University of North Texas
Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra
Steve Menard has enjoyed an extensive teaching and performing career throughout the United States and South America. Mr. Menard joined the faculty of the renowned University of North Texas College of Music in August of 2016, where he helps to lead a studio of more than 70 aspiring trombonists. Prior to his appointment at UNT, Mr. Menard served on the faculty at Louisiana State University. His students have enjoyed success as orchestral audition winners, as prominent freelance musicians and as arts administrators.
Mr. Menard is currently Principal Trombone of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, and a member of the Utah Festival Opera Orchestra. He has also performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Oregon Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Virginia Symphony, Jacksonville Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic and many others. In addition to his orchestral work, Mr. Menard has performed several Broadway shows, as well as recording sessions for television and film. In 2006, Mr. Menard performed as trombone/bass trombone with the first national tour of “Chita Rivera: A Dancer’s Life”, and in 2009 he performed as the trombonist with the national tour of “Fiddler on the Roof”, starring Chaim Topol.
Mr. Menard regularly presents master classes and solo recitals at universities around the country. He has performed as a guest artist and adjudicated solo competitions at the American Trombone Workshop, presented by the U.S. Army Band in Washington, D.C. In 2013, Mr. Menard served on the faculty at the Alfredo De Saint Malo Music Festival in Panama City, Panama. In 2008, he was a finalist for the Lewis van Haney Orchestral Excerpt Competition and winner of the Frank Smith Solo Competition at the International Trombone Festival. Mr. Menard holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Trombone Performance from Northwestern University, and a Master of Music degree in Trombone Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.