Stephen Whimple

Dr. Stephen Whimple is currently an orchestra fellow with The Orchestra Now at Bard College, where he plays tenor, alto, and bass trombone. Previously, Dr. Whimple served as an Instructor and Graduate Teaching Assistant at The University of Alabama. Prior to his doctoral studies, Stephen attended the Juilliard School as an Irene Diamond Graduate Fellow, Music Advancement Program Teaching Fellow, and Morse Teaching Artist Fellow. He completed his bachelor’s degree at The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. His primary teachers include Dr. Jonathan Whitaker, Dr. Jeremy Crawford, Joseph Alessi, and Dr. Mark Hartman.

Stephen is an alumnus of programs such as the Arthur Frackenpohl Honors Brass Quintet, the Third Coast Trombone Retreat, the Winter Trombone Workshop, the Texas Music Festival, the Hot Springs Music Festival, the Chautauqua Institution and the New York String Orchestra Seminar. As an orchestral musician, he has performed under the baton of conductors such as Edo de Waart, JoAnn Falletta, Itzak Perlman, Hanz Graf, Sir Mark Elder, Jeffery Milarsky and David Robertson. Stephen has been recognized in competitions sponsored by the University of Alabama Huxford Symphony Concerto Competition, the International Trombone Association, the American Trombone Workshop, the Big 12 Trombone Conference competition and the Crane School of Music Concerto and Chamber music competitions. Most recently, he was named the winner of the 2022 American Trombone Workshop’s Bass Trombone Solo Competition.

Dr. Whimple’s students at Virtu have had a multitude of successes ranging from all-state ensembles, youth orchestras, and international tours. Students that reside in New York State have had continued success with high NYSSMA scores. His studio currently consists of students ranging from middle school age students to college students and freelancers. Students work on a wide range of topics, while the primary focus is to gain comfort on the instrument and understand the mechanics of healthy brass playing, we also work on etudes, solos, ensemble, and audition music as needed and desired.