Biography

Matthew Vaughn has been a member of The Philadelphia Orchestra since 1999 and has been co-principal trombone since 2014. Previous positions have included principal trombone of the San Antonio Symphony and service in the United States Air Force Concert Band in Washington D.C. Vaughn has been offered principal trombone positions with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Atlanta Symphony, and has also performed with the National Symphony, the Israel Philharmonic and the Super World Orchestra in Tokyo, Japan. He is active as a soloist, having performed much of the standard trombone concerto repertoire with orchestras and bands around the country. He has also given frequent solo recitals and master classes in the Philadelphia area and worldwide.

Born in Dallas and raised in Richmond, Indiana, Vaughn earned a bachelor of music degree with high distinction and a performer’s certificate from Indiana University in 1992, continuing with graduate work in education and conducting at Indiana University and George Mason University. His varied musical background has included being the winner of the Eastern Trombone Workshop solo competition and being a member of the Disneyland All-American College Jazz Band, in addition to performances on stage with many of the world’s most famous conductors and soloists.

An accomplished music educator, Vaughn teaches trombone and coaches brass chamber music at the Curtis Institute of Music and Temple University, and he is the founder of the Bar Harbor Brass Week, an intense summer festival for high school and college brass players. He credits most of his success to his former teachers, including David Brumfield in Richmond; M. Dee Stewart at Indiana University, former trombonist with The Philadelphia Orchestra; and the late Dr. Milton Stevens, former principal trombone of the National Symphony.

Biography courtesy of The Philadelphia Orchestra
Photo: Jessica Griffin