HK Phil Trombone Section

Jarod Vermette, trombone

Jarod Vermette joined the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) as Principal Trombone in 1996 at the age of 20. He has performed Frank Martin’s Ballade during the 1997 subscription series and Derek Bourgeois’ Concerto in 2002. In 2012 Vermette performed John Mackey’s Harvest Concerto with the Hong Kong Wind Philharmonia and Roland Szentpali’s Trombone Scenes with the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Brass and Percussion Ensemble.
 
Vermette has performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Sinfonietta (Guest Principal), Kyushu Symphony (Guest Principal), Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra and Hong Kong Bach Choir. He was a Tanglewood Music Center fellow in 1995 and 1996, as well as a former member of the Spoleto Festival Orchestra (Charleston) and the New England Philharmonic.

A native of Wilbraham, Massachusetts, Vermette began his trombone studies with Steven Podgorski at age ten and soon won the Western Massachusetts Young People’s Symphony Concerto Competition. He later performed with the Boston University Tanglewood Institute Orchestra and continued his studies at the New England Conservatory and Boston University with Norman Bolter and Ronald Baron.

Currently, Vermette teaches trombone at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Baptist University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He also performs as a member of the HK Phil Brass Quintet. He lives in Discovery Bay with his wife Rachael, a violinist in the HK Phil.

Christian Goldsmith, trombone

American trombonist Christian Goldsmith is a player of versatility and range. His diverse background includes orchestral playing, chamber music, big band, marching band, concert band, jazz and pop music.

A native of Southern California, Christian attended the prestigious Los Angeles County High School of the Arts. He went on to complete undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in classical trombone performance at the University of Southern California (USC) with Prof Terry Cravens.

He is the winner of the USC and Young Musicians Foundation Concerto Competitions, the Pasadena Young Musician's Competition, as well as being awarded the Robert Marsteller Memorial Scholarship.

Christian first worked in the Asia-Pacific region when he was invited to take part in the Pacific Music Festival in Japan, under the tuition of players from the Vienna Philharmonic. He went on to win the Principal Trombone position with the Macao Orchestra, a position which he held for 10 years.

Christian joined the trombone section of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in 2018.

Kevin Thompson, trombone
Kevin Thompson was appointed to the trombone section of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in 2016 as Utility Trombone. His duties in the orchestra include playing Second and Principal Trombone, as well as bass trumpet and euphonium.

Although born and raised in Canada, Kevin has spent most of his professional life overseas. He was trained at the University of Victoria and University of Toronto, and did post-graduate work in England, with Denis Wick (former Principal Trombone of the London Symphony). In addition to the HK Phil, Kevin has performed with major orchestras in Norway, Sweden, the UK, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, Korea, Macau and mainland China. With these orchestras he has toured and recorded in North America, Asia, Australia and Europe, and played in many of the great concert halls of the world.

In addition to his work as a trombonist, Kevin has always remained dedicated to promoting the euphonium as a solo instrument. He has recorded two critically-acclaimed solo euphonium recordings and has shared the beauty of this wonderful instrument with people around the world at recitals and masterclasses.
 

Aaron Albert, trombone
Aaron Albert was appointed as bass trombonist for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in 2020. He has also held the bass trombone position in the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, and has played with orchestras such as the Cleveland Orchestra and the Philadelphia Orchestra. He has performed under the baton of Jaap van Zweden, Franz Welser-Möst, Fabio Luisi, Alan Gilbert, Gianandrea Noseda, Herbert Blomstedt and others. Aaron studied at The Juilliard School in Manhattan for his bachelor's degree in Music Performance.