Matthew Russo, trombonist & educator

Instructor of Trombone, University of Connecticut

UConn Trombone Studio

Thanks for your interest in the UConn Trombone Studio. I hope this page can serve as a resource for current students, alumni, and prospective applicants. UConn is the most comprehensive public university music program in New England, offering the BA, BM, MA, MM, DMA, and Ph.D., and bringing together students from a wide range of musical backgrounds and experiences to study in a close-knit learning community of musicians within a large research university.

Performance Opportunities

The trombone studio at UConn offers a variety of performance opportunities and learning styles to help each student reach one’s full potential. All majors at UConn receive weekly one-hour lessons as well as participating in a weekly one-hour studio class. At studio class, all trombone students meet together to play for one another, honing one’s ability to think critically about trombone technique and musicality while using these skills to give and receive constructive critique. This time is also used for special lectures and guest artists residencies.

In addition to performing in studio class regularly, students are encouraged to participate in our many ensembles at UConn:

  • Marching and Pep Bands
  • Jazz Combos and Big Bands
  • Symphony Orchestra
  • Concert and Symphonic Bands
  • Wind Ensemble
  • Brass Quartets and Quintets
  • Trombone Quartet and Octet
  • Trombone Choir

Trombone Ensembles

Students at UConn frequently form trombone trios and quartets and are coached weekly by Dr. Russo. Some of the greatest composers have written original works for small trombone chamber ensembles, such as Beethoven and Bruckner. Trombone trios and quartets are encouraged for all degrees and required for Performance majors.

The UConn Trombone Octet is the select trombone ensemble at UConn. Students interested in participating in the UConn Trombone Octet must audition or participate in primary or secondary lessons. All members of the trombone octet play music one-on-a-part and are solely responsible for their own voice within the ensemble. This ensemble presents challenging original music, unique fresh works, and difficult arrangements from other musical styles.

Trombone Choir

The UConn Trombone Choir is an ensemble that combines all interested trombonists at UConn in a large “choir” of trombones. The trombone choir performs pop, jazz, film music, spirituals, original music, broadway, and more. This is also a great opportunity for those playing trombone as a secondary instrument to hone their skills while playing with others. Many members of the UConn Trombone Choir are not music-majors but were trombonists in high school who wish to keep up with their studies. If you’ve never heard more than 12 trombone players playing at the same time, you’re missing out!

Auditioning at UConn

Undergraduate Requirements (BM, BA)

1. Two movements (of contrasting style) of any concerto or equivalent work.
2. Choose one from the following (or any combination thereof):

  • An etude of choice.
  • An orchestral excerpt of choice.
  • A different solo work of choice.

Sight reading and/or scales may be required at the discretion of the faculty.

Graduate Requirements (MM, PC, DMA)
  • Concerto
  • Contrasting Solo Work – 20th or 21st Century (transcriptions/arrangements can be included)
  • Etudes
  • Excerpts (5) – from standard Orchestra or Wind Band literature

Recommended Audition Materials

Sometimes choosing repertoire for your audition can be a daunting task! Here are a few of my recommendations if you’re stumped on what to play. You are encouraged to use repertoire that is not found on the list below. This list should help you determine if your audition repertoire is at an apporpriate level for your degree program. If you have questions, feel free to send me an email to check if one of your selections is appropriate.

Undergraduate Students
Tenor Trombone
  • Concerto/Solo Works
    • Morceau Symphonique – Guilment
    • Andante et Allegro – Barat
    • Concerto in B-flat – Rimsky-Korsakov
    • Concertino in E-flat – David
    • Cavatine – Saint-Saeans
  • Etudes
    • Melodious Etudes Book 1 – Bordogni/Rochut
    • Selected Studies – Voxman
    • 40 Progressive Studies – Tryrell
  • Orchestral Excerpts
    • Tuba Mirum – Mozart
    • La Gazza Ladra – Rossini
    • Hungarian March – Berlioz
Bass Trombone
  • Concerto/Solo Works
    • Concerto in One Movement – Lebedev
    • Concertino in F – Sachse
    • Two Songs – Spillman
    • Sonata – McCarty
    • Andante – Tcherepnin
  • Etudes
    • Melodious Etudes Book 1 – Bordogni/Rochut [played one octave lower]
    • 43 Bel Canto Studies – Bordogni/Roberts
    • 24 Studies for Bass Trombone – Grigoriev
    • 36 Studies for Trombone with F-Attachment – Blume
  • Orchestral Excerpts
    • La Gazza Ladra – Rossini
    • Hungarian March – Berlioz
Graduate Students

Tenor Trombone players should indicate if they also double on alto trombone. Applicants are welcome to play alto on their audition for appropriate orchestral excerpts.

Tenor Trombone
  • Concerto
    • Concerto – Tomasi
    • Concerto – Grøndahl
    • Concerto – Jacob
    • Fantasy – Creston
  • 20th/21st Century Work
    • Sonatine – Casterede
    • Sonata ‘vox Gabrieli’ – Sulek
    • Sonata – Halsey Stevens
  • Etudes
    • Melodious Etudes Books 1/2 – Bordogni/Rochut
    • Quinze Etudes de Rythme – Bitsch
    • Advanced Studies – Kahila
    • Treise Ètudes Caprices – Bozza
    • Douze Ètudes De Haut Perfectionnement – Boutry
  • Orchestral Excerpts (5 of the following)
    • Tuba Mirum – Mozart
    • Kyrie (alto) – Mozart
    • Bolero – Ravel
    • William Tell Overture – Rossini
    • Hungarian March – Berlioz
    • Ride of the Valkyrie – Wagner
    • Tannhauser – Wagner
    • Symphony No. 3 – Mahler
    • Symphony No. 3 “Rhenish” (alto/tenor) – Schumann
    • Symphony No. 3 “Organ” – Saint-Saeans
    • Ein Heldenleiben – Strauss
Bass Trombone

Bass Trombone applicants should indicate if they double on tenor trombone.

  • Concerto/Solo Works
    • Concerto – Thom Ritter George
    • Concerto – Ewazen
    • Sarabande from Suite No. 5 – Bach
  • 20th/21st Century Work
    • New Orleans – Bozza
    • Sonata – Gillingham
    • Sonata – Halsey Stevens
  • Etudes
    • Melodious Etudes Books 1/2 – Bordogni/Rochut
    • 12 Special Studies – Maenz
    • The Singing Trombone – Vernon
    • 70 Studies – Blazhevich
  • Orchestral Excerpts (5 of the following)
    • Creation – Haydn
    • Kyrie – Mozart
    • Hary Janos Suite – Kodaly
    • Fountains of Rome – Respighi
    • William Tell Overture – Rossini
    • Hungarian March – Berlioz
    • Ride of the Valkyrie – Wagner
    • Das Rheingold – Wagner
    • Ein Heldenleiben – Strauss
    • Symphony No. 3 “Rhenish” – Schumann