Derek Gullett of Uniontown, Ohio, has established himself as one of the world’s most accomplished up-and-coming young trombonists. Mr. Gullett entered the Curtis Institute of Music in 2019 and studies trombone with Nitzan Haroz and Matthew Vaughn. All students at Curtis receive merit-based, full-tuition scholarships, and Mr. Gullett is the Edwin B. Garrigues Fellow.

It was at age 12 that he began his studies on the trombone. It wasn’t until he was age 15 that he had his first trombone lesson with James Albrecht, now principal trombonist of the Reno Philharmonic. During his studies at Lake High School in Uniontown, Ohio, Derek was a part of the school’s marching band, concert band, and jazz orchestra. Outside of school hours, he was the principal trombonist of numerous youth ensembles such as the Canton Youth Symphony Advanced Orchestra, Akron Youth Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, and Ohio All-State Orchestra. Halfway through high school, he began to study trombone under Richard Stout, second trombonist of the Cleveland Orchestra. In addition to being a part of many youth ensembles, he also had professional engagements, such as being the principal trombonist of both the Akron Civic Theater Orchestra and the Freedom Brass Band of Akron, Ohio.

Following high school, Derek enrolled at the Curtis Institute of Music to further his studies with Nitzan Haroz and Matthew Vaughn, principal, and co-principal trombonists of the Philadelphia Orchestra, respectively. Partway into his studies at Curtis, he began to perform with the Philadelphia Orchestra and can be heard in numerous video and recording projects of theirs. He has also appeared with many other Philadelphia-based orchestras as a freelancer. Starting in 2022, he was appointed a substitute trombonist with the New World Symphony. In the summer of 2022, he joined the National Repertory Orchestra and also served as the principal trombone of the Breckenridge International Festival of the Arts Chamber Orchestra. It was in that same summer that he also made his Bravo! Vail Music Festival debut on a program presented by the New York Philharmonic. Also, at the start of his third year at Curtis, he began to work on bass trombone with Blair Bollinger, bass trombonist of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Another major influence in his development as a trombonist is Joseph Alessi, principal trombonist of the New York Philharmonic. Currently, Derek is pursuing his bachelor’s degree at Curtis, where he is a recipient of the Edwin B. Garrigues fellowship.

Over the course of his career thus far, Derek has had the opportunity to tour the world with numerous ensembles and has performed in coveted halls such as Verizon Hall, Severance Hall, Stift St. Florian, Musikverein Wien, and Carnegie Hall. He has also had the pleasure of collaborating with many world-renowned conductors such as Vinay Parameswaran, Franz Welser-Möst, Teddy Abrams, Michael Tilson-Thomas, Osmo Vänskä, Peter Oundjian, Michael Stern, Andrew Grams, and Yannick Nezet-Seguin.

In addition to being a passionate performer, Derek is equally at home in a teaching environment. Over the years, he has maintained a studio of brass students of all levels and ages, many of whom have seen their own personal successes.