About the Symposium
The Southeast Trombone Symposium is a six-day event held every summer in the world-class facilities of the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia. Trombone players may choose to attend as a Participant, Auditor, Youth Camper, or Virtual Attendee to take part in the exciting and inspirational masterclasses, concerts, competitions, and performance opportunities.
Our Story
The Southeast Trombone Symposium began in 2010 as a collaboration between the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra trombone section and Dr. Bradley Palmer, Professor of Trombone at Columbus State University. In addition to performing as the ASO trombone section, Colin Williams, Bill Thomas, and George Curran recorded their “Roadwork” CD in Legacy Hall in 2009 with Dr. Palmer serving as the producer. While working together on the recording, the four began to brainstorm the idea of a summer program for trombonists, and a year later, the inaugural Southeast Trombone Symposium was held.
With only 19 participants the first year and a Professors Choir that totaled 9, we started very small. The energy created by the interaction between the participants and faculty was palpable, and word began to spread about the STS. The Symposium has since grown into one of the largest and finest trombone workshops in the US, and even though the 2010 ASO trombone section is now spread apart in orchestras around the world, they return to Columbus, GA each year to form the nucleus of the STS faculty. We have enjoyed collaborating with world-class guest faculty members over the years, and the number of guest artists that we have with us each year continues to grow. Including the participants, auditors, virtual attendees, faculty, Professors Choir members and guest artists, we now have well over 100 people that experience the STS each summer.
Our Story
The Southeast Trombone Symposium began in 2010 as a collaboration between the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra trombone section and Dr. Bradley Palmer, Professor of Trombone at Columbus State University. In addition to performing as the ASO trombone section, Colin Williams, Bill Thomas, and George Curran recorded their “Roadwork” CD in Legacy Hall in 2009 with Dr. Palmer serving as the producer. While working together on the recording, the four began to brainstorm the idea of a summer program for trombonists, and a year later, the inaugural Southeast Trombone Symposium was held.
With only 19 participants the first year and a Professors Choir that totaled 9, we started very small. The energy created by the interaction between the participants and faculty was palpable, and word began to spread about the STS. The Symposium has since grown into one of the largest and finest trombone workshops in the US, and even though the 2010 ASO trombone section is now spread apart in orchestras around the world, they return to Columbus, GA each year to form the nucleus of the STS faculty. We have enjoyed collaborating with world-class guest faculty members over the years, and the number of guest artists that we have with us each year continues to grow. Including the participants, auditors, virtual attendees, faculty, Professors Choir members and guest artists, we now have well over 100 people that experience the STS each summer.