UNT Trombone Studio

(Jeremy Wilson and Jim Kazik working with the UNT Symphonic Band conducted by Dennis Fisher)

North Texas trombone alumnus, Jeremy Wilson, who landed a prestigious position with the acclaimed Vienna Philharmonic while still a first-year master's student, returned to his alma mater Feb. 7 to perform alumnus James Kazik's Concerto for Trombone with the UNT Symphonic Band. 

James Kazik received his MM in Trombone performance at UNT in 2000, and since 2001, he has been a staff arranger at one of the premiere Washington DC service bands since 2001.  As an arranger and orchestrator, his arrangements have been performed not only by all of the various elements of "Pershing's Own", but also by various groups to include the National Symphony Orchestra, and recorded by Joseph Alessi and the Juiliard Trombone Choir, as heard on Alessi's recording Return to Sorrento.  He is also a staff writer for Hal Leonard Corp. in their string department, writing pop arrangements and compositions for easy string ensembles.  As a composer, his works, particularly those for trombone, continue to win acclaim both in the U.S. and abroad. He is currently composer-in-residence for the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic in Washington D.C.

In 2006 Jeremy attended the UNT to pursue a master's degree.   During his time here, he was a teaching fellow, principal trombonist in the North Texas Wind Symphony, and a member of the prestigious One O'Clock Lab Band.    As part of the UNT Teaching Fellow Quartet and as a solo competitor, he won the Eastern Trombone Workshop National Quartet Competition and National Solo Competition and the International Trombone Association's Quartet Competition.   Just before moving to Vienna, he also won the International Trombone Association's Frank Smith Classical Solo Competition.  

Now in his fifth season in Vienna, Jeremy has performed over 250 Philharmonic concerts in 27 countries under some of the world's greatest conductors, including Daniel Barenboim, Pierre Boulez, Gustavo Dudamel, Valery Gergiev, Mariss Jansons, Lorin Maazel, Zubin Mehta, Riccardo Muti, Simon Rattle, and Franz Welser-Möst.   In the Vienna State Opera, Jeremy has played well over 500 performances of 80 different operas and ballets.   He is currently the only American performing member of either orchestra, and in October 2010, Jeremy became one of just a handful of Americans ever to have been made a full member of the Society of the Wiener Philharmoniker.  He and his wife Kristi now live in a small north of Vienna with their 3-year-old son Elijah.   

Jeremy also performs often as a solo artist and clinician for the Edwards Instrument Company.   He has recently lectured and performed at the University of Tennessee, the San Francisco Conservatory, and the University of North Texas, and was a featured guest artist at the 2011 International Trombone Festival.

(Professor Jan Kagarice working with Jeremy)