
The Trombone Retreat
Universal stories of struggle, inspiration and achievement through the eyes of trombone players. Equal parts thoughtful and hilarious. Hosted by Sebastian Vera, principal trombonist of the Pittsburgh Opera and Nick Schwartz, principal bass trombonist of the New York City Ballet.
Latest episodes

Oct 7, 2021 • 1h 48min
Sasha Romero
Send us a textNick and Sebastian talk to Sasha Romero, principal trombonist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra about her tenure process in the times of a pandemic, crazy trips to Russia and how she regained motivation after burnout.*This episode was recorded before Sasha transitioned Since the recording of this episode, Sasha transitioned and changed names. Throughout the episode, she will be referred to by her dead name, but we want to emphasize that any references to her in the present should use her current name and pronouns (she/her).Also introducing special features with Patreon: www.patreon.com/tromboneretreatLearn more about the Trombone Retreat and upcoming festival here: linktr.ee/tromboneretreat Hosted by Sebastian Vera - @js.vera (instagram) and Nick Schwartz - @basstrombone444 (instagram) Produced and edited by Sebastian Vera Music: Firehorse: Mvt 1 - Trot by Steven Verhelst performed live by Brian Santero, Sebastian Vera and Nick Schwartz NYC sounds: https://freesound.org/people/knufds/sounds/345948/Also introducing special features with Patreon: www.patreon.com/tromboneretreatLearn 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 VeraMusic: Firehorse: Mvt 1 - Trot by Steven Verhelst performed live by Brian Santero, Sebastian Vera and Nick SchwartzThank you to our season sponsor Houghton Horns: www.houghtonhorns.comSupport the show

Sep 17, 2021 • 1h 15min
Jon Bohls - Live at the Festival of Trombones
Send us a textNick and Sebastian talk to legendary trombone instructor and former International Trombone Festival Director, Jon Bohls, about his life lessons from over 50(!) years of teaching, the ups and downs running the ITF and the more important lessons we should be teaching young people.Also introducing special features with Patreon: www.patreon.com/tromboneretreatLearn more about the Trombone Retreat and upcoming festival here: linktr.ee/tromboneretreat Hosted by Sebastian Vera - @js.vera (instagram) and Nick Schwartz - @basstrombone444 (instagram) Produced and edited by Sebastian Vera Music: Firehorse: Mvt 1 - Trot by Steven Verhelst performed live by Brian Santero, Sebastian Vera and Nick Schwartz Texas sounds:https://freesound.org/people/felix.blume/sounds/208024/Also introducing special features with Patreon: www.patreon.com/tromboneretreatLearn 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 VeraMusic: Firehorse: Mvt 1 - Trot by Steven Verhelst performed live by Brian Santero, Sebastian Vera and Nick SchwartzThank you to our season sponsor Houghton Horns: www.houghtonhorns.comSupport the show

Jul 31, 2021 • 1h 55min
Joseph Alessi - Live at the ITF
Send us a textFor their first interview live in front of an audience at the International Trombone Festival, Nick and Sebastian talk to Joseph Alessi, principal trombonist of the New York Philharmonic about his life and career, how he views pressure in his position and the poster Sebastian had of him on his wall growing up.Also introducing special features with Patreon: www.patreon.com/tromboneretreatLearn more about the Trombone Retreat and upcoming festival here: linktr.ee/tromboneretreatHosted by Sebastian Vera - @js.vera (instagram) and Nick Schwartz - @basstrombone444 (instagram) Produced and edited by Sebastian Vera Music: Firehorse: Mvt 1 - Trot by Steven Verhelst performed live by Brian Santero, Sebastian Vera and Nick Schwartz New York City sounds: https://freesound.org/people/georgisound/sounds/368602/Also introducing special features with Patreon: www.patreon.com/tromboneretreatLearn 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 VeraMusic: Firehorse: Mvt 1 - Trot by Steven Verhelst performed live by Brian Santero, Sebastian Vera and Nick SchwartzThank you to our season sponsor Houghton Horns: www.houghtonhorns.comSupport the show

Jul 2, 2021 • 1h 37min
John Sebastian Vera
Send us a textNick finally interviews his co-host, Sebastian Vera, principal trombonist of the Pittsburgh Opera and River City Brass Band about how they became friends, an almost catastrophic hot tub experience and the importance of failing.Also introducing special features with Patreon: www.patreon.com/tromboneretreatLearn more about the Trombone Retreat and upcoming festival here: linktr.ee/tromboneretreat Hosted by Sebastian Vera - @js.vera (instagram) and Nick Schwartz - @basstrombone444 (instagram) Produced and edited by Sebastian Vera Music: Firehorse: Mvt 1 - Trot by Steven Verhelst performed live by Brian Santero, Sebastian Vera and Nick Schwartz Texas sounds: https://freesound.org/people/naturenutt/sounds/326251/Also introducing special features with Patreon: www.patreon.com/tromboneretreatLearn 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 VeraMusic: Firehorse: Mvt 1 - Trot by Steven Verhelst performed live by Brian Santero, Sebastian Vera and Nick SchwartzThank you to our season sponsor Houghton Horns: www.houghtonhorns.comSupport the show

Jun 16, 2021 • 2h 2min
Ko-ichiro Yamamoto
Send us a textNick and Sebastian talk to Ko-ichiro Yamamoto, principal trombonist of the Seattle Symphony about his path from Japan to the United States, the importance of talking to people when times are hard and a very important proposal from Sebastian. Also introducing special features with Patreon: www.patreon.com/tromboneretreatLearn more about the Trombone Retreat and upcoming festival here: linktr.ee/tromboneretreatHosted by Sebastian Vera - @js.vera (instagram) and Nick Schwartz - @basstrombone444 (instagram) Produced and edited by Sebastian Vera Music: Firehorse: Mvt 1 - Trot by Steven Verhelst performed live by Brian Santero, Sebastian Vera and Nick Schwartz Seattle sounds: https://freesound.org/people/hargissssound/sounds/324591/Also introducing special features with Patreon: www.patreon.com/tromboneretreatLearn 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 VeraMusic: Firehorse: Mvt 1 - Trot by Steven Verhelst performed live by Brian Santero, Sebastian Vera and Nick SchwartzThank you to our season sponsor Houghton Horns: www.houghtonhorns.comSupport the show

May 17, 2021 • 1h 37min
Colin Williams
Send us a textNick and Sebastian talk to Colin Williams, associate principal trombonist of the New York Philharmonic, about facing an almost career ending injury, finding joy with career and family and what it's like playing in a section with both of his teachers.Also introducing special features with Patreon: www.patreon.com/tromboneretreatLearn more about the Trombone Retreat and upcoming festival here: linktr.ee/tromboneretreat Hosted by Sebastian Vera - @js.vera (instagram) and Nick Schwartz - @basstrombone444 (instagram) Produced and edited by Sebastian Vera Music: Firehorse: Mvt 1 - Trot by Steven Verhelst performed live by Brian Santero, Sebastian Vera and Nick Schwartz Lincoln Center sounds: https://freesound.org/people/shuraifa/sounds/412716/ Also introducing special features with Patreon: www.patreon.com/tromboneretreatLearn 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 VeraMusic: Firehorse: Mvt 1 - Trot by Steven Verhelst performed live by Brian Santero, Sebastian Vera and Nick SchwartzThank you to our season sponsor Houghton Horns: www.houghtonhorns.comSupport the show

Apr 30, 2021 • 1h 31min
Peter Steiner
Send us a textNick and Sebastian talk to Italian trombone soloist Peter Steiner about transitioning from an orchestral career to a solo career, finding balance in social media and his secret chipotle audition hack.Also introducing special features with Patreon: www.patreon.com/tromboneretreatLearn more about the Trombone Retreat and upcoming festival here: linktr.ee/tromboneretreat Hosted by Sebastian Vera - @js.vera (instagram) and Nick Schwartz - @basstrombone444 (instagram) Produced and edited by Sebastian Vera Music: Firehorse: Mvt 1 - Trot by Steven Verhelst performed live by Brian Santero, Sebastian Vera and Nick Schwartz Vienna sounds: https://freesound.org/people/TeTeNoise/sounds/518728 Also introducing special features with Patreon: www.patreon.com/tromboneretreatLearn 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 VeraMusic: Firehorse: Mvt 1 - Trot by Steven Verhelst performed live by Brian Santero, Sebastian Vera and Nick SchwartzThank you to our season sponsor Houghton Horns: www.houghtonhorns.comSupport the show

Apr 2, 2021 • 1h 35min
Brad Edwards
Send us a textNick and Sebastian talk to Brad Edwards, professor of trombone at Arizona State University about choosing to be grateful, how composing his lip slur book got him in the best shape of his life, and allowing students to teach themselves. Also introducing special features with Patreon: www.patreon.com/tromboneretreatLearn more about the Trombone Retreat and upcoming festival here: linktr.ee/tromboneretreatHosted by Sebastian Vera - @js.vera (instagram) and Nick Schwartz - @basstrombone444 (instagram)Produced and edited by Sebastian VeraMusic: Firehorse: Mvt 1 - Trot by Steven Verhelst performed live by Brian Santero, Sebastian Vera and Nick SchwartzArizona sounds: https://freesound.org/people/zidzid/sounds/395319/Also introducing special features with Patreon: www.patreon.com/tromboneretreatLearn 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 VeraMusic: Firehorse: Mvt 1 - Trot by Steven Verhelst performed live by Brian Santero, Sebastian Vera and Nick SchwartzThank you to our season sponsor Houghton Horns: www.houghtonhorns.comSupport the show

Mar 5, 2021 • 1h 19min
Randall Hawes
Send us a textNick and Sebastian talk to Randy Hawes, former bass trombonist of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra about looking back on his career in Detroit, his unexpected favorite composer and his smooth dating wisdom for trombonists.Also introducing special features with Patreon: www.patreon.com/tromboneretreatLearn more about the Trombone Retreat and upcoming festival here: linktr.ee/tromboneretreatHosted by Sebastian Vera - @js.vera (instagram) and Nick Schwartz - @basstrombone444 (instagram)Produced and edited by Sebastian VeraMusic: Firehorse: Mvt 1 - Trot by Steven Verhelst performed live by Brian Santero, Sebastian Vera and Nick SchwartzMichigan sounds: https://freesound.org/people/onohobo/sounds/120806/Also introducing special features with Patreon: www.patreon.com/tromboneretreatLearn 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 VeraMusic: Firehorse: Mvt 1 - Trot by Steven Verhelst performed live by Brian Santero, Sebastian Vera and Nick SchwartzThank you to our season sponsor Houghton Horns: www.houghtonhorns.comSupport the show

Feb 15, 2021 • 1h 17min
Vanessa Fralick
Send us a textNick and Sebastian talk to Vanessa Fralick, associate principal trombonist of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra about finding unexpected inspiration during the pandemic, hyper-specific goalsetting, and if Canadians are actually really that nice.Also introducing special features with Patreon: www.patreon.com/tromboneretreatLearn more about the Trombone Retreat and upcoming festival here: linktr.ee/tromboneretreatHosted by Sebastian Vera - @js.vera (instagram) and Nick Schwartz - @basstrombone444 (instagram)Produced and edited by Sebastian VeraMusic: Firehorse: Mvt 1 - Trot by Steven Verhelst performed live by Brian Santero, Sebastian Vera and Nick SchwartzToronto sounds: https://freesound.org/people/lonemonk/sounds/239571/Also introducing special features with Patreon: www.patreon.com/tromboneretreatLearn 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 VeraMusic: Firehorse: Mvt 1 - Trot by Steven Verhelst performed live by Brian Santero, Sebastian Vera and Nick SchwartzThank you to our season sponsor Houghton Horns: www.houghtonhorns.comSupport the show
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