Practice.
Perform.
Grow.
The trifecta of modern day musicianship.
Practice:
Practice is the foundation of every strong musician. I believe meaningful progress comes from consistency, attention to detail, and a willingness to engage deeply with the fundamentals. Whether preparing for auditions, performances, or personal goals, practice is where discipline becomes confidence and technique becomes artistry.
Perform:
Performance is at the heart of my work as a trombonist. Whether onstage with an ensemble, in an audition, or preparing for an important musical moment, I believe great playing comes from clarity, consistency, and expression. Every performance is an opportunity to communicate something meaningful through sound.
Grow:
Musical growth is a long-term process shaped by discipline, curiosity, and persistence. My own path, from years of freelancing and taking auditions to winning a full-time position with the United States Navy Fleet Bands, has shown me the value of resilience and steady progress. I bring that same perspective to every student and every musical opportunity.
Leland Matsumura currently serves as a trombonist in the United States Navy Fleet Bands since 2019. He also served as the principal trombone of the Battle Creek Symphony for 3 seasons, beginning in 2016. Additional performance opportunities include the Seattle Symphony, Seattle Opera, Toledo Symphony, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, and the symphonies of Olympia (WA), Youngstown, Lima, Firelands Holland (MI), West Michigan, and Southwest Michigan, respectively.
In addition to his performing career, Mr. Matsumura is a passionate educator and clinician. He has presented or performed at the University of Washington, Washington State University, James Madison University, Western Michigan University, and Missouri State University. As a private instructor, several former students have been accepted to prestigious music programs around the country including the New England Conservatory, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Baldwin Wallace Conservatory, and Ohio State University.
Mr. Matsumura earned a Master of Music degree in trombone performance at Western Michigan University where he was the Graduate Teaching Assistant to Dr. Steve Wolfinbarger. He also earned a Bachelor of Music degree in trombone performance from James Madison University under the guidance of Dr. Andrew Lankford. Other important mentors include Ko-ichiro Yamamoto, Kirk Ferguson, Megumi Kanda, Richard Stout, Garth Simmons, and Dr. Mike Hall.
In his spare time, Leland loves to spend time with his wife, Sarah and their two boys, Tristan and Kenzo. He also loves reading and discovering new hobbies!
Leland Matsumura is an Edwards Instruments Performing Artist and exclusively performs on Edwards trombones.
