SFA Trombones

Super excited to announce our new adjunct professor of trombone, Tom Mensch! With such an incredible performer, teacher, and conductor joining the team, we are in for an exciting time!

Originally from Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, Tom Mensch was the Director of Bands at Whitehouse Independent School District and also the Fine Arts and Communications Learning Leader for WHITEHOUSE HIGH SCHOOL. Previously he was the Director of Bands and Professor of Trombone at Tyler Junior College. Tom has conducted numerous low brass and band clinics throughout North East Texas and has been the clinician for several TMEA/ATSSB Region 3, 4 and 21 concert bands as well as the Four States Honor Concert Band. He is an artist for XO Brass Instruments, a member of the KHS American Instrument Brand and he has helped in the development of trombones within the XO trombone line of instruments. He is also an artist Greg Black Mouthpieces. Mr. Mensch is an active performer on tenor trombone with the Rose City Brass Quintet, Lead Trombone with the Souled Out Jazz Orchestra, The Metro Big Band, is the Principal Trombonist with the Longview Symphony, and is a freelance musician throughout the East Texas Area. He was a featured soloist with several high school bands and colleges and has performed as a soloist at the Texas Music Educator’s Association Conference. As a member of the Metro Big Band, he has performed in over twelve different countries and recorded 7 albums. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the Pennsylvania State University in 1996 and earned his Master’s Degree in Trombone Performance from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2009. Tom is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, International Trombone Association, The National Band Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Phi Beta Mu, and Phi Mu Alpha. He is happily married to Heather, who is also a professional bass trombonist, and they have a dog named Zoe.

So proud of Caleb Haffner receiving one of the prestigious Dean’s scholarships this semester. What a fantastic trombone player and person! Congratulations, Caleb!

Fantastic week with international performing artist, Yu Tamaki Hoso! We learned so much!

Go Trombones! An incredible Alumni reunion with incredible people! All doing amazing things and making a difference in our world!

Don Lucas, Associate Professor of Trombone and Chair of Woodwinds, Brass and Percussion at Boston University will be presenting a masterclass on Monday 2/10/25 at 6pm in Cole Hall. Join the SFA Trombone Studio for this event!

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