Timothy Riordan

Timothy Riordan serves as Instructor of Trombone at Northern Illinois University's School of Music within the College of Visual and Performing Arts, while also leading the trombone studio at Chicago's Merit School of Music.

Education:

• Performer's Certificate, Eastman School of Music
• Bachelor of Music, Eastman School of Music

Teaching Focus: Specializing in trombone performance pedagogy, Riordan develops comprehensive technical and musical skills through solo repertoire, orchestral excerpts, and chamber music. His methodology has been disseminated through masterclasses at Juilliard, Eastman, Northwestern, DePaul, Lawrence, Indiana University, and University of Illinois.

Student Success: Under his mentorship, students have secured eight Jack Kent Cooke Scholarships, won the American Brass Quintet Prize at Fischoff Competition six times (2015-2024), and earned placements in National Youth Orchestra. Studio ensembles regularly feature on NPR's 'From the Top' and PBS specials.

Professional Activities:

• Directed Merit Trombone Choir at 2018-2019 International Trombone Festivals
• Coached M-Prize Junior Winds winners (2017)
• Brass chamber coach for Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras
• S.E. Shires Performing Artist

Past Affiliations: Former faculty at Washington Brass Institute, trombone instructor for Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative, and teaching position at Carthage College.