Michael Rushman

Michael Rushman is a professional trombonist and music educator in the Southern California region. He currently serves as the trombone instructor at Irvine Valley College and Whittier College, and also coaches brass chamber music at the Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts. At the Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Mr. Rushman has taught conducting and music fundamentals, and spent three years as co-director of the Pride of Chapman Pep Band. He currently serves as the principal arranger for the Pride of Chapman, where his arrangements have been performed by the band to great success both on- and off-campus at sporting events and community engagements such as the annual CHOC Walk held at the Disneyland Resort. Mr. Rushman is a regular guest clinician for many music programs throughout Southern California, including the Orange County Youth Symphony. 

As a trombonist, Mr. Rushman has enjoyed a varied freelance career in Los Angeles, performing with orchestras, big bands, and pop acts. Abroad, he performed during the summer of 2017 with the orchestra of the American Institute of Musical Studies in Austria. As an Orange County native, he especially enjoys regularly performing with various ensembles at the Disneyland Resort, including the world-famous Disneyland Band. 

Mr. Rushman received his Master of Music degree in trombone performance from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, studying under Dr. Terry Cravens. He also studied with David Stetson, trombonist of the Pacific Symphony, at Chapman University in Orange, CA, where he graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music degree in Trombone Performance and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy. He has had additional studies with Haim Avitsur at the Hartt School of Music in Connecticut.