PRESENTERS
Megan Boutin
Adjunct Professor of Trombone at Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Dr. Megan Boutin is the Adjunct Professor of Trombone at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. She holds degrees from Ithaca College, the Eastman School of Music, and the University of Texas at Austin. Principal teachers include Dr. Harold Reynolds, Mark Kellogg, Dr. John Marcellus, and Dr. Nathaniel Brickens. Based in Austin, Texas since 2012, Megan Boutin is currently the principal trombonist with the Temple Symphony Orchestra. As a freelance trombonist in and around Austin she has performed with the Austin Symphony Orchestra, Austin Symphony Brass Quintet, Austin Opera, Central Texas Philharmonic. Dr. Boutin is active as a soloist and chamber musician. She was the winner of the 2019 International Womens Brass Conference Tenor Trombone Category II solo division. In 2015 she was the winner of the Austin Civic Orchestra’s concerto competition. Additionally, as a soloist she was featured as a guest artist as part of the Eastman at Washington Square Concert Series (Rochester, NY). Dr. Boutin has performed at conferences and festivals throughout the United States. She was an invited guest conductor at the 2019 International Trombone Festival, she performed as a chamber musician at the 2018 Music by Women Festival, and was an invited performer as a chamber musician as part of the Butler University Faculty Recital Series. She has performed at multiple International Trombone Festivals and also at the American Trombone Workshops as a member of the Eastman, the Ithaca College, and the University of Texas at Austin trombone choirs. Teaching has consistently been part of Dr. Boutin’s musical career. At Texas A&M University-Kingsville she teaches studio lessons and is Assistant Director of the TAMUK Trombone Choir, which was the Second Runner-Up in the 2020 International Trombone Association’s Remington Competition, and an invited group to The Midwest Clinic in December of 2020. Dr. Boutin has given masterclasses at institutions across the country, and provides clinics and masterclasses locally and regionally.
Dillon C. Downey focuses his diverse interests to expand the use of effective and healthy concepts in music pedagogy. He has presented his research in musician’s health, developmental theories, and musicality recently at the Eastman School of Music, the Oklahoma Trombone Workshop, and the 2019 International Trombone Festival. Downey teaches aural musicianship and trombone methods at Eastman and teaches at the Eastman Community Music School. He is the pedagogy intern at the MSU Kodály Institute (TX) and a fully certified Kodály educator. Downey was the Music Specialist at Rivera Elementary School (Denton, TX), directed children’s and youth music at Trinity Presbyterian Church (Flower Mound, TX), and taught at the Billrothstraße Gymnasium (Vienna, Austria).
Having performed in such venues as Carnegie Hall, the Wiener Konzerthaus, and the Dallas Meyerson Center, Downey has had solo performances throughout Europe and the United States. Downey performs on alto, tenor, and bass trombones and sackbuts. He has performed with the Richardson (TX) Symphony Orchestra, the Texas Camarata, Empire Film and Media Ensemble, and other organizations. At Eastman, he performs in the Wind Ensemble, Philharmonia, Schola Cantorum, and Trombone Choir. He is a founding member of the Broken Bones Quartet. Downey performed at the 2019 and 2013 International Trombone Festivals and recorded the inaugural videos for the International Trombone Association’s initiative in 2013.
Downey is pursuing Master of Music degrees in Trombone Performance and Music Education at the Eastman School of Music, as well as the Advanced Certificate in the Pedagogy of Music Theory. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of North Texas with degrees in Trombone Performance and Music Education. He studied at the IES Center in Vienna, Austria and studied with members of the Wiener Philharmoniker. Downey is a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society and the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.
Dillon Downey
Educator
Jeff Dunn
Texas Trombone Institute
Trombonist Jeff Dunn is currently based in Rochester, NY, pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Eastman School of Music. Previously, he served as a Private Low Brass Instructor for the Tomball Independent School District, a suburb of Houston, TX. In Tomball, Jeff taught a large studio of trombone, euphonium, and tuba students, and directed the Tomball High School Trombone Choir and Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble. Jeff is a founding member of the trombone duo, Duplicity, and has performed with the Woodlands Symphony Orchestra, the Houston Sinfonietta, the Texas Brass Ensemble, and toured with the American Wind Symphony Orchestra. Jeff is also the Founder and President of the Texas Trombone Institute, a nonprofit that hosts an intensive weeklong session for young developing trombonists, and features a Band Director's Workshop for educators seeking professional development. Jeff has presented clinics at the International Trombone Festival, the New York State School Music Association Conference and the Texas Music Educators Association Convention. Jeff has also presented guest masterclasses for Tarleton State University, Ithaca College, and the Lewisville, Fort Bend, Katy, and Waller school districts in Texas. He is published by the International Trombone Association Journal, the Online Trombone Journal, and Eighth Note Publications.
Katie Fittipaldi
Instructor of Alexander Technique
Katie Fittipaldi teaches Alexander Technique privately in Rochester, NY and has presented Alexander Technique workshops for musicians at the Eastman Community Music School, Eastman Summer Trombone Institute, New Directions Cello Festival, University of Buffalo, Nazareth College, Hochstein School of Music and Dance, Kanack School of Music, Canisius High School and the Rochester Bass Retreat. Katie’s interest in teaching Alexander Technique to musicians, children, young adults, and educators inspired her to complete the Developing Self Education Training Course with Sue Merry and Judith Kleinman. She is now certified to deliver the Alexander in Education Course for Primary School, Secondary School and Tertiary Levels. As a cellist, Katie received her Master’s degree in Classical String Performance from the Irish World Music Centre, University of Limerick, Ireland; and her Bachelor of Music degree in Performance from Ithaca College. In 2004, Katie graduated from the Alexander Alliance School in Philadelphia (now the Philadelphia School for Alexander Technique), a three-year intensive training program with Bruce Fertman and Martha Hansen Fertman. In November 2013, Katie completed training requirements to become a member of AmSAT (American Society for the Alexander Technique), studying with Kathy Miranda at ATS (Alexander Technique of Syracuse). Katie is delighted to be teaching Alexander Technique in the University of Rochester Dance Department, the Eastman School of Music and the Summer@Eastman program.
Chris Hotaling
St. John Fisher College
Christopher Hotaling is currently in the second year of the DMA program at the Eastman School of Music where he studies euphonium and trombone with Professor Mark Kellogg. Chris earned his bachelor’s degrees in euphonium performance and music education from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, where he studied euphonium with Dr. Charles Guy and voice with Dr. Lonel Woods. At Potsdam, he was chosen as a Presser Scholar in 2015 and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2016, after which he went on to earn his master’s degree in euphonium performance from Eastman. In his time at Eastman, Chris’s responsibilities have included serving as studio assistant for Professor Mark Kellogg’s euphonium studio, instructing the euphonium methods course, and teaching secondary lessons to undergraduate students from the University of Rochester. Chris has appeared in masterclasses with artists such as Steven Mead, Sam Pilafian, Adam Frey, Demondrae Thurman, and Matthew Murchison, and has performed with professional ensembles such as the Northern Symphonic Winds, the Orchestra of Northern New York, and the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra. Chris is currently co-director of Tuba Mirum, for which his responsibilities include programming and conducting, and he also serves as adjunct faculty at St. John Fisher College, where he teaches classes in music appreciation and music history.
Blaire Koerner
Careers Advisor
Dr. Blaire Koerner is a career advisor at the Eastman School of Music, focusing on providing resources, skill-development, and guidance for students heading into numerous musical and cultural fields. She collaborates with students on discovering personal, professional, and artistic goals and opportunities. In addition to her advising position, Dr. Koerner is an accomplished bassoonist and educator. She teaches bassoon at Syracuse University’s Setnor School of Music and instructs chamber groups at the Eastman Community Music School. As a performer, Dr. Koerner freelances in the upstate NY area for Symphoria, the Binghamton Philharmonic, June in Buffalo festival and is co-founder of a harp and bassoon duo, Hats + Heels. Entrepreneurially, Dr. Koerner has pursued numerous focuses to assist current musicians in tackling issues in the field. She is published in the Eastman Case Studies, organizes the Eastman Leadership Conference for higher education administrators, and helped with the creation of the M.A. in Music Leadership at Eastman. Dr. Koerner completed her DMA & MM at the Eastman School of Music and holds a M.Ed in Elementary Education and B.M. in Bassoon Performance from Hofstra University.
Austin Pancer
CEO and founder of The Functional Musician
Austin Pancner is the CEO and founder of The Functional Musician, an online health and wellness business that helps classical musicians perform without pain for the rest of their lives. Austin is also a doctoral student at Indiana University in bass trombone and has regular performed with regional orchestras throughout Indiana.
Alexis Smerdon
Lecturer in Music Theory at Utah Valley University
Alexis Smerdon teaches music theory and music general education courses at Utah Valley University in the Department of Music. She has also been teaching private and group lessons for the past 9 years in the areas of low brass, music theory/ear training, and piano. She received a Bachelor of Music in trombone performance from Brigham Young University – Idaho in 2013. She received a Master of Music degree in trombone performance in 2015 and a second Master of Music degree in music theory with an emphasis in pedagogy in 2016 from the University of Tennessee.
Alexis currently maintains a private lessons music studio from her home. She teaches trombone sectionals at local high school and middle school band programs. She has had success with her private students, helping to do well in All-State competitions, State Solo Festival, drum core, A.P. Music Theory Exams, and auditions for college music programs and scholarships. Alexis was a past Lecturer of Music Theory at the University of Tennessee. She has also been in demand for teaching group music theory classes and helps prepare students for music theory exams for competitions, A.P. classes, and college diagnostic testing. In 2016-2018 Alexis co-founded and co-directed an ensemble called the Knoxville Youth Trombone Choir. She started the Utah Youth Trombone Choir in Spring 2020. Since 11 years old, Alexis has been actively performing in her church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Some of the roles she has volunteered her time in include music chairman, choir director, organist, pianist, and soloist.
Sophie Volpe
Freelancer, Educator
Performer and educator, Sophie Volpe is dedicated to excellent musicianship, connecting with audiences and teaching aspiring musicians. Sophie has performed with the Rochester Philharmonic, Buffalo Philharmonic, Symphoria Symphony, Clinton Symphony and was scheduled to play with the Greater Rochester Women’s Philharmonic (canceled due to COVID-19). She has performed with musicians from the Metropolitan Opera, Saint Louis Symphony, Empire Brass Quintet, and The United States Army Band and has performed in Severance Hall with the Eastman Wind Ensemble and David Geffen Hall with the Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra. Most recently, Sophie was a finalist in the International Women’s Brass Conference 2019 Mock Audition Competition in Tempe, Arizona. Sophie is a founding member of the Broken Bones Trombone Quartet, who have performed in masterclasses for the Canadian Brass Quintet and the Navy Brass Quintet. The Broken Bones are committed to enriching their community through live concerts; they have performed at the Strong Memorial Hospital, numerous nursing homes, and the George Eastman House Museum. In 2019, they commissioned a work titled Mystic Episodes from trombonist and composer Jack Courtright. The Broken Bones have partnered with Blackbinder Scores to develop their instant scrolling technology for chamber ensembles. In addition to her professional performance career, Sophie is also a dedicated teacher. Most recently, she held the position of Brass Teaching Assistant at Interlochen Arts Camp in the summer of 2018 and 2019, where she was regarded as a “fine teacher, excellent role model and a great [trombone] player” -- Tom Riccobono. Sophie is an alumna of the Eastman School of Music where she earned a Bachelor of Music in Trombone Performance and Music Education as a student of Larry Zalkind. In her time at Eastman Sophie was awarded a Performer’s Certificate and the Steve Witser Award for Excellence. Sophie received her high school diploma from the Interlochen Arts Academy.
Morgan Wynn
The Brass Roots
Morgan Wynn is a trombonist and educator of classical, commercial, jazz, and new music. She is a member of the Pittsburgh-based brass chamber ensemble The Brass Roots, and has performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Opera, River City Brass Band, City Music Cleveland, NAT 28, and Resonance Works. As a passionate educator and clinician, Morgan has worked with students of all ages. She recently gave a masterclass at West Virginia University and has presented a clinic at the Key of She Brass Workshop for young women. Since 2018, she has worked with Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestras and Youth Chamber Connection. For the past year, Morgan has co-taught an artist mentorship initiative at YMCA Lighthouse, a grant recipient of the Mac Miller Fund, where students had the opportunity to write and record original compositions. Her favorite part of teaching is introducing students to new genres, and she enjoys working with a small studio of private students. Morgan was a winner of the Youngstown State University Young Artist Competition and a finalist in the IWBC Ginger Turner Ensemble Competition. Morgan holds a Master of Music from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor of Music Education from Youngstown State University, where she received the Dean’s Award and was a University Scholar. Her primary teachers include Rebecca Cherian, Pete Sullivan, Dr. Michael Crist, and John Olsson.