Colorado Trombone Festival 2027

We're thrilled to welcome Megumi Kanda to Colorado Springs. She has been Principal Trombone of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra since 2002 and is one of the most admired trombonists performing and teaching today.

Born in Tokyo, Kanda picked up the trombone at age 10 and trained at Japan's Toho High School of Music. At 15 she became the youngest player ever named among the top ten trombonists at the Japanese Wind and Percussion Competition. Two years later she won the Grand Prize in Japan's National Competition for Solo Trombone. She moved to the United States in 1994 and studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music with James DeSano. Before Milwaukee, she held positions with the Albany Symphony and the Rochester Philharmonic.

From the Milwaukee Symphony to stages across the U.S., Europe and Asia, and now to Colorado Springs.

As a soloist, Kanda has appeared with the Milwaukee Symphony, Pershing's Own Army Band, the U.S. Army Field Band, and the Prague Chamber Orchestra. She has been a featured artist at the International Trombone Festival and the American Trombone Workshop. She has also taught as guest faculty at the New World Symphony, the National Youth Orchestra, and Interlochen Arts Academy. At CTF 2027, players of every age get to learn from her up close.

• ITA PresidentInternational Trombone Association, 2026–2029
• ITA Award, 2020The ITA's top honor for creative and artistic achievement
• AuthorThe One Hundred, Trombone Unlimited, and Effortless Trombone
• Recording ArtistThree solo albums on JVC/Victor: Amazing Grace, Gloria, Mona Lisa