November 14, 2024
The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University proudly announces that Nick Platoff, Principal Trombone of the Houston Symphony, will join its faculty as Associate Professor of Trombone. He will accept students into the trombone studio for the fall of 2025, assuming leadership from Chair of Brass and Associate Professor of Trombone Allen Barnhill, who will be transitioning to a more focused role supporting brass chamber music and orchestral repertoire classes.
“It’s a tremendous honor to join the Shepherd School, an institution I’ve long respected and admired, especially after sharing the stage with its outstanding alumni across the country,” said Platoff. “I’m looking forward to working with the exceptionally talented trombone studio, guiding and inspiring the students as they develop into leaders in the classical music world, both on and off the stage.”
Before joining the Houston Symphony in September 2024, Platoff spent eight seasons as the Associate Principal Trombone at the San Francisco Symphony, appointed by Michael Tilson Thomas, and two years at the New World Symphony in Miami Beach. His previous faculty positions include the University of Houston Moores School of Music, Stanford University, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Pre-College Division, and the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra. As a sought-after guest educator, Platoff has given masterclasses at Stanford, Yale, The Juilliard School, the New World Symphony, the National Orchestral Institute and the Amateur Music Network.
Platoff’s multi-faceted career extends beyond his success as an orchestral musician to composer/producer, singer, educator, conductor and concert producer. Harnessing the power of music to delight, inspire and empower audiences, Platoff uses a variety of mediums and genres as a soloist and has collaborated with artists like Jacob Collier, KNOWER, esperanza spalding, Common, Metallica, Steve Lacy, Sigur Rós, Nu Deco Ensemble, the New York Philharmonic and Yo-Yo Ma. As a composer, Platoff’s works center on themes of family, hope, mental health and nature.
“We are delighted to welcome Nick Platoff to the Shepherd School,” said Shepherd School Dean Matthew Loden. “His approach to performance and his multifaceted background as an orchestral musician, composer and producer will be an invaluable asset to our students. Nick’s expertise will enrich the experience of every Shepherd student.”
Platoff is a graduate of Northwestern University, where he received two Bachelor of Music degrees in trombone performance and music theory. He studied trombone with Michael Mulcahy, Christopher Davis, Peter Ellefson, Randall Hawes, Timothy Higgins and Douglas Wright.
Platoff’s arrival marks the end of an era in the Shepherd School’s brass department, where Barnhill has led the trombone studio since 2010, in addition to his time teaching at Shepherd in the early 1980s. Platoff and Barnhill share similar paths to the Shepherd School, serving as Principal Trombone at the Houston Symphony, with Barnhill’s tenure lasting nearly 45 years.
“We are incredibly grateful for Allen Barnhill’s contributions and leadership. Allen has been a deeply impressive teacher for generations of music students, and we look forward to his continued impact and teaching wisdom – not only for our brass students but for all of the musicians at the Shepherd School,” Loden said.
Learn more about the Shepherd School here, and view a full faculty roster here.
Photo credit: Ling Wang