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Follow the University of Arkansas Trombone Studio

Cleveland Institute of Music Summer Brass Lab

2026 Third Coast Trombone Retreat

Host, Sebastian Vera travels to Arkansas where he interviews Dr. Cory Mixdorf on his joy of teaching and what we learn from life's most unexpected trials.

00:00 Podcast Kickoff

00:24 Timothée Quote Debate

02:09 Opera and Ballet Defense

04:04 Corey McDo Interview Tease

04:59 Retreat and Camp Announcements

07:31 Meet Corey in Arkansas

08:39 Traveling With Trombones

11:03 Trombone Day and Studio Culture

13:08 Corey’s Trombone Origins

14:00 Iowa Roots and Early Success

16:34 College and Teacher Carousel

17:54 Gap Year and Early Teaching

20:04 Family Life and Marriage Story

21:44 Choosing Teaching vs Performing

24:31 Tenure Lessons Learned

27:12 Pandemic Teaching Outdoors

28:15 Post Pandemic Student Maturity

28:59 Freshmen Struggling Post COVID

30:00 Teachers as Part Time Therapists

31:21 Mentorship Beyond Trombone

36:48 Building a Studio Culture

37:47 Sabbatical Pedagogy Tour

40:49 Aha Takeaways and Growth Mindset

45:20 Meyers Brain Tumor Diagnosis

48:21 Chemo Stem Cells and Pandemic Life

54:12 Family Resilience and New Perspective

58:27 Recurrence Anxiety and St Jude

01:03:13 St Jude Costs Explained

01:03:40 Balancing Work and Treatment

01:05:07 Trombone Community Steps Up

01:06:12 Second Round Family Strain

01:08:31 Support Systems and Helping

01:09:59 Scan Anxiety and Resilience

01:12:26 Sticky Note Window Art

01:14:19 Healthcare Empathy Heroes

01:16:18 Lessons and Perspective Shift

01:20:26 Rapid Fire Advice and Gear

01:25:19 Life Offstage Family and Pets

01:29:13 Closing Thanks and Links

Also introducing special features with Patreon: www.patreon.com/tromboneretreat

Learn more about the Trombone Retreat and upcoming festival here: linktr.ee/tromboneretreat

Hosted by Sebastian Vera - @js.vera (insta) and Nick Schwartz - @basstrombone444 (insta)

Produced and edited by Sebastian Vera

Music: Firehorse: Mvt 1 - Trot by Steven Verhelst performed live by Brian Santero, Sebastian Vera and Nick Schwartz

Thank you to our season sponsor Houghton Horns: www.houghtonhorns.com

Support the show

Send us a text

Watch the video of this interview on our YouTube channel!

In this episode of the Trombone Retreat podcast from the Third Coast Trombone Retreat, hosts Sebastian Vera and Nick Schwartz have an engaging conversation with Jeff Dee, principal bass trombonist of the Pittsburgh Symphony. They discuss Jeff's unique journey in music, from his humble beginnings as a young trombone player to his prestigious performances with world-renowned orchestras. Jeff shares stories about his time in Shanghai, overcoming significant challenges, and the critical influences and experiences that shaped his career. They also dive into technical aspects of performance, teaching strategies, and Jeff’s personal interests, including his audio equipment hobby and extensive vinyl collection. The conversation is filled with insightful advice for young musicians and amusing anecdotes, making it a compelling listen for all music enthusiasts.

00:00 Introduction and New Year Greetings

00:42 Discussing New Year's Traditions

01:45 Interview with Jeff D: Beginnings and Career

08:07 Jeff's Journey to Music School

10:42 Challenges and Triumphs in Music Education

23:43 From SMU to Julliard: A Path to Excellence

33:57 Experiences in Shanghai and Jacksonville

45:22 The Bolero Challenge

46:53 Navigating Auditions and Career Moves

48:44 Mindset and Preparation for Success

55:33 The Pittsburgh Symphony Experience

01:06:29 Adapting to Visual Challenges

01:11:38 Audiophile Adventures

01:19:20 Rapid Fire and Reflections

Also introducing special features with Patreon: www.patreon.com/tromboneretreat

Learn more about the Trombone Retreat and upcoming festival here: linktr.ee/tromboneretreat

Hosted by Sebastian Vera - @js.vera (insta) and Nick Schwartz - @basstrombone444 (insta)

Produced and edited by Sebastian Vera

Music: Firehorse: Mvt 1 - Trot by Steven Verhelst performed live by Brian Santero, Sebastian Vera and Nick Schwartz

Thank you to our season sponsor Houghton Horns: www.houghtonhorns.com

Support the show

Send us a text

What if confidence isn’t a mystery, but a practice you can schedule? We sit down with trombonist and educator Brittany Lasch to explore how a teen who left high school early for Manhattan School of Music became a sought-after soloist, Detroit Opera principal, and assistant professor at Indiana University. From a Star Wars spark to deep mentorship with Per Brevig and the late Steve Norrell, Britt shares how fundamentals, buzzing, and musical curiosity shaped her sound—and how honest conversations about performance anxiety, including the careful use of beta blockers with medical guidance, unlocked the ability to perform under pressure.

We dig into the real engine of growth: reps that matter. Weekly mock auditions, steady coaching, and deliberate listening create familiarity that quiets nerves. Britt explains why younger players who live in that cycle often win, and why today’s students must go beyond playlists to know the repertoire, orchestras, and players by name. We also zoom out: a pandemic-era Götterdämmerung staged in a parking garage, a life lifted by animal rescue (yes, that viral Dodo feature), and a marathon habit that translates directly to stage stamina. Endurance, boundaries, and identity beyond the horn keep the work sustainable.

You’ll hear practical strategies for managing auditions, teaching insights from the IU studio and its selective trombone choir, and new recital repertoire worth adding to your list. It’s a warm, candid tour of a modern brass career: part orchestra, part soloist, part studio leader, and wholly grounded in resilient habits. If you’re ready to build confidence the reliable way—one thoughtful rep at a time—press play, subscribe, and share this with a friend who needs a nudge.

Also introducing special features with Patreon: www.patreon.com/tromboneretreat

Learn more about the Trombone Retreat and upcoming festival here: linktr.ee/tromboneretreat

Hosted by Sebastian Vera - @js.vera (insta) and Nick Schwartz - @basstrombone444 (insta)

Produced and edited by Sebastian Vera

Music: Firehorse: Mvt 1 - Trot by Steven Verhelst performed live by Brian Santero, Sebastian Vera and Nick Schwartz

Thank you to our season sponsor Houghton Horns: www.houghtonhorns.com

Support the show