Brass Area Faculty

Jazz Area Brass Faculty

Faculty Spotlight

Faculty Spotlight
Timothy Riordan, Trombone

riordan.jpg What year did you start working at NIU?: 2020
Where is your hometown? And, where do you live now?: Lansing, IL
In which area do you teach?: Trombone
Where did you attend college and what degree(s) have you received?: Eastman School of Music BM and Performer’s Certificate
Were you a first generation college student?: No
What do you like about working at NIU?: I love all the support I’ve gotten from the wonderful staff and my new students are working very hard in these challenging times. The various trombone ensembles I direct give me a chance to apply concepts learned in individual lessons to a practical setting.
What advice would you give to students currently attending NIU?: Practice smart, balance your various workloads, go to class.
Tell us about a special project or research that you have led: I’m currently working with a trombone octet comprised of select NIU students to record American Voices, a piece celebrating famous women of the Civil Rights Movement by African American composer Jonathan Bailey Holland.
What do you hope students take away from your class? How to be driven, hard-working, and professional musicians.
Who has influenced your professional path?* My trombone teacher, John Marcellus (Doc), showed me teaching was a noble career path. He proved that a teaching artist could be as well-regarded and influential as any professional symphony musician.
Tell us about any professional ensembles/groups you are a part of and/or some of your favorite professional musical experiences. I freelance and play take musical performing opportunities which appeal to me, but I teach every day of the week. I’m a professional musician, but my audience is often just one student.
What community organizations are you involved in? I’ve been an active parent in my five children’s activities, from sports to Boy and Girl Scouts to area youth orchestras and bands.
What do you do to relax or recharge? I have five teenagers, so video games and competitive family ping pong and board games.

 

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