About
Brett Shuster is a Grammy® Award recording artist and Trombone Professor at the University of Louisville. His performance experience includes two years traveling internationally with the Grammy winning Chestnut Brass Company. In addition, he has appeared with the Louisville Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Vermont Symphony, Arizona Opera, and Boston Philharmonic.
Professor Shuster has recorded on the Polygram, Centaur Records, Newport Classics, Albany, Warner, and Summit labels. He recorded four compact discs with the Chestnut Brass Company to critical acclaim. In 2011 he released his first solo CD, entitled Free Flying, on Albany Records.
In March 2004, Dr. Shuster was the featured soloist with the United States Army Orchestra at the Eastern Trombone Workshop. He also presented the first complete performance of Norman Bolter’s Mountains, Lakes, and Trees with the Orquestra Sinfonica da USC on alto, tenor and bass trombone, respectfully. During the 2007-2008 season Shuster was the interim principal trombonist of the Louisville Orchestra. He is also active as a sackbut soloist and performs regularly with Kentucky Baroque Trumpets and Bourbon Baroque. Shuster performed as a featured soloist at the International Trombone Festival in 2011 and 2013.
Professor Shuster’s educational background includes a B.M. from the New England Conservatory of Music, an M.M. from Northwestern University, and a D.M.A. from Arizona State University. Over the past 35 years, Shuster has studied with many of the finest brass teachers including George Sanders, David Mathie, Norman Bolter, John Swallow, Frank Crisafulli and Gail Eugene Wilson.
Shuster is a member of the Louisville Brass, the faculty brass quintet in residence at the University of Louisville. In 2011 he was awarded a Distinguished Faculty Award from the University of Louisville for his scholarship, research and creative activity. Dr. Shuster’s teaching experience also includes serving on the faculty of Western Illinois University and Temple University.