Robert Soto

Bass Trombonist Robert Soto is native of El Paso, TX, and has performed internationally across the United States, Mexico, Canada, England and Brazil. Robert has performed with such artists as Sir Neville Marriner, Anatoly Levin, Sarah Ioannedes, Anthony Newman, composers Jan Van Der Roost and Eric Nathan (ASCAP), Dave Steinmeyer, Dave Leibman, Brad Leili, Bill Reichenbach, and Jazz Legend Dave Brubeck. Robert served as lead trombonist for Fuego Latino Salsa prior to moving to LA, and has recorded/performed with a variety of groups such as Sobredosis, Sonido Unidad, The Eklectic Jazz Group, the Yale Jazz Ensemble, the Eastern Connecticut, Connecticut Master Chorale, Roswell, Juarez (Mexico), the El Paso Wind Symphony, The Yale Concert Band, Yale, and El Paso Symphony Orchestras. Robert was named as a faculty member for the 2008 Texas Tech Big XII Trombone Conference, and was a performer with the Yale Philharmonia at the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Hungarian Revolution at Carnegie Hall in NYC (2006). In addition, Robert has performed at the Birmingham and Wigan Jazz Festivals in England with the UTEP Lab Band, the International Association of Jazz Educators Convention (IAJE), and at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention (TMEA).

Robert received his Bachelor's in Music Education Cum Laude from the University of Texas at El Paso, and his Master's in Music from Yale University, School of Music. He has studied trombone performance with Scott Hartman, Steve Norrell, Joseph Alessi, John Lofton, Dr. Steve Wilson, Dr. Mark Williams, Dr. Allan Kaplan, Mr. Robert Melendez, and conducting with Maestro Toshiyuki Shimada and Dr. Ron Hufstader. Robert served on the music staff for Salvador Sanchez Middle School (El Paso, TX), Fairfax, HS (Hollywood, CA), Giano Intermediate School (West Covina, CA), Ayala High School (Chino Hills, CA), and the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corp. (Denver, CO). Robert currently resides in the Los Angeles area where he is bass trombonist of the Orange County Symphony Orchestra and Wind Symphony, and is adjunct professor of trombone at Fullerton College (Fullerton, CA). Contact Robert at: www.myspace.com/rsotomusic, basstrebor@gmail.com.