Diverse in interest and focused in application, Dillon C. Downey is an educator, performer, and researcher with a vision to bring innovative and healthy ideas to music is teaching, learning, performance, and understanding. Downey’s primary focus is as an educator and pedagogue where he researches optimal teaching methods in music education at large and, more specifically, in brass playing. He is a performer and continual student of his craft.
An accomplished educator, Downey has displayed his research in musicians' health, developmental theories, pedagogy, and musicality in recent guest presentations at the International Trombone Festival, Oklahoma Trombone Workshop, Eastman School of Music, Midwestern State University Kodály Institute, and Texas Woman’s University, with an upcoming presentation at the Virtual Trombone Workshop. Downey currently teaches aural musicianship and trombone methods at Eastman, and is a faculty member at the Eastman Community Music School. He is the pedagogy intern at the Midwestern State University Kodály Institute and teaches trombone lessons at the Harley School (NY). As an important application of his research, Dillon teaches private trombone, piano, voice, and trumpet students.
Downey previously served as the Music Specialist at Tomás Rivera Elementary School in Denton, TX, and was the Director of Children’s Choirs and Youth Music at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Flower Mound, TX where he gained notice as a recipient of the Ruth K. Jacobs Memorial Scholarship through the Chorister’s Guild. Mr. Downey directed his own Early Childhood Music Program and assisted with the same type of program at the University of North Texas. Dillon was a music and English teaching intern at the Billrothstraße Gymnasium in Vienna, Austria.
As a performer, Dillon has played in such prominent venues as Carnegie Hall, the Wiener Konzerthaus, and the Dallas Meyerson Center, in addition to featured solo performances in Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, and the United States. Mr. Downey is a versatile artist, and performs on alto, tenor, and bass trombones and alto, tenor, and bass sackbuts. He has performed with the Richardson (TX) Symphony Orchestra, the Texas Camarata, Empire Film and Media Ensemble, and other organizations. Dillon performs regularly with the Eastman Wind Ensemble, Eastman Philharmonia, Schola Cantorum, and the Eastman Trombone Choir. Downey was the assistant principal trombonist in the Universität Wien’s 650th Anniversary Concert Cycle. Dillon performs regularly in recital and in chamber ensembles. He has performed at the 2013 and 2019 International Trombone Festivals. In 2013, he recorded the inaugural set of videos for the International Trombone Association’s video initiative.
Downey is pursuing Master of Music degrees in Trombone Performance and Repertoire and Music Education at the Eastman School of Music. He is a student in Eastman's Advanced Certificate in the Pedagogy of Music Theory program. Dillon graduated summa cum laude and as a Distinguished Honors Scholar from the University of North Texas with undergraduate degrees in Trombone Performance and Music Education. He is a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society and the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. At UNT, Dillon was active in student leadership as an executive board member of the trombone studio’s student organization and as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Committee. He was recognized for his leadership as a recipient of the Golden Eagle Award, the most prestigious award for a student leader throughout the university. As an expansion of his collegiate experience, he studied abroad at the International Education of Students Center in Vienna, Austria. Here, Dillon studied privately with current and former trombonists in the Wiener Philharmoniker. Mr. Downey is Oklahoma’s representative to the Trombone Artists Performing for Amateurs and Students program. He is a fully certified Kodály educator, with an emphasis in trombone and elementary music pedagogy from the Midwestern State University Kodály Institute. Dillon is a passionate citizen of the world and enjoys traveling, being on the water, eating ice cream, and spending time with those closest to him.
An accomplished educator, Downey has displayed his research in musicians' health, developmental theories, pedagogy, and musicality in recent guest presentations at the International Trombone Festival, Oklahoma Trombone Workshop, Eastman School of Music, Midwestern State University Kodály Institute, and Texas Woman’s University, with an upcoming presentation at the Virtual Trombone Workshop. Downey currently teaches aural musicianship and trombone methods at Eastman, and is a faculty member at the Eastman Community Music School. He is the pedagogy intern at the Midwestern State University Kodály Institute and teaches trombone lessons at the Harley School (NY). As an important application of his research, Dillon teaches private trombone, piano, voice, and trumpet students.
Downey previously served as the Music Specialist at Tomás Rivera Elementary School in Denton, TX, and was the Director of Children’s Choirs and Youth Music at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Flower Mound, TX where he gained notice as a recipient of the Ruth K. Jacobs Memorial Scholarship through the Chorister’s Guild. Mr. Downey directed his own Early Childhood Music Program and assisted with the same type of program at the University of North Texas. Dillon was a music and English teaching intern at the Billrothstraße Gymnasium in Vienna, Austria.
As a performer, Dillon has played in such prominent venues as Carnegie Hall, the Wiener Konzerthaus, and the Dallas Meyerson Center, in addition to featured solo performances in Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, and the United States. Mr. Downey is a versatile artist, and performs on alto, tenor, and bass trombones and alto, tenor, and bass sackbuts. He has performed with the Richardson (TX) Symphony Orchestra, the Texas Camarata, Empire Film and Media Ensemble, and other organizations. Dillon performs regularly with the Eastman Wind Ensemble, Eastman Philharmonia, Schola Cantorum, and the Eastman Trombone Choir. Downey was the assistant principal trombonist in the Universität Wien’s 650th Anniversary Concert Cycle. Dillon performs regularly in recital and in chamber ensembles. He has performed at the 2013 and 2019 International Trombone Festivals. In 2013, he recorded the inaugural set of videos for the International Trombone Association’s video initiative.
Downey is pursuing Master of Music degrees in Trombone Performance and Repertoire and Music Education at the Eastman School of Music. He is a student in Eastman's Advanced Certificate in the Pedagogy of Music Theory program. Dillon graduated summa cum laude and as a Distinguished Honors Scholar from the University of North Texas with undergraduate degrees in Trombone Performance and Music Education. He is a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society and the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. At UNT, Dillon was active in student leadership as an executive board member of the trombone studio’s student organization and as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Committee. He was recognized for his leadership as a recipient of the Golden Eagle Award, the most prestigious award for a student leader throughout the university. As an expansion of his collegiate experience, he studied abroad at the International Education of Students Center in Vienna, Austria. Here, Dillon studied privately with current and former trombonists in the Wiener Philharmoniker. Mr. Downey is Oklahoma’s representative to the Trombone Artists Performing for Amateurs and Students program. He is a fully certified Kodály educator, with an emphasis in trombone and elementary music pedagogy from the Midwestern State University Kodály Institute. Dillon is a passionate citizen of the world and enjoys traveling, being on the water, eating ice cream, and spending time with those closest to him.