MEET OUR
TEACHERS
ANGELA JOHNSON
Angela Johnson is the founder of Full-Blown Trombone and a trombonist and music educator based in Catonsville, Maryland. She performs regularly with the Ellicott City Trombone Choir and the Summer Club Big Band.
Angela has been featured as a soloist with the Ocean City Pops Orchestra and Jersey Shore Pops Orchestra. She has performed with the Capital Wind Symphony, the Trinity Chamber Orchestra, Bayside Brass Quintet, Monumental Brass Quintet, Category 5 Wind Ensemble, the Prince George's Philharmonic, BSO Academy, DC Strings and Heritage Trombones. As a Showband musician, she has entertained audiences aboard Carnival Cruise ships and at Busch Gardens Entertainment venues.
A highly sought-after teacher, Angela manages a private studio and conducts low brass sectionals and masterclasses for area schools and youth orchestras. Her private students have won concerto competitions and seats in youth orchestras and regional honors bands. Angela Johnson received a Bachelor of Music in Trombone Performance from Temple University's Boyer College of Music in Philadelphia under the instruction of Matthew Vaughn. Additional teachers include Richard Linn and Paul Bryan.
KIRSTEN LIES-WARFIELD
Kirsten Lies-Warfield hails from Fargo, North Dakota. While that may seem like the middle of nowhere to many, she received a high quality arts education from teachers who still influence her thinking today.
Kirsten found further inspiration at her undergraduate institution, Lawrence University, where she received a BM degree, magna cum laude, in 1994. Following graduation, she married Patrick Warfield and moved to Indiana where he began graduate school. Ms. Warfield began her studies at Indiana University in 1996, receiving a MM degree and then moving on to doctoral studies in brass pedagogy. She joined The United States Army Band in 1999, becoming the first woman trombonist ever hired by ‘Pershing’s Own.’
Ms. Warfield has also been principal trombone of the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic and the Prince George's Philharmonic and is currently second trombone with the Arlington Philharmonic. She is a member of the contemporary music group, Great Noise Ensemble, the ethno-funk band, Black Masala and is currently serving on the board of advisors for the International Trombone Association. She has played with the Monarch Brass, Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra, Chopteeth Afrofunk, Shannon Gunn and the Bullettes, McLean Orchestra and Pan-American Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Warfield also is an active composer-performer, writing works to suit her needs and tastes to perform for local and national audiences. Ms. Warfield is available for Zoom lessons only.
ABHINN MALHOTRA
Originally from Long Island, Abhinn began his undergraduate education at Hofstra University as a Euphonium Performance major studying with Michael Salzman. He was the recipient of the Stephen P. Saltzman Endowed Scholarship, an annual award for undergraduate Euphonium players demonstrating excellence in performance. During his time at Hofstra, he also began studying independently and performing as a soloist under the guidance of Aaron Vanderweele. Abhinn transferred to the Peabody Institute of Music to complete his undergraduate Euphonium studies with Dr. Steven Kellne. He has performed at Peabody as principal Euphonium of the Peabody Wind Ensemble, and Brass Band, and as a member of the Peabody Concert Orchestra, Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, and Trombone Ensemble. It was at the Peabody Institute that he also began formally studying Wind Conducting with Dr. Harlan D. Parker.
After graduating with his Bachelor’s Degree in Euphonium Performance, Abhinn returned to Peabody and began pursuing two Master’s degrees in Wind Conducting and Euphonium Performance, continuing his studies with Dr. Harlan D. Parker, and Dr. Steven Kellner respectively. After completing his Graduate degrees in 2018, Abhinn returned to the Peabody Institute as a Doctoral Candidate in Wind Conducting, and was awarded the Wind Conducting Graduate Assistantship. He teaches Beginner conducting courses, assists with intermediate and advanced conducting courses taught by Dr. Harlan Parker, and continues to give recitals and conducts the Peabody Wind Ensemble along with his duties as the music director for the Johns Hopkins Wind Ensemble. Outside of music, Abhinn enjoys cooking, road trips, and is an avid hockey and baseball fan.
AUSTIN FAIRLEY
Austin is a low brass specialist based out of Stafford, Virginia. He is currently pursuing a Masters of Music in Bass Trombone Performance at the University of Maryland. He has performed in the top ensembles at Shenandoah Conservatory including the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble and Big Band, where he had many opportunities to perform in many different venues, from soloing with the the Shenandoah University Trombone Collective on Millennium Stage to Performing to sold out crowds in the largest concert halls in South America. Austin has acquired many skills over his time at Shenandoah such as arranging, teaching and conducting in all genres. He has a love for teaching and inspiring the next generation in whatever they’re most passionate about in music.
JOHN McCAHEY
Starting from an early discovery of John Coltrane, John was hooked on music quick. It was Coltrane and other jazz artists that helped John choose trombone as an instrument. While early studies and performances focused on classical music, John quickly transitioned to study jazz with Jim McFalls and Dave Ballou at Towson University. Towson's unique curriculum combined with his experiences in bands like 9 Mile Roots, Screaming Art Large Ensemble and Joe Keyes and Late Bloomer Band expanded John's view of music. He also worked as a cruise ship musician.
John was invited to join the first class of the graduate school of music at the Hartt School of Music - University of Hartford. There John studied with renowned jazz trombone artist Steve Davis and Javon Jackson. This narrowed his focus to learn the Jazz tradition, while he also taught himself to compose and to play trumpet and piano. Currently John enjoys teaching trombone and trumpet, composing, studying, and performing as much as possible!
WILL GAMACHE
William Gamache currently resides in Sterling, Virginia. He has taught middle school band in Colorado and Oregon for the last 10 years, and has taught trombone, bass trombone, euphonium and tuba lessons since 2006. Mr. Gamache holds his MM in trombone performance from Colorado State University and 2 bachelor's degrees in euphonium performance and music education from Colorado State University.
Mr. Gamache currently is the trombonist with the NOVA Brass Quintet and the DC-based ska band The Fuss, and also perfroms on euphonium with the Fairfax Wind Symphony and the Rockville Brass Band. Mr. Gamache is extremely excited to live and work in the DC area, and enjoys working with students of all ages and experience levels on trombone, bass trombone, euphonium, and tuba.
HUNTER SWANSON
Hunter Swanson began playing euphonium in 2008 for the Flagstaff High School Band program under the direction of Jon Eder. In 2010 he spent the summer marching with The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps. In 2016 he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps as a bandsman, and subsequently served with the 2d Marine Division Band as their principal euphoniumist and section leader. During his tour he performed across the country as well as internationally. In addition to performances in wind band, he has experience playing a wide range of styles from brass quintet to big band. Hunter Swanson has been featured as a soloist by the Old Pueblo Brass Band, the George Mason University Wind Symphony, and at the Kennedy Center. As a member of the Fairfax Four, a brass quartet started by a group of friends at George Mason University, he was featured by the American Festival Pops Orchestra in December of 2022. Hunter Swanson graduated with his Bachelor of Music in Euphonium Performance from George Mason University in May of 2023. He is currently studying with Dr. Mark Jenkins, and his past teachers include Jon Faieta, Dr. Kelly Thomas, and Dr. Matt Tropman. He currently performs with the Brass Band of Northern Virginia, the Alte Kameraden Blastkapella, and a wide variety of chamber ensembles including the Happy Hour Brass Quintet.
NATHAN CAMPBELL
Nate Campbell is a versatile trombonist, educator, and composer/arranger originally from Salt Lake City, Utah. He moved to DC after accepting a position with the Airmen of Note, the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force, and he is now expanding his teaching career in the DMV area. Nate began teaching private lessons in 2010, and he specializes in trombone and piano. A multi-instrumentalist from a young age, Nate also has considerable experience playing and teaching trumpet, euphonium, and tuba. He is most passionate about and skilled in jazz, jazz theory, and jazz improvisation. Nate’s approach to education focuses on helping students develop exceptional technique, aural skills, music reading and theory literacy, effective practice strategies, and stylistic versatility. Nate believes this is best accomplished in a fun and welcoming environment where students explore both new music and music they already enjoy. As a performer, Nate has shared the stage with a number of world-class musicians including Terell Stafford, Sean Jones, Wycliffe Gordon, Marcus Roberts, Wayne Bergeron, John Fedchock, Rodney Whitaker, Jon Faddis, and Gordon Goodwin. Additionally, Nate has performed at many renowned venues including Carnegie Hall, Dizzy’s Club, the White House, the Telluride Jazz Festival, the Jazz Education Network Conference, and numerous international stages. Nate holds a Bachelor of Music degree in music education from Brigham Young University where he studied with Drs. Will Kimball and Ray Smith. While there, Nate played both trombone and piano in several of the school’s premier ensembles including its award-winning jazz band, Synthesis