Evan Clifton

M.M. Trombone Performance (2018)
Michigan State University

B.M. Trombone Performance (2015)
Western Michigan University

Why did you choose to attend WMU?

I was first introduced to the WMU School of Music because my parents were graduates of the program, and my older brother was a current student. That lead me to attend the Seminar summer program at Western, where I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Wolfinbarger for the first time. When it came time to look at colleges, that sealed the deal for me. Western was actually the only school at which I auditioned. I felt completely at home there and knew it would be a good environment to grow as a musician.

What do you consider to be your most important professional achievement to date?

My most important achievement to date is actually a tie between playing with the The Cleveland Orchestra on two different occasions and recording on the most recent Call of Duty video game here in Nashville. The latter was particularly cool for me since I grew up playing Call of Duty games back to the original.

What is your fondest memory of your time in the trombone studio (or music program) at WMU?

There are way too many incredible memories from my time at Western to choose one. But if I had to choose something, I would say it's the overall positive and encouraging environment, particularly in the trombone studio. The trombone students work incredibly hard on their own but are also incredibly supportive of each other and celebrate everybody's successes (of which there were many when I was in school!).

General Information

Evan Clifton is an accomplished bass trombonist, reputable educator, and multifaceted musician based in Nashville, Tennessee. He is an active educator in local schools and has performed in a variety of settings on many instruments, including recording sessions and symphony orchestras on tenor, bass, and contrabass trombones, euphonium, and tuba. He is also the Trombone Specialist for Edwards House Southeast, the regional branch of Edwards Instrument Company. Born and raised in Michigan, he has become a highly sought after bass trombonist throughout the Midwest, performing with The Cleveland Orchestra, Grand Rapids Symphony, and Kalamazoo Symphony. Additionally, he is a tenured member of the West Michigan Symphony and a former member of the Lansing and Battle Creek Symphonies. Clifton has performed and recorded with bands such as The Who and Evanescence, and he can be heard on video game soundtracks for Sony, Bungie, and EA Games, among others.

Over the years, Clifton has become increasingly committed to new music, commissioning and performing pieces from living composers, including, but not limited to, Christopher Evan Hass, Tyler S. Grant, and Nicole Piunno. Most recently, Clifton was a consortium member for the commissioning of “Songs of the Forest” for Solo Bass Trombone and Trombone Choir by Frank Gulino and "Typhon Rising" for Contrabass Trombone and Recording by Benjamin McMillan both of which were premiered in early 2020, as well as a new sonata for bass trombone and piano by Juraj Filas titled “Dormi amore...dormi.” He has made solo appearances with the Ball State University Wind Ensemble, Western Michigan University Symphony Orchestra, and Michigan State University Wind Symphony. Clifton has been named a finalist in many competitions, including those sponsored by the Eastern Trombone Workshop (now American Trombone Workshop), and the International Trombone Association. Clifton is also a regular guest artist at institutions and has given performances and masterclasses at Murray State University, Ohio University, and Vanderbilt University, among others. 

A devoted music educator, Clifton currently teaches at several schools across Middle Tennessee at middle and high schools for Wilson County Schools, Rutherford County Schools, and Metro Nashville Public Schools. He has also held a faculty position at Western Michigan University’s summer music program called SEMINAR, where he coached high school students in their chamber music ensembles and taught group trombone lessons. His teaching is focused on helping students play their instruments in the most healthy and efficient ways, based on his own experience with physical fitness, meditation and the techniques he learned while recovering from Task Specific Focal Dystonia. Several of his high school students have gone on to study music at major universities.

Clifton completed a Bachelor of Music degree at Western Michigan University and a Master of Music degree at Michigan State University as a University Distinguished Fellow. His teachers have included Randy Hawes, Jan Kagarice, Ava Ordman, and Dr. Steve Wolfinbarger.