ABOUT
Austin Richardson is the Instructor of Trombone at Loyola University New Orleans and holds the Principal Trombone position with both the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra. Prior to his positions in Louisiana, Austin served as Principal Trombone with the Richardson Symphony Orchestra (Richardson, TX). He has also performed with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Mobile Symphony Orchestra, Meridian Symphony Orchestra, Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra, Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, Monroe Symphony Orchestra, and The Florida Orchestra. Austin has been a guest musician with the Lakes Area Music Festival (Brainerd, MN) and the Artosphere Festival Orchestra (Fayetteville, AR), and was previously a fellow at the National Orchestral Institute.
As a soloist, Austin has been a finalist in the American Trombone Workshop’s National Solo Competition, a semi-finalist in the International Jeju Brass Competition, a prizewinner at the International Women’s Brass Conference, and a winner in concerto competitions at Louisiana State University and the University of North Texas. He has appeared as a featured soloist with the LSU Philharmonia, the LSU Trombone Choir, and the UNT Concert Orchestra. Austin presented at the 2023 and 2024 International Trombone Festival as part of the Performing Artist Showcase series, which highlights new or underperformed works. Dedicated to expanding the instrument's repertoire, Austin has helped commission new works for trombone from Brad Edwards, James Beckel, Iris Ceulemans and Christopher Sharpe.
Equally passionate about music education and pedagogy, Austin has taught low brass at all levels in Louisiana and Texas. He previously served as a Teaching Fellow at UNT where he taught brass methods courses, and was the Instructor of Low Brass at Tarrant County College in Arlington, TX. In Louisiana, Austin previously taught low brass for Kids' Orchestra, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing music education to students of all backgrounds. Currently, Austin is the Instructor of Trombone at Loyola University New Orleans. Austin also teaches privately and as a mentor through the LPO Academy. Austin has presented guest recitals and masterclasses at the University of South Alabama, Louisiana State University, Loyola University, the University of Texas at Arlington and Tarleton State University.
Austin received his Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music and a Master's degree from Louisiana State University. He is currently a doctoral candidate finishing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of North Texas. His primary teachers have included Steve Menard, Hana Beloglavec, Larry Zalkind and John Marcellus.
Austin is proud to be an S.E. Shires Artist and plays Shires trombones exclusively.
