Austin Richardson is the Principal Trombonist of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, the oldest full-time musician-governed and collaboratively-operated orchestra in the United States. Before his position in New Orleans, he served as Principal Trombone with the Richardson Symphony Orchestra from 2021-2023. Austin has performed with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, Mobile Symphony Orchestra, Meridian Symphony Orchestra, and the National Orchestral Institute + Festival.
As a soloist, Austin has been a finalist in the American Trombone Workshop’s National Solo Competition, a semi-finalist in the International Jeju Brass Competition, and a prizewinner in multiple competitions at the International Women’s Brass Conference. Austin has appeared as a featured soloist with the LSU Philharmonia, the LSU Trombone Choir, and the UNT Concert Orchestra.
Equally passionate about music education and pedagogy, Austin has held private low brass studios in Louisiana and Texas. He previously served as a Teaching Fellow at UNT where he taught the brass methods courses, and was the adjunct Instructor of Low Brass at Tarrant County College in Arlington, TX. Currently, Austin teaches privately and for Kids' Orchestra, a non-profit devoted to bringing music education to students of all backgrounds in Baton Rouge. As a guest clinician, Austin has given masterclasses for the Trombones of North Texas, the University of South Alabama, the University of Texas at Arlington, and Louisiana State University.
Austin received a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music and a Master's degree from Louisiana State University. He is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of North Texas. His primary teachers have included Steve Menard, Hana Beloglavec, Larry Zalkind, and John Marcellus. Austin resides in Baton Rouge with his wife, Erika, and their two Australian Shepherds, Nova and Remy. When not playing trombone, Austin is likely at the dog park, watching Formula 1, or debating on running a third marathon.