BIO

Brian Wendel joined The Cleveland Orchestra as Principal Trombone in August of 2022, appointed by Franz Welser-Möst. He previously served as Principal Trombone of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) for five seasons, beginning in 2017. Enjoying the creativity and the thrill of solo performances and competitions, he has appeared as a soloist with the Vancouver and Prince George Symphonies, Denver University Brass Ensemble, and the Juilliard Trombone Choir, and was winner of the Music International Grand Prix — Winds and Brass category (2021), Online Trombone Competition (2020), Alessi Seminar Asia Competition (2018) and two International Trombone Association competitions (2014 and 2016). He has also performed with the Seattle Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, and New York Philharmonic Brass Ensemble. He received his bachelor’s degree from The Juilliard School under the mentorship of Joseph Alessi. Upcoming solo engagements in 2024 include concerto performances in Spain with the Real Filharmonía de Galicia and the Murcia Symphony Orchestra.

 

Mr. Wendel’s lifelong vision of releasing a solo album came to fruition during the pandemic. His exclusive time at home with his wife and newborn in 2020 shone a light on the significance of what “home” means, in both a musical and personal sense, which is on display on this album. Entitled This is Home, the album features works by Scriabin, Bach, Crespo, and Prokofiev.

 

In addition to the Cleveland Institute of Music, Mr. Wendel has worked with students around the world, at Indiana University, The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, Oberlin Conservatory, Youngstown State University, University of Colorado Boulder, Duquesne University, Escola Superior de Música Lisboa (Music School of Lisbon), Hochschule Luzern (Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts), National Youth Orchestra of the U.S.A., Denver University, among others. While in Vancouver, Mr. Wendel served as Adjunct Professor of Trombone at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Mr. Wendel has also been an Associate Instructor for the Alessi Seminar Asia.

 

Mr. Wendel grew up in the rural town of Conway, Massachusetts. Starting on the piano at age six and the trombone at age nine, he studied both classical and jazz music, and in high school was a student at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School. Some of his early musical mentors include David Sporny, Norman Bolter, Andy Jaffe, and his dad, Renato Wendel.