About Xander

Xander Navarro is a neo-romantic composer mostly known for his pieces "Unreturned Salute" and "The Bad Idea March", the latter of which placed second in the 2017 Christopher Bill Composition Competition. More recently, his "Ceremonial Tower Music" has become the opening fanfare for the International Trombone Summit (ITS) being used in both 2021 and 2022. Also, the "Pershing's Own" U.S. Army Band trombone quartet will be recording "Unreturned Salute" in September 2023 as part of a Suicide Awareness Month initiative (in addition to performing the piece regularly).

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Xander is a three-year member of the Marine Corps All-Star Jazz Band; his jazz experience has a large influence on his compositions and arrangements.

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He has studied composition with Dr. Keane Southard, Dr. Judy Bozone, John Wasson, Carl Lundgren, and Sabrina Scotti. He has also studied trombone with Chris Oliver, Jimmy Clark, Dr. Cory Mixdorf, Dr. Bill Haugeberg, Dr. Bruce Faske, and Joshua Blankenship, and jazz studies with Claudia Burson, Dr. Rick Salonen, Carl Lundgren, Joakim Toftgaard, and Dr. Chris Beaty.

Xander currently studies music education (elementary focus) at Texas A&M University (Commerce) where he leads his personal brass choir, Nightfall Brass.

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(CV updated April 14, 2022)