John Sipher: Perseverance

On Perseverance John Sipher notes: "My newest composition for trombone and loop pedal has become my most personal one yet. It started out as a personal piece of resilience in the face of adversity as an artist and musician, but as quarantine grinded on and I watched the world in turmoil, a leaderless nation in grief and chaos, and a society in desperate need of true justice for all, the piece started to become bigger than myself and my own tiny perspective. To me, it started to represent all of us who have struggled in recent months, years, or even our whole lifetimes for a better world. I hope this resonates with you, finds you peaceful and safe and that we can all emerge from this stronger together." Revised February 2021.

John Sipher has been the principal trombonist of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra since 2015. Prior to his current position, he has held principal trombone positions with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, and was a fellow at the New World Symphony.

A native of Roanoke, Virginia, he received his bachelor’s degree in Music Education with a minor in Jazz Studies from James Madison University and his Master of Music in trombone performance from Yale University. In addition to his orchestral appointments, he has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Rochester Philharmonic, and the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra.

As an educator, John has served as a trombone instructor at Hamilton College and the University of Northern Colorado, and has presented masterclasses and recitals across the country. John is an active contributor of music to the trombone repertoire, composing and arranging music primarily for trombone ensembles and for trombone and loop pedal. John is a Conn-Selmer performing artist.