Trombonist Lee Allen has performed with the Buffalo Philharmonic, Detroit Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, KBS Symphony (Korea), the Macao Orchestra, and the San Diego Symphony. As acting principal trombone of the Las Vegas Philharmonic, he has performed with the Santa Monica Symphony, Riverside Symphony, San Bernardino Symphony, Long Beach Opera, and the Burbank Philharmonic. Allen toured as a member of award-winning smooth jazz artist Brian Culbertson’s band in 2008 and also performed with singer Adele at the Academy Awards in 2013. Allen has worked on numerous recording projects including a project at The Bridge Recording in L.A. with Jay Friedman. He is a founding member of the critically acclaimed MOMUS trombone quartet, and a member of the Pacific Trombone Project, which comprises of some of leading players in Thailand, Hong Kong, South Korea, China, and Australia.
A dedicated and sought-after teacher, Allen currently serves as Professor of and chair of the brass and percussion divisions at The Tianjin Juilliard School in Tianjin, China.There he is also a member of the Tianjin Juilliard Ensemble, an all-faculty ensemble performing chamber concerts throughout Asia. Allen is a member of the summer faculty at RondoFest in Penang, Malaysia and at the Banff Music Center’s Interplay festival in Banff, Canada. He has taught at the Oberlin Conservatory, University of Southern California, and Colburn School for the Performing Arts. During his tenure as assistant professor of trombone at the Oberlin Conservatory from 2013 - 2019, Allen was soloist with many large ensembles. He performed the US premiere of Christopher Starks’ Nanokonzert for solo trombone and contemporary ensemble in 2015. He also led the Oberlin Brass Quintet on a month-long tour of China and took students to Uganda, Africa as part of a collaboration with Brass for Africa. Allen has presented master classes throughout the United States, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and China.
Allen earned a doctor of musical arts and master of music in trombone performance from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, and a bachelor of music education from the University of Kentucky. His primary mentors have included Terry Cravens, Dale Warren, Bill Watrous, and Per Brevig.
Lee Allen is a Shires Performing Artist.
