), and the Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional of Costa Rica.
From 1999 to 2009, John taught and performed at the Birch Creek Music Performance Center in Door County, Wisconsin, a unique summer program for young musicians age 13-19. In addition, he has taught at Wheaton College, Knox College, Northern Illinois University, Roosevelt University, and North Central College.
An active arranger and composer, he has a substantial catalog of works for brass and other ensembles, many of which are available for sale on this website. His arrangements have been performed by the New York Philharmonic Brass, The Charleston Symphony Brass, The Washington Symphonic Brass, The Monarch Brass, The Elgin (IL) Symphony Orchestra, The Quincy (IL) Symphony, and The Millar Brass Ensemble. As a composer, John has written works for orchestra, piano, oboe, string quartet, string trio, and mixed chamber ensemble. He is currently writing a commissioned work for trombone and piano which will be premiered at the International Trombone Festival in Indiana in July 2019.
John's talents as a performer and arranger can be heard on the following recordings: Brass Surround, with the Millar Brass Ensemble (Delos); Joy, Joy, with Tenor David Phelps (Spring Hill); Trio for Trumpet, Horn, and Trombone on the disc The Trumpet Music of Verne Reynolds (Mark); and the premiere recording of the Trombone Concerto by Dexter Morrill on the disc Three Concertos with the Northern Illinois Philharmonic (Centaur).
John received a Bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College, a Master’s degree from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, and a Performer’s Certificate in jazz trombone from Northern Illinois University. He is grateful to have studied trombone with superb musicians such as Edward Kocher, George Krem, Edward Kleinhammer, Arnold Jacobs, Charles Vernon, and Tom Garling. He lives with his wife Miriam in Macomb, IL, and loves building electric guitars in his spare time.