Welcome to Trombonafide! 2025!

On behalf of Friends University, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to our campus for this year’s Get Trombonafide!. We are delighted to host an event that celebrates the artistry, community, and joy of making music together...all through the trombone.

Get Trombonafide! is more than just a festival—it is an opportunity to learn, connect, and be inspired. Throughout the day, you will have the chance to work with outstanding clinicians, perform alongside fellow trombonists, and experience music-making at the highest level. Whether you are here to grow as a performer, expand your knowledge, or simply enjoy the camaraderie of this unique community, we hope you leave feeling energized and encouraged.

We are honored to share our Friends University facilities with you and invite you to take full advantage of the opportunities the festival provides. May this be a day filled with music, learning, and lasting memories.

Thank you for being part of Get Trombonafide! 2025—we are thrilled you are here!

With excitement and appreciation,

Dr. Shawn Knopp

Director of Bands

Friends University

Dress Code: Dress in comfortable clothes for the day. While we will be performing at the end of the day, our performance attire will be casual. It would be great to have all performers wear their new Get Trombonafide! shirts.

We may need extra music stands - If you have a wire music stand please bring it with you. This is not required, please don’t purchase one just for this event.

If you have not yet paid your registration fee of $25, please do so when you arrive for the event. Cash, check, and card will be accepted.

Registration on Saturday morning has been pushed back and will begin at 8 AM.

The deadline to register for Get Trombonafide! is Friday, October 31st.

Jeff Kidwell is an instructor with the University of Central Oklahoma’s School of Music in Edmond. His duties include Trombone Instructor, Trombone Ensemble Director, Director of Jazz Ensembles and Assistant Director of Jazz Studies and Jazz Lab Operations. From 1998 to 2006, Kidwell served as Assistant Director of Bands with the Edmond Public Schools where his duties included Marching Band, Symphonic Bands, and Jazz Ensembles at both the high school and middle school levels. Prior to coming to Edmond, Mr. Kidwell taught in the Norman Public Schools, The University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma City University.

Kidwell is a third generation Oklahoma music educator. Both his father and grandfather were band directors in the state and his mother was a vocal music teacher in rural Oklahoma. He credits his love of music to his parents, public school and college teachers.

Mr. Kidwell is a highly sought-after musician/clinician who has performed with a wide variety of groups from the Count Basie Orchestra to Aretha Franklin and Toby Keith. Jeff has also been a musician for Norwegian Cruise Lines and played for National tours of Broadway musicals such as “Wicked”, “The Book of Mormon” and Oprah Winfrey’s “The Color Purple”. Mr. Kidwell is the trombonist and arranger for one of the Southwest’s top party and show bands, “Souled Out” and is the conductor/music director for The Oklahoma Hall of Fame awards presentation which is broadcast annually on PBS.

Kidwell is a Conn-Selmer Artist and has been a featured clinician throughout North America including the Jazz Educators’ Network, Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the Brandon Manitoba Jazz Festival, the New Mexico State Jazz Festival, the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute Honor Jazz Ensemble and numerous appearances with Oklahoma All-State and AllDistrict honor bands. Jeff lives in Edmond, with his wife Susan and loves spending time with his two granddaughters, Hadley and Elizabeth.

Dr. Dan Hinman (he/him) is Assistant Professor of Trombone at Kansas State University where he teaches applied trombone, the KSU Trombone Choir, and other academic music courses. Prior to this appointment he served as Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Graduate Studies in Music at University of Mary (ND). As a performer, his experience spans a diverse spectrum. He is currently a member of the Chamber Orchestra of the Smoky Valley and Thundering Cats Big Band. In high demand as a performer, he has also performed with the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony, BisMan Little Big Band, Fargo-Moorhead Symphony, Opera Fayetteville Orchestra (AR), Lone Star Wind Orchestra, and Basically Basie Big Band (TX).

He can be heard with the North Texas Wind Symphony on the albums Taylor Made, Contact!, Discoveries, Inventions, and Composer Collections of John Mackey and Michael Daugherty. Hinman holds degrees from North Dakota State University (Music Ed.), the University of Minnesota (M.M.), and a Doctor of Musical Arts in trombone performance from the University of North Texas. His former teachers include Natalie Mannix, Tony Baker, Thomas, Ashworth, Kyle Mack, and Nathaniel Dickey. When not playing or teaching trombone he enjoys time spent with is wife, Amy, and toddler, Firth.

Randy Crow (BME – Kansas State University, MME – Wichita State University) has been

actively teaching music for over forty-five years. In 2018 he retired from teaching band in the

Maize School system where he taught for 37 years. During his time at Maize, Mr. Crow’s

Concert and Jazz Bands were selected to perform at KMEA Inservice workshops twelve

times. In 2005 he was honored as Middle School - Outstanding Music Educator in the South Central

Kansas region, and in 2006 his Concert Band was a featured performing group in the PBS

special, In Harmony: Music for Life.

His Jazz Bands received state-wide and international acclaim, performing as a showcase band

at the 2001 IAJE convention in New York City, and for the 2004 Kansas Teacher of the Year

awards, as well as garnering numerous honors at Jazz Festivals.

Mr. Crow founded the annual “Get Trombonafide!” clinic in the Wichita, KS area,

encouraging, inspiring, and educating students in the art and enjoyment of trombone playing.

He has recently served as adjunct at both Friends University and McPherson College, and

continues to teach an extensive studio of private students at his home. He has often been

called on as a clinician for both concert and jazz bands, as well as brass section coach for

groups such as the Kansas Lion’s Band, and various band camps.

Mr. Crow stays active as a player, and has performed with several jazz bands, and wind

ensembles. He regularly performs with the Delano Jazz Orchestra, Intrepid Brass, Jazz in the

Heartland, and the Senseney Community Band.

In 2021, Kansas Bandmasters Association awarded Mr. Crow as Outstanding Bandmaster.

Mr. Crow is a member of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Kansas

Bandmasters Association (KBA), serving as the inaugural chair of the Middle Level Honor

Band. Randy is also a member of the International Bandmaster Fraternity Phi Beta Mu (past

pres. KS Iota chapter), ITA (International Trombone Association), was a past president of the

Kansas Unit of the International Association for Jazz Education, and served six years on the

executive board of the Kansas John Philip Sousa Junior Honor Band.

Mr. Crow has been a Music Youth Partnership mentor since the fall of ‘22

Randy served for more than 25 years as assistant in music ministry at Westlink Christian

Church (and Pathway). He and his wife, Colleen, have five adult children and seven

grandchildren.

Rob Tierney is an accomplished and in demand professional trombonist and educator. Currently serving as trombone professor at Friends University he also holds the chair of Bass Trombonist with the Salina Symphony Orchestra. Other groups Mr. Tierney currently performs with in the Wichita area are the Wichita Grand Opera, Intrepid Brass Band, Intrepid Brass Quintet and the Tumbao salsa band.

Mr. Tierney holds a bachelor’s of music education from the Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam with performance certificates in trombone and euphonium and a master’s degree in trombone performance from the New England Conservatory. He lives in west Wichita with his wife Charisse and 7 children.

Christian Burgess is a Bass Trombonist from Wichita, Kansas. Mr. Burgess currently holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Wichita State University and a Master Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Emporia State University. Mr. Burgess has 9 years of teaching experience in 3 different roles for Wichita Public Schools. His roles have included Orchestra Director and Band Director for Truesdell Middle School, and Band Co-Teacher for numerous Middle Schools in Wichita. As Band Director for Truesdell Middle School, Mr. Burgess has lead his groups to superior ratings at contest and festival.

Mr. Burgess' performance highlights include performing with the Intrepid Brass Band and the Wichita Grand Opera. Accomplishments include being a two time finalist for the Wichita State University Conterto Aira Competition and Semi-Finalist for Wichita Public Schools Distinguished Classroom Teacher Award. When not teaching Mr. Burgess enjoys spending time with his Wife and Two children as well as performing on Bass Gutiar for his Church's Worship Band.

Andrew Scherer has been the 6-12 Band Director at Lyons Middle School and High School since the Fall of 2016. He grew up in Wichita, graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelors in Music Education from K-State in 2016, and is currently pursuing a Masters of Music in Music Technology online from Southern Utah University. In his time at K-State, he performed in the Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, Brass Ensemble, Trombone Ensemble, and the Wabash City Brass Quintet. He conducted the University Band, and was a member of the Kappa Kappa Psi Band Service Fraternity and the Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society. Currently, he is in his tenth year of teaching at Lyons and lives in town with his wife, Julie, and their four sons, Mark, Daniel, Luke, and Samuel.

Mr. Scherer is a member of the Kansas Music Educators Association and the Kansas Bandmasters Association, and he was nominated for Kansas Teacher of the Year in 2023. Mr. Scherer’s students consistently earn high ratings and rankings at festival, including many Outstanding ratings, Best in Class Awards, and winning the KBA 3A State Marching Band Championship for two years running.

Joe Clements has been teaching since 2004, and during his tenure at The Independent School in Wichita KS (2008-present) has raised enrollment to over 100 students (grades 5-12), and has led the program to success in multiple areas. Mr. Clements emphasizes opportunities for musical success for individuals, small ensembles, and large groups, consistently earning high scores at the local, League, and State- level festivals. He attributes his successes at The Independent School to amazing students, parents, and a wonderful and supportive group of colleagues and administrators. Mr. Clements attended Wichita State University, from which he holds degrees in Music Education and Trombone Performance.

When not on the podium, Mr. Clements has performed with many groups, including The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Funk Bros, The Honey Island Swamp Band, Nashville recording artist Denny Jiosa, and was a long-term member (and music arranger) for the legendary Wichita band, LOTUS, as well as The Fabulous Shirtheads and lead trombone for the Delano Jazz Orchestra. Mr. Clements is a member of the National Association for Music Educators (NAfME), the Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA), and the Kansas Bandmasters Association (KBA). He lives in Wichita, is married to a wonderful woman (Amy!), and has seen every hour of Star Trek ever put on a screen.

Jacob Miller is in his 11th year teaching band in Dodge City. He is currently the Band Director at Dodge City Middle School and Assistant Band Director at Dodge City High School. He holds a Bachelors of Music Education from Kansas State University where he enjoyed performing 5 years with the “Pride of Wildcat Land” Marching Band, Basketball Cat Band, Volleyball Band, Wind Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, Lab A Jazz Band, and sang in all 3 university choirs.

Mr. Miller is also the current director of the Dodge City Municipal Cowboy Band and co-directs for Dodge City Trombone Christmas. He attended Get Trombonafied for the first time as a freshman in high school in 2006 and is excited to be a part of the staff for 2025!

Event Information

Get Trombonafide! @ Friends University

Riney Fine Arts Center

When?

Saturday, Nov 15, 2025, 08:00 AM

Where?

Friends University, West University Avenue, Wichita, KS, USA

location_on Open maps

Get Trombonafide!

Saturday, November 15, 2025

Friends University - Riney Fine Arts Center

8:00AM to 4:30PM

Grand Finale Concert Begins at 3 PM

Registration Fee: $25 (includes lunch & t-shirt)

*Band Directors attend FREE*

Registration Deadline: October 31, 2025

Registration fees can be mailed to the address below with all checks

made payable to Friends University:

Get Trombonafide!
Friends University
Attn: Dr. Shawn Knopp
2100 W University Ave
Wichita, KS 67213

If you would like to pay with a card, you may do so when you arrive for the event.

REGISTRATION FORM - Click Here

Invoice Generator for Schools - Click Here

Get Trombonafide! 2025

November 15, 2025 @ Friends University

Schedule 2025

Event Information

An Exciting Day of TROMBONE Friends University! An Exciting Day of TROMBONE Friends University!

Announcements Announcements

Schedule Schedule

Guest Artist - Jeff Kidwell Guest Artist - Jeff Kidwell

Guest Clinician- Dr. Dan Hinman Guest Clinician- Dr. Dan Hinman

Ensemble Conductors Ensemble Conductors

Randy Crow - Founder, Get Trombonafide! Randy Crow - Founder, Get Trombonafide!

Rob Tierney - Beginning Trombones Rob Tierney - Beginning Trombones

Christian Burgess - Beginning Trombones Christian Burgess - Beginning Trombones

Andrew Scherer - Intermediate Trombones Andrew Scherer - Intermediate Trombones

Joe Clements - Intermediate Trombones Joe Clements - Intermediate Trombones

Jacob Miller - Advanced Trombones Jacob Miller - Advanced Trombones

Maps Maps

Friends U. Campus Map Friends U. Campus Map

Riney Fine Arts Center Riney Fine Arts Center

Event Information

Registration (Closed on November 7th) Registration (Closed on November 7th)