Biography
LOW BRASS PERFORMER
J.c. Sherman, Principal Tubist with the Firelands Symphony Orchestra, holds Bachelors of Music degrees in Tuba Performance and Music Education from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he studied tuba and ophicleide with Ronald Bishop and bass trombone, euphonium and bass sackbut with Raymond Premru. He also holds a Masters of Music degree in Trombone Performance from the University of Akron, studying with Dr. James Albrecht.
J.c. is the Instructor of Low Brass at Cleveland State University and has performed for 24 years with the Blossom Festival Band. He was the principle tubist with Opera Cleveland Orchestra, and performs regularly with the Cleveland POPS and with orchestras throughout Northeast Ohio. As a chamber musician, J.c. is a current member of Olympic Brass, Diamond Brass, the NEOTuba Quartet, and the Cleveland Trombone Collective. A 5-year veteran performer from SeaWorld of Ohio, J.c. also enjoys performing early jazz with The Night Owls and the River City Jazz Band.
J.c.'s collection of performing instruments include all keys of tubas, Euphonium, Baritone, Bass Trombone, Tenor Trombone, Contrabass Trombone/Cimbasso, Alto Trombone, Sousaphone, Ophicleide, Serpent, Bass Trumpet, Valve Trombone, Trumpet, Horn and Flute.
HISTORIC BRASS
J.c. has had in intense interest in historic brass instruments for 30 years, particularly regarding the use of the ophicleide. He has introduced the instrument to the Firelands Symphony, several quintets, and performed Verdi's Requiem under Robert Paige.
In February 2010, he acquired his first serpent, and has since performed solos arranged for him with Olympic Brass, the Heritage Brass Quintet, and TubaChristmas Cleveland, and enjoys performing for Catholic masses (for which the instrument was specifically invented). In January, 2012, he performed Mendelssohn's 5th Symphony at the Cleveland Institute of Music on the instrument, and performed with the Lehigh University Wind Ensemble. During the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran reformation, Sherman performed Mendelssohn 5 six times with various orchestras.
J.c. co founded Northeast Ohio's newest orchestra, Orchestra 19, which features authentic performance of the 19th century. In the group, he performs on horn, serpent, ophicleide, trombone, and early tubas.
Sherman also has an affection for the horn and natural horn, performing with Orchestra 19 and Case University Opera
SOLOIST
J.c. has been a featured soloist with orchestras and bands across the country.
While a student at the Oberlin Conservatory, J.c. Sherman performed an unprecedented six full recitals, two joint recitals, and several departmental recitals, and was given the unique privilege of performing as a non-major on Bass Trombone. In addition, J.c. was a featured soloist three times with the Oberlin Symphonic Winds (Euphonium and Tuba) and once with the Brass Guild of Oberlin, as well as performing off-campus as a soloist with local bands.
After graduating, he performed two unique recitals; a full unaccompanied tuba recital at the Karpeles Manuscript Museum in Tacoma, WA and a full recital with organ in Olympia, WA. In 1995, he was a featured soloist with the Washington Wind Symphony. J.c. has since continued to perform recitals locally and internationally since, and has been a featured soloist with the Olympia Symphony, Kirkland Civic Orchestra, Cleveland Winds, Lakeland College, Lake Effect Band, Geauga County Fair Band, Lakewood Hometown Band, Cleveland State University Wind Ensemble, and many other groups.
J.c. has premiered several works written for him, including Relentless, Reminiscence, and Tofudobeast by Anthony Markel (premiered with the Cleveland Chamber Symphony) and Concerto for Tubameister by internationally lauded composer, Victor Davies in Vancouver, BC.
For performances and master-classes on modern and historic instruments, or for courses on brass repair for music educators, please contact J.c. at jc@jcsherman.net.
INSTRUMENT MAKER & TECHNICIAN
As an instrument maker and technician, J.c. served his apprenticeship with Kevin Dunipace and Tom Ianni at Academy Music Co. in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. He now specializes in creating specialized instruments, historic restorations and replicas, and quality repairs for professional brass musicians nationwide. His instruments and mouthpieces have been used across the country from the Cleveland Orchestra to UCLA, and from private collections to museums. He now is president and tech for Variations in Brass, his own repair firm.
In 2009, the Rogers Serpent Mouthpiece was introduced as a genuine serpent mouthpiece which also serves as a viable mouthpiece for use in a modern Baritone or Euphonium to perform works scored for the Serpent.
COMPOSER/ARRANGER
In May 2012, The Cleveland POPS premiered "Service Dogs March" by J.c. Sherman, honoring the numerous canines who aid our armed services throughout the nation and the world. In addition, J.c. has penned numerous orchestrations and arrangements for the Cleveland POPS, Firelands Symphony, NRO, Akron Symphony, Olympic Brass, Heritage Brass and other ensembles throughout the years. "Service Dogs March" is available for Band or Orchestra, along with many of his low brass quartets, through LudwogMasters.
CONDUCTING
J.c. studied Conducting with Dr. John Knight, Dr. Howard Meeker, and Dr. Galen Karriker. He was the winner of the 1994 band conducting competition at Oberlin Conservatory, and enjoys substituting as a conductor with local ensembles throughout greater Cleveland, Conducted "Fanfare for the Common Man" with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, and has even conducted the Firelands Symphony and Cleveland POPS Orchestra Dressed as Darth Vader! He regularly conducts CSU's "VTTEC" low brass ensemble and the Cleveland Trombone Collective.
RECORDINGS
J.c. can be heard on a variety of instruments on these recordings:
"Blossom Festival" with the Blossom Festival Band
J.c. plays on a Conn 52J CC tuba on all works on this 2004 CD
"Robert Erickson, Pacific Sirens" with the Cleveland Chamber Symphony
J.c. plays a Conn Double-bell Euphonium on "White Lady" on this 2003 release.
"Cleveland Chamber Symphony, Vol. 4" (1998)
On Edgar Varese's important "Integrals," J.c. performs on a Miraphone BBb/FF Contrabass Trombone.
"Christmas in Brass" with the Heritage Brass Quintet, 2003
Most of this recording was made using a Conn 52J CC tuba. However, "Orpheus" was recorded on a cimbasso of his own manufacture and both "Twelve Days of Christmas" and the 4th movement of the Scheidt are played on a King Monster 4 valve rotary BBb.
"It's Swingtime" with the Heritage Brass Quintet, 2008
Most of this recording was made on a Boosey & Hawkes Imperial Eb, but a King 1240 BBb recording bass was brought out for a couple works too!
In addition, since 2006 he has played for LudwigMasters, the Cleveland Symphonic Winds, and Daehn Publishing in recording new works for band and orchestra, including two Tuba solo work premiers and several chamber works.