Join us on Sunday, September 28th, 2025 for an afternoon of inspiration, learning, and performance at the Texas All-State Slide Summit.
Tenor Trombone Session (Rescheduled), September 28th (2:00 PM – 5:00 PM) with Sebastian Vera
Highlights include:
• Masterclass covering aspects of technique, sound, and musicianship, especially focused on performance of the 2025-2026 TMEA etudes
• Performance demonstrations by our guest artist, showcasing virtuosity and interpretation
• All-State audition preparation tips that go beyond just the music
• Group performance opportunities for all attendees to play along with our guest artist
• Individual solo performance opportunities on stage with personalized feedback from our guest artist for premium admission holders
• Instrument, mouthpiece, and other trial opportunities and resources provided by Houghton Horns
Media Consent: By registering for this event, you agree to allow Houghton Horns to use any photos, videos, or other media taken during the event for promotional purposes.
Please select the correct number of tickets below, then click the red “Get Tickets” button to proceed!
John Sebastian Vera, a native of Texas, became the principal trombonist of the Pittsburgh Opera in 2010. He is a founder of the Third Coast Trombone Retreat and also trombone faculty at Duquesne University and Head of Brass and Percussion at the Cleveland Institute of Music.
In addition to the Pittsburgh Opera, Mr. Vera has played with the symphonies of Dallas, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Buffalo, Kennedy Center Opera House, Malaysian Philharmonic, New York City Ballet, Vermont, Harrisburg, Charleston, American Ballet Theatre, and Orquesta Sinaloa de las Artes in Mexico amongst others.
A multi-year All-State musician and graduate of Marcus High School, he began his studies with Jon Bohls in Texas and continued his education at Southern Methodist University where he studied with John Kitzman of the Dallas Symphony. He then spent a year studying with Ed Zadrozny as a graduate assistant at the University of Akron, and finished his graduate work in New York City at the Mannes College of Music studying with David Finlayson and James Markey of the New York Philharmonic.
In 2011, he spent the summer in Haiti volunteer teaching and performing in the Orchestre Philharmonique Sainte Trinite as well as the Ecole de Musique Dessaix Baptiste which became one of the more profound experiences of his life.
A dedicated chamber musician, he also was a founding member of the critically acclaimed Guidonian Hand Trombone Quartet in which he played from 2008–2014. With the quartet, John performed over 100 concerts and gave master classes all over the country. Heralded by the New York Times for their “expertly played performances” they have been recipients of numerous national grants which have enabled them to commission countless composers to create new and innovative works for four trombones. In 2014 was the premiere of River of Fundament, a movie by film artist Matthew Barney, in which John recorded for and acted in along with the quartet.
Mr. Vera can also be heard on the HBO documentary The Words that Built America as well as on euphonium in the PBS documentary Abraham and Mary Lincoln, A House Divided as well as many commercial and video game soundtracks as well as James Markey’s solo release, “On Base”.
Sebastian is an artist for Thein Instruments, has a signature JSV mouthpiece line he developed with Houghton Horns and resides in Pittsburgh. His favorite musicians include Sigur Ros, Radiohead, the Books, and Efterklang. When he can get away from the trombone he most enjoys basketball, traveling and reading about psychology, and social science. Check out his podcast he hosts with Nick Schwartz called the Trombone Retreat available everywhere you download your podcasts. Follow him on Instagram @js.vera.
