Justin Croushore

Justin has been a dedicated trombone player since middle school and it has served him well. Despite his young age, Justin’s been constantly awarded top honors for his musicianship. Possessing a dynamic range that other musicians can only aspire to achieve, Justin is an amazing young talent.

Justin started his studies in Cincinnati. As a teenager, he was recognized in the Northern Kentucky Band Directors Association for 5 consecutive years by attending the Northern Kentucky Select concert and jazz bands. At the age of 16, Justin was a member in the All State Jazz Ensemble, where he received the ranking of lead trombonist in 2006. When he wasn’t practicing, Justin worked as a clinician, private instructor, and teacher in various public school programs throughout Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana.

With his nationally recognized Reggae band, The Cliftones, Justin was twice named a recipient of the Cincinnati Entertainment Award for best reggae/world music artist in 2011 and 2012. As a classical musician, Justin performs regularly in various chamber groups and orchestras. He is currently a member of Auxilium Quartet, a trombone quartet from the Midwestern United States, which promotes contemporary works for brass chamber ensembles. Justin has performed with notable large ensembles such as the Louisville Orchestra, Bloomington Chamber Singers, and Fillmore Wind Band. In 2011, Justin premiered the award-winning composition for trombone and piano, “In Spite of Thought and Reason, We Dream” by Tyler Kline at the Kentucky Center for Performing Arts. Justin has played in professional productions of many musicals including Hairspray and Bye Bye Birdie.

Justin received a bachelor’s degree in music education from Morehead State University (MSU), where he graduated magna cum laude. At MSU, he was awarded an Undergraduate Research Fellowship for four consecutive years, which was used to sponsor his pursuits in brass pedagogy and performance practices. In 2012, the department of post-secondary education recognized Justin with the 2012 Outstanding Student Award.

Today, Justin keeps busy by pursuing a master’s in trombone performance at The Longy School of Music of Bard College. He also volunteers as a teacher in the Boston Public Schools district and assists with classroom instruction and activities.

Upon graduation from the Longy School of Music in 2014, Justin plans to pursue a doctorate in musical arts. Passionate about both performing and teaching, Justin plans to teach trombone as a university professor.