Dr. Lauren Rudzinskas is the General Manager of the International Women’s Brass Conference and Executive Director of the Virtual Trombone Workshop. She was the part time professor of trombone and euphonium at Mansfield University in Pennsylvania until Fall 2020. She earned a doctorate of musical arts in Trombone Performance and Literature with a minor in Pedagogy and an Advanced Certificate in College Teaching at the Eastman School of Music. Lauren was recently a finalist for the Assistant Professor of Trombone and Euphonium position at the University of Denver and Professor of Trombone at SUNY Potsdam. Rudzinskas is a regular substitute in Symphoria (formerly the Syracuse Symphony).
As a strong advocate for music education, Rudzinskas was the 2016 recipient for the Jack L. Frank Award for Excellence in Teaching and the 2016 Frank Faculty Development Research Grant. She taught tenor trombone, bass trombone, and euphonium at the Eastman Community Music School. She has published articles, written two pedagogical books, received grants, and released a CD. Rudzinskas is scheduled to give two presentations at the upcoming International Trombone Festival as well as perform as a member of the International Women’s Trombone Choir. Rudzinskas recently gave a presentation on diverse chamber music featuring her arrangements at the New York State School Music Association Conference. She has given masterclasses at Hamilton College, Youngstown State University, Ithaca College, and had a tour of Ohio postponed due to Covid-19. Rudzinskas’ 2020 tour of Osaka and Tokyo, Japan with Joanna Ross Hersey and Kana Madarame is postponed.
At Eastman, Lauren served as the departmental assistant for the trombone studio and a teaching assistant for Eastman and the University of Rochester. She has served as Assistant Director for the ECMS Trombone Choir and was a finalist for Eastman’s Teaching Assistant Prize and Lecture Recital Prize. Rudzinskas earned her Master’s degree in Trombone Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music studying with Larry Zalkind. While there, she earned a Performer’s Certificate and was nominated for an Artist Diploma. Rudzinskas served as teaching assistant for the Eastman trombone choir, trombone studio, and as an Eastman Institute for Music Leadership Assistant. She earned her bachelor’s degree in jazz performance from Youngstown State University, where she was selected for the Dean’s Award in the College of Creative Arts and Communication as well as the university-wide Senior Academic Award for Outstanding Student Scholarship. Recent competition awards include third place in the 2017 International Women’s Brass Conference solo competition, 2015 Youngstown Music Teachers Association Solo Competition, the 2015 Wright State Festival Solo Competition, the 2014 Dana Young Artist Competition, first trombone placement in the JECO Intercollegiate Jazz Ensemble, and the Dorothy Schwers Honorary Scholarship Solo Competition.
Lauren’s performance credits include playing with IWBC’s Holiday Brass and the Diva Jazz Orchestra in the Cleveland Playhouse production of Maurice Hines is Tappin’ Thru Life. She is a member of the SPH Jazz Orchestra. Lauren has held positions as principal trombonist with the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Women’s Philharmonic, and Youngstown Scoring Stage, and performed as lead trombonist in the First Class Big Band. Lauren has performed in master classes with Joseph Alessi, William VerMeulen, Eric Ewazen, David Murray, Rebecca Cherian, Shachar Israel, Nico and Martin Schippers, Bruce Saunders, Dan Wilson, and Jim Snidero. After receiving a research grant from Youngstown State University, Lauren produced and performed in Aspire, a recording of original music including several of her own compositions. She has also premiered and commissioned numerous works and is sponsored by music software company, Blackbinder.