Jett M. Walker, DMA, currently holds the position of Assistant Professor of Trombone at Western Illinois University. In addition to his work with the WIU Trombone Studio, he also instructs courses in conducting and performs with the La Moine Brass Quintet, the resident faculty brass quintet at Western Illinois University. He is also the author of The Quintet Playbook: Effective Strategies for Amateur or Pre-Professional Brass Quintets, published by Cherry Classics Music, in which Dr. Walker provides practical strategies and techniques for addressing challenges and achieving success as a brass quintet.

Outside of his academic life, Dr. Walker enjoys a busy freelancing schedule. As of 2026, he is the trombonist and newest core member of the Mirari Brass Quintet, and regularly performs with the Illinois Symphony, Battle Creek Symphony, Quad City Symphony, and Peoria Symphony. He has also performed with numerous orchestras including the Cincinnati Symphony, Cincinnati Opera, Dayton Philharmonic, Richmond Symphony, Kentucky Symphony, Queen City Opera, Carmel Symphony, Lexington Philharmonic, and Brazos Valley Symphony. A versatile musician and enthusiast of jazz and commercial music, his freelance work has allowed him to share the stage with such illustrious performers as Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr., Gregory Alan Isakov, and The Who. 

Dr. Walker is committed to regularly commissioning and performing new works for solo trombone. He has recently commissioned and premiered two such works, Jett Stream Blue by David Wilborn, and Sonata for Trombone and Brass Quartet by Jack Wilds, in which he served as the consortium’s lead commissioner. In 2023, Walker performed Jett Stream Blue on faculty artist recitals at both the Big 12 Trombone Conference and the International Trombone Festival, and in 2024 performed Wild’s Sonata for Trombone and Brass Quartet at the ITF alongside his colleagues in the La Moine Brass Quintet.

Prior to commencing graduate studies, Walker dedicated five years to serving as a middle school band director in central Texas. Bands under his guidance consistently received the UIL Sweepstakes award, among numerous other accolades. He is also a contributing writer for the expanding online journal The Collective: Shifting the Paradigm for Critical Musicians, and functions as a writer and album reviewer for the International Trombone Association Journal.

Jett received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Trombone Performance from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Texas State University in Music Education and Trombone Performance, respectively. Jett is also an S.E. Shires Performing Artist and performs exclusively on Shires trombones.

For more information, please visit www.jettwalkertrombone.com