Timothy Riordan

Timothy Riordan is a prominent music educator serving as Director of Chamber Music and head of the trombone studio at the Merit School of Music in Chicago. He concurrently teaches trombone at VanderCook College of Music, Northern Illinois University, the Washington Brass Institute, and coaches the Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative. His roles include masterclass presenter at Juilliard, Eastman, Northwestern, and other institutions, focusing on innovative teaching methods for young trombonists.

• Former brass chamber coach for Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras
• Trombone choir director for International Trombone Festival Youth Workshop
• Presented at Midwest Trombone and Euphonium Conferences (2015, 2018)

His students and ensembles have achieved notable success: six Jack Kent Cooke Scholarships, eight From the Top NPR/PBS performances, and multiple American Brass Quintet Prizes at Fischoff Competitions (2015, 2017, 2019, 2020). He coached M-Prize Junior Winds competition winners in 2017. Alumni hold positions in Chicago Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, and Detroit Symphony orchestras, with appearances on Saturday Night Live and the Grammys.

His teaching emphasizes fostering talent from underrepresented backgrounds through programs like Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative. He maintains active roles in chamber music ensembles and orchestral training.