John Ohnstad

John joined Orchestra Nova Northwest in August 2014. In addition to performing in ONN, John is also the bass trombonist for the Siletz Bay Music Festival, Big Horn Brass, Trombone 8, and the Art Abrams Swing Machine Big Band, and he is a founder of the Rose City Trombones. John has performed with the Portland Youth Philharmonic, the Tucson, Vancouver, and Newport symphonies, the Oregon Ballet, the Salem Chamber Orchestra, the Portland Opera, and the Oregon Symphony.

While attending the University of Arizona, John performed in all instrumental groups, musical performances, and opera productions. After graduating with a degree in Marketing and a Minor in Music Performance, John won an audition to perform in the Walt Disney World All-American Orchestra’s production of Celebrate Broadway. John has recorded three albums with the Art Abrams Swing Machine Big Band and is a featured soloist on the latest album, Speak Low, Swing Hard.

John was recently selected by international audition as a Fellow for the Alessi Seminar, presented by Joseph Alessi, principal trombone of the New York Philharmonic.

John continues to enjoy a fun and exciting career in sales as Director of Business Development for NFI Industries. When not playing on his bass and contrabass trombones, John can be found with his lovely wife and two boys, and riding his really, really big bike.

John’s chair is sponsored by Col. Mary J. Mayer, USAF (Ret).

The Trombone Section is sponsored by Mardy & Hank Stevens.