Moisés Paiewonsky

Moisés Paiewonsky earned a Bachelor of Music in music education (Summa Cum Laude) from the University of Florida (UF) and a Master of Music in performance (trombone) from the University of Michigan (U of M). Currently, he holds the positions of Associate Professor of Music (Trombone) and Associate Director of The University of Arizona (UA) Fred Fox School of Music where, in addition to maintaining a strong studio and directing the trombone ensemble, he is an Honors Professor teaching music and the arts to some of the most academically gifted students at UA.

While at UF, Mr. Paiewonsky performed as the principal/lead trombonist in all of the major large and jazz ensembles as well as in a variety of chamber groups. During his tenure as a master’s fellow at U of M, Mr. Paiewonsky earned the privilege to perform as principal trombonist of the U of M Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Kenneth Kiesler and the U of M Symphony Band under the direction of Michael Haithcock. He was also the lead/jazz trombonist in the U of M Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Ellen Rowe as well as the trombonist in a variety of chamber groups including the Latin Jazz Ensemble and 4G: The U of M Trombone Quartet (finalists in the 2005 ITA Trombone Quartet Competition). As a graduate assistant during his conducting doctoral studies at UF, Mr. Paiewonsky co-directed the UF Symphonic and UF Concert Bands; directed the UF Brass Choir, UF Trombone Choir, UF Jazz Ensemble II; and taught courses in Brass Methods and Undergraduate Conducting. In addition, Mr. Paiewonsky served as the Assistant Director of Bands at Buchholz High School for two years. His teachers have included David Jackson, Arthur Jennings, David Waybright, and Gary Langford.

Since his arrival at UA, Mr. Paiewonsky has been awarded numerous grants in order to invite, collaborate with, and/or perform alongside some legendary low brass artists such as Joseph Alessi, James Markey, Nitzan Haroz, Carol Jantsch, John Marcellus, Craig Mulcahy, David Jackson, Michael Brown, Martin McCain, Brad Edwards, and Trombones de Costa Rica. In addition, he has been the recipient of several travel grants for faculty and student travel to conferences and competitions. Recently, he traveled with trombone alumnus Sean Copeland, who won the Eastern Trombone Workshop (ETW) National Bass Trombone Solo Competition in Washington, D.C. and was runner-up in the 2018 International Trombone Association (ITA) Yaxley Bass Trombone Solo Competition in Iowa City, IA. Notably, he traveled with trombone alumnus Paul Deemer, who won the 2008 ETW National Solo Jazz Competition in Washington, D.C. and was runner-up in the 2008 ITA Carl Fontana Jazz Competition in Salt Lake City, UT. In the summers of 2010 and 2013, after successfully fundraising over $50,000 through private donations, grants, and benefit events, Mr. Paiewonsky co-directed the UA Studio Jazz Ensemble in highly acclaimed, one-month, groundbreaking, educational tours throughout China. Due to this, other accomplishments since his arrival in Tucson, and his significant contributions in the community, Mr. Paiewonsky was named a winner of the Arizona Daily Star’s annual 40 Under 40 Award and the UA Studio Jazz Ensemble was awarded the 2013 Global Excellence Award.

Mr. Paiewonsky has also appeared on numerous recordings with U of M and UF ensembles. Some of these award-winning recordings include live performances at Carnegie Hall during a CBDNA conference and another at the Esplanade during a WASBE conference in Singapore. In addition, Mr. Paiewonsky is interested in arranging and composing for jazz and other ensembles. Some of his arrangements and compositions have also been featured on published recordings. He has also appeared as a soloist with the American Chamber Winds on Soldier Stories (50693-MCD) and the UF Wind Symphony on Stravinsky & Friends (6565-MCD) under the Mark Records label.

Professionally, Mr. Paiewonsky has performed with several orchestras and/or its members including the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia, National Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Tucson Symphony, Orlando Philharmonic, Gainesville Symphony, Plymouth Symphony, Bijou, and Central Florida Symphony Orchestras. He has also performed as a soloist with the UF Wind Symphony (2013, 2008, 2007, & 2006), UA Wind Ensemble (2013 & 2011), Orquesta Dominicana de Vientos (2011), the U of M Symphony Orchestra (2005), the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra (2004), and the Gainesville Chamber Orchestra (2003). Mr. Paiewonsky has also collaborated with a wide variety of legendary jazz artists including Terry Gibbs, Chris Potter, Bill Watrous, Jimmy Cobb, Wayne Bergeron, Bobby Shew, Butch Miles, John Fedchock, Shelly Berg, David “Fathead“ Newman, Michael Davis, Cab Calloway, Ed Calle, Dave Steinmeyer, Vince DiMartino, Byron Stripling, Matt Niess, Harry Watters, Alex Iles, and Jack Wilkins. In addition, Mr. Paiewonsky has also performed and toured with Yanni. He has also worked as a jazz/commercial musician and lead trombonist/leader in both the Walt Disney World Christmas Brass and the 2004 Walt Disney World All-American College Band. In addition, he has been the winner or finalist of numerous competitions including the 2005 and 2003 National Trombone Solo Competitions, the 2004 International Trombone Quartet Competition, the 2002 International Trombone Solo Competition, and the 2002 Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp Concerto Competition. Mr. Paiewonsky has also served on the faculties of the Interlochen Center for the Arts and of Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.

As an educator, Mr. Paiewonsky is in high demand as a clinician and a performer. He has appeared as a clinician/performer throughout the United States, including an appearance at the 2009 ETW in Washington, D.C. as a featured performer, as well as in Italy, Austria, Brazil, Greece, Singapore, Mexico, China, and at the National Conservatory of Music in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Mr. Paiewonsky has held the position of news editor for the ITA, managing the news column both on the organization’s website and in its quarterly journal. Currently, he serves as President of the Tucson Federation of Musicians (AFM Local 33). He is also active through organizations such as the College Music Society (CMS), MENC: The National Association for Music Education, the Arizona Music Educators Association (AMEA), the Arizona Band and Orchestra Directors Association (ABODA), the Florida Music Educators’ Association (FMEA), the Florida Bandmasters Association (FBA), and the Arizona Association of Jazz Education (AAJE).