xxxxĘÓƵ

Open to trumpet, french horn, trombone, and tuba students entering grades 9–12 and recent high school graduates (ages 14–18), The xxxxĘÓƵ Summer Brass Lab offers an unparalleled opportunity for high school brass musicians to take their skills to the next level. 

This elite program is designed for passionate young players eager to deepen their musical knowledge and gain invaluable experience with today's top brass professionals in the classical music industry. 

Arrival: Sunday, July 5, 2026 

Program Dates: July 6 – 10, 2026 

Concert: July 10, 2026 

Departure: July 11, 2026 

 

Lead Faculty

John Sebastian Vera, xxxxĘÓƵ Faculty, Principal Trombone, Pittsburgh Opera 

John Sebastian Vera, a native of Texas, became the principal trombonist of the Pittsburgh Opera in 2010 and joined the River City Brass as principal trombone in 2015. He is a founder of the Third Coast Trombone Retreat, professor of trombone at Duquesne University, and faculty member at the xxxxĘÓƵ where he teaches a course on music entrepreneurship and digital media as well as coaches chamber music. In addition to the Pittsburgh Opera, 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. 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 Orchestra. 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 2008-14. With the quartet, Vera performed more than 100 concerts and gave masterclasses 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, which Vera recorded for and acted in along with the quartet. Vera can also be heard on the HBO documentary The Words that Built America and on euphonium in the PBS documentary Abraham and Mary Lincoln, A House Divided, as well as on many commercial and video game soundtracks and on James Markey’s solo release, On Base. Vera 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.

 

Sample Day

  • 8:15am - Breakfast
  • 9:00am - Group Warmups
  • 10:00am - Lessons or Individual Practice
  • 12:00pm - Lunch
  • 1:30pm - Masterclasses or Chamber Music
  • 4:00pm - Music Enrichment Courses
  • 6:00pm - Dinner
  • 7:00pm - Social Activity

 

Tuition & Fees

Application fees are non-refundable 

$25 application fee November 1 – December 15 

$40 application fee December 16 – January 31 

Financial aid is available to xxxxĘÓƵ Summer Institute participants and is primarily need-based and merit-informed. Applicants may request to be considered for financial aid at the time of application. 

Upon acceptance to a program, students will receive information on how to complete the financial aid application. Awards are determined by committee prior to the start of the program and may cover up to the full cost of attendance. Any financial aid award is subject to revision or proration if registration details or student status change. 

Limited funds are available; early application is encouraged. For questions about financial assistance, please email xxxxĘÓƵSummerInstitute@cim.edu 

Tuition: $1,800
Housing: $490
Dining: $420

All travel expenses are the responsibility of the participant.

All students are required to pay the xxxxĘÓƵ Summer Institute dining fee, regardless of whether they use on-campus housing.


For international students: proof of visa requirements for entry to the USA are required at the time of acceptance of admission offer. 

 

Application Timeline: 

Applicants are encouraged to apply early as selected participants may be selected on a rolling basis 

Early November Applications Open 

February 1 Priority Deadline 

March 1 Admission decisions for priority applicants sent 

March 15 Financial Aid application due 

April 1 $300 non-refundable enrollment deposit is due upon accepting your admission offer. This deposit will be applied toward the total tuition due. 
 

Recorded Audition Information

Two contrasting solo movements or etudes of the applicant's choice.