Brass
Faculty
The Brass Studies Area prepares students for advanced academic study or a professional career in music, focusing on the horn, trombone, trumpet, or tuba. Students benefit from working with some of the nation's best artists and teachers, all of whom are active symphonic musicians. Students receive close mentorship and guidance from OU's world-renowned faculty/artists in weekly master classes, brass repertory classes, and private music lessons.
Performance is a vital component of music education in the Brass Studies Area, and students in the program participate in nationally acclaimed large ensembles, as well as a variety of faculty-mentored chamber ensembles. Professional performance experience available to OU students include orchestral, theater, jazz, commercial, and recording industry venues. Students also regularly participate in competitions and workshops throughout the country, where they have garnered numerous awards for their outstanding performances and musicianship.
Graduates of the Brass Studies Area at the School of Music have had great success in the performance and education fields. Many of our graduates are active symphonic performers and are on music faculties at many universities across the United States. Our education majors also have distinguished themselves in the public schools, having been recognized as leaders in the profession and operating award-winning music programs.
Brass students have also been accepted into the most prestigious music academies and graduate programs throughout the country.
Dr. Justin Cook
Assistant Professor of Music (Trombone)
Email: jhcook@ou.edu
Justin Cook joined the faculty of the University of Oklahoma in the fall of 2025. Prior to OU, Dr. Cook was the Associate professor of Trombone at the University of Central Arkansas where he taught studio trombone, trombone choir, brass ensembles, low brass methods, and directed the Jazz Repertory Ensemble. In addition to his college teaching, Justin has been a faculty member for the Southeast Trombone Symposium and is the Festival Manager for the International Trombone Festival. In the summer of 2022 Dr. Cook hosted the International Trombone Festival at the University of Central Arkansas.
Recently, Justin has been featured as a soloist with the Natural State Brass Band at the 2022 International Trombone Festival and performed David Biedenbender’s Their Eyes are Fireflies with the UCA Wind Ensemble in April of 2023. He has performed as a soloist at the 2021, 2022, and 2024 International Trombone Festivals. His first solo recording was released in 2018 and is entitled, “Connections.” As a freelancer, Dr. Cook has performed with the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, the Arkansas Symphony, the Ft. Smith Symphony, the Tulsa Symphony, and The Arkansas Repertory Theatre. He has performed on the national tours of Mary Poppins, The Book of Mormon, Wicked, and Back to the Future.
Equally at home as an educator and performer, Dr. Cook’s trombone studio and students have seen tremendous success. While at UCA, the trombone studio tripled in size and featured three trombone choirs: The BearBones Trombone Choir, the Natural Slides Trombone Ensemble and the Jazz Bones. The trombone choirs performed at the American Trombone Workshop, the 2018, 2021, and 2024 International Trombone Festivals at the University of Iowa, Columbus State University, and Texas Christian University and were featured performers at the 2018 Midwest Clinic in Chicago, IL. The UCA Trombone Ensembles performed a featured concert as the host of the 2022 International Trombone Festival. In May of 2023, the Natural Slides Trombone Ensemble recorded their first album entitled, “Sempre Avanti” which was released in the spring of 2024. Dr. Cook’s students have been finalists and winners of the American Trombone Workshop Solo Competitions, the Big 12 Solo Competitions, the International Women’s Brass Conference Solo competitions and the Southeast Trombone Symposium’s Solo Trombone Competition. They have graduated and been accepted to some of the world’s most prestigious universities and conservatories. Dr. Cook has presented clinics and masterclasses at universities all across the United States and in 2019, presented a session on brass pedagogy at the Midwest Clinic.
Justin Cook holds a Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Trombone Performance degree from Northern Arizona University, a Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting from Northern Arizona University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Texas. He has studied with Tony Baker, David Vining, Vern Kagarice, and Peter Vivona. During the summer of 2005 Justin was a member of the Disneyland All-American College Band and in 2009, Dr. Cook was chosen as one of 18 international tenor trombonists to attend the Alessi Seminar where he had the opportunity to work with Joseph Alessi and Peter Ellefson.
Justin Cook is a S.E. Shires performing artist and Greg Black performing artist and performs exclusively on Shires trombones and Greg Black Mouthpieces.
Prof. Brian Dobbins
Associate Professor of Music (Tuba/Euphonium)
Email: bdobbins@ou.edu
Tuba Studio Links
Professor Brian Dobbins began performing professionally in 1996 at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA. He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1999 with a Bachelors degree in Music Education, and then began performing with the New Mexico Brass Quintet while working on his Masters degree in Music Performance at the University of New Mexico. In 2000, he won the principal tuba position with the Santa Fe Symphony where he continues to perform today. After receiving his Masters in the summer of 2002, Mr. Dobbins had the opportunity to spend the summer performing with the Santa Fe Opera. Later that summer he took a one-year position in Xalapa, Veracruz – Mexico, where he performed with the Xalapa Symphony Orchestra and taught tuba at the University of Veracruz. The following year Professor Dobbins accepted the Visiting Professor of Tuba and Euphonium position at the University of Oklahoma, and after three years of establishing strong high school and university studios, he accepted the Assistant Professor position at the University of Oklahoma.
- MM - University of New Mexico
- BM - Virginia Commonwealth University
Open to Tuba, Euphonium, Trombone, Bass Trombone.
TubaFOUr Quartet
Euphoniums
Candice Neel - Sophomore Education Major from Moore, Oklahoma
Isaiah Crawford - Sophomore Music Education Major from Blanchard, Oklahoma
Evan Dommer - Senior Music Performance from Edmond, Oklahoma
Fernando Cardenas - Senior Music Performance from Moore, Oklahoma
Dr. Douglas Lindsey
Assistant Professor of Music (Trumpet)
Office: Catlett Music Center 217
Dr. Douglas Lindsey joined the brass faculty at the University of Oklahoma in Fall 2023, bringing a wealth of experience as a performer, educator, and leader in the brass community.
As a soloist, Dr. Lindsey has captivated audiences at prestigious events, including multiple performances at the International Trumpet Guild Conference, the Atlanta Trumpet Festival, and the Trumpet Festival of the Southeast. He has also delivered numerous faculty and guest recitals across the United States, performing with high school, community, and college bands nationwide. Alongside his duet partner, Kristy Mezines, Dr. Lindsey released his debut solo album, Impressions of France. Their ensemble, Duo Solace, maintains an active performance schedule, championing new composers and delivering engaging, dynamic musical experiences at every recital.
An accomplished orchestral musician, Dr. Lindsey has held prominent roles, including principal trumpet with the Memphis Symphony and the Georgia Symphony Orchestra, and section trumpet with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Macon Symphony, Norman Philharmonic, and Oklahoma City Philharmonic. He also spent two summers as an orchestral fellowship winner at the Aspen Music Festival. Also a champion of chamber music, Dr. Lindsey has toured with the award-winning University of Wisconsin Brass Quintet and the Mirari Brass Quintet. Currently, he serves as first trumpet in the University of Oklahoma Faculty Brass Quintet.
Since relocating to Norman, Dr. Lindsey has made significant contributions to the brass band community. As Music Director of the Frontier Brass Band, he has elevated the ensemble to new heights, leading them to numerous awards and conducting some of the world’s finest brass soloists. A dedicated member of the international brass band community, he currently serves as Vice President of the North American Brass Band Association (NABBA). His commitment to fostering community through music is also evident in his past leadership as President and Principal Cornet of the Georgia Brass Band, where he guided the ensemble to its highest-ever placement at NABBA. Since joining the Fountain City Brass Band in 2017, Dr. Lindsey has performed for global audiences at events like the International Brass in Concert and the Scottish Open. In 2023, he assumed the role of principal cornet, leading the band to its 10th North American Brass Band Championship and earning widespread acclaim from brass band enthusiasts worldwide.
Dr. Lindsey’s academic journey includes a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madiso studying with John Aley, a Master of Music from Yale University, where he studied with Allan Dean and received the John Swallow Excellence in Brass Prize, and under the tutelage of Richard RUlli he earned a bachelor’s degrees in music performance and music education magna cum laude from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. He also studied with renowned trumpeters/cornetists, David King, Ray Mase, Louis Ranger, Kevin Cobb, and Scott Moore. As a Bach trumpet artist, he continues to inspire and influence the next generation of musicians through his artistry and leadership.
Dr. Matthew Reynolds
Assistant Professor of Music (Horn)
Office: Catlett Music Center 215
Matthew Reynolds is the Assistant Professor of Horn at the University of Oklahoma. His teachers were Jeffrey Powers (retired) at Baylor University, Dr. Nicholas Smith (retired) at Wichita State University, and Dr. Kristy Morrell at the University of Southern California.
Before his teaching position at OU, he taught private lessons to students of all ages for 10 years, and continues to do so in his free time. During his time at OU so far, he has been a featured soloist with the Symphony Band at OU, was invited as a guest artist at the 2024 Midsouth Horn Conference and 2024 Internation Horn Symposium, and has also been invited to perform and give masterclasses at several universities such as the University of Louisiana-Monroe and University of Arkansas.
He is currently the 4th horn of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and has played with many other professional orchestras such as the Tulsa Symphony, Wichita Symphony, Waco Symphony, Wichita Grand Opera, Downey Symphony, Los Angeles Doctors Symphony, and more. He also continues to be a freelance musician, performing in smaller groups such as church services, recording projects, pop gigs, and more.
Along with his teaching and performance achievements, he is the director of the Young Artists Competition at OU and is an active member in several committees such as the Council for Culture and Belonging, Undergraduate Studies Committee, and the Undergraduate Task Force.
- University of Southern California - DMA (Horn Performance)
- Wichita State University - MM (Horn Performance)
- Baylor University - BM (Horn Performance)
