A native of Buffalo, New York, trombonist and educator Brendan Lanighan has begun to be recognized on the international stage. In 2017, Lanighan won the International Trombone Festival’s prestigious J.J. Johnson Jazz Solo Competition.
In 2015, Lanighan completed degrees in Jazz Trombone Performance and Music Education from the Eastman School of Music, where he had many dedicated mentors. Time spent in Buffalo and Rochester during his studies allowed Lanighan to develop into a versatile musician; he appeared often with local musicians and international acts traveling through the area. Performances during this time included working with The Johnny Mathis Orchestra, The Dave Rivello Ensemble, Taylor Hix, 5head, and others.
In addition to winning the J.J. Johnson Jazz Solo Competition, Lanighan has received accolades from other musical organizations as both performer and composer. Lanighan placed as a finalist in the 2015 International Trombone Festival’s Carl Fontana Competition, and his arrangement of J.J. Johnson’s composition “Lament” was honored by DownBeat Magazine’s Student Music Awards as Best Student Arrangement of 2015.
Upon the completion of his work at Eastman, Lanighan sought opportunities to develop as an educator; he accepted a position as a faculty member at Rochester’s Hochstein School of Music and Dance. While at Hochstein, Lanighan worked with an incredibly diverse group of students, teaching lessons and coaching jazz combos comprised of people of all ages and backgrounds.
In 2017, Lanighan left upstate New York to tour internationally with The Glenn Miller Orchestra, where he was featured both as a jazz trombone soloist and as the tenor voice in the band’s vocal ensemble, The Moonlight Serenaders. His work can be heard on the band’s new recording, “The Glenn Miller Orchestra: Live in Japan,” scheduled for release in 2019.
Lanighan currently resides in New York City, where he is pursuing a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies at the Juilliard School.