The UNT trombone studio must regretfully announce that Steve Wiest has accepted a new position with unique opportunities in Denver, CO beginning Fall 2014. Steve has made an outstanding contribution to our trombone program in the six years he has been with us. In addition to his usual outstanding jazz trombone teaching, arranging and composing, he was responsible for founding the now highly successful U-Tubes Jazz Trombone Ensemble, while garnering the Kai Winding Jazz Trombone Ensemble Award in its first year of existence. A year later he led the effort to create the first U-Tube's CD.
Steve's new position in Denver is titled " Coordinator of the 21st century music initiative", meaning that he will be bringing people together to teach all aspects of what it means to be diverse and well-rounded musicians in today's ever-changing musical landscape. In the meantime he will continue to teach composition and improvisation while putting together a new series of classes and initiatives.
In addition he will be creating a new group called The Symposium that will combine jazz and classical instrumentation. Along with these duties he will be the new artistic director of the Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra.
His infectious enthusiasm and colorful personality will be missed by all, making it UNT's loss and Colorado's win. We wish him our very best, and collectively thank him for his outstanding contribution.