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Debra Taylor is currently Principal Trombone of the New Mexico Philharmonic. She had been Principal Trombonist with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra for eighteen years and recently joined some of New Mexico’s finest jazz players as a member of the Southwest Jazz Orchestra. She has taught trombone and chamber music at UNM since 2000.

Ms. Taylor grew up in rural New York State and spent six happy years performing with her small town marching band. She studied at Boston University and received her Bachelor’s degree from the renowned Curtis Institute of Music. In May 2007 she completed a Master of Music degree at UNM, with a focus on jazz improvisation.

Her artistry has taken her from an appearance at Carnegie Hall, with the New York Trumpet Ensemble, to solo performances at several international brass festivals. Ms. Taylor was the soloist for two world premiers at the University of New Mexico Composers’ Symposium. She has been a guest artist at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, and has played recitals and concertos throughout the United States.

In 2006 Ms. Taylor traveled to Beijing, China, with the New Mexico Brass Quintet. Her master class there was so well received that a second class was added to accommodate a larger audience. She has been a clinician at several international brass festivals and at universities nationwide. While living in Chicago, Ms. Taylor was the Trombone Instructor at Roosevelt University.

Ms. Taylor has held positions with Chicago’s Grant Park Symphony, the San Diego Symphony, the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra, the Taipei (Taiwan) Festival Orchestra, and the Florida Symphony. Her collaborations have included intensive work with composer Patricia Repar and a four year project with modern dance legend Bill Evans.

Ms. Taylor’s teaching is insightful, engaging, and keeps students focused on their career goals. She has written for the International Trombone Journal and is a clinician for the Edwards Instrument Company.

She and her husband, attorney Whitney Johnson, are busy raising their two children, Noah and Ava. The family enjoys camping, music, and outdoor sports.

Debra Taylor, trombone

Meet the Musicians

CELLO
Amy Huzjak
Jonathan Flaksman •••

Carla Lehmeier-Tatum
Ian Mayne-Brody
Dana Winograd
David Schepps
Lisa Collins
Elizabeth Purvis

BASS
Jean-Luc Matton •+
Zachary Bush
++
Mark Tatum ••
Katherine Olszowka
Terry Pruitt
Frank Murry

FLUTE
Valerie Potter
Jiyoun Hur ••

OBOE
Kevin Vigneau
Amanda Talley

ENGLISH HORN
Melissa Peña ••+
Lauren Keating ••++

CLARINET
Marianne Shifrin •+
Lori Lovato •••
Timothy Skinner

E-FLAT CLARINET
Lori Lovato

BASS CLARINET
Timothy Skinner +
Cory Tamez ++

BASSOON
Stefanie Przybylska •
Denise Turner

HORN
Peter Erb
Allison Tutton
Katelyn Lewis •••
Maria Long ••••

TRUMPET
John Marchiando
Brynn Marchiando
Sam Oatts •••

TROMBONE
Aaron Zalkind
Byron Herrington

BASS TROMBONE
David Tall

TUBA
Richard White

TIMPANI
Micah Harrow

PERCUSSION
Jeff Cornelius
Kenneth Dean
Emily Cornelius

HARP
Matthew Tutsky

Principal •
Assistant Principal ••
Associate Principal •••
Assistant ••••
Leave +
One year position ++