top of page

Trombone Faculty

Catie Hickey.JPG
Caitlin Hickey

Junior Session

BM, Eastman School of Music

MM, Shepherd School of Music at Rice University

Social Entrepreneurship Certificate, McGill University and Oxford University

Joined LMC Faculty in 2023

Share with us some of your professional accomplishments.

My professional life focuses on creating community through music. Currently based in Chicago, I am on the faculty of Loyola University-Chicago and DePaul University, and maintain a large studio of private trombone students who range from very short to very tall. 

As a performer, settings where I can make music with excellent colleagues are the most fulfilling. I am proud to have affiliations with Taller de Trombones in Panama, Trombonanza in Argentina, and many other workshops throughout Latin America. At home in Chicago, I play with the New Chicago Brass, Jina Brass Band, East Loop ensemble, and many musical theater pits. 

What excites you about Luzerne Music Center?

What first attracted me to LMC was the immersive music environment in a beautiful place, that brings together musicians from many different lived experiences. I have many professional musician friends who are alumni, and they speak very fondly of their time as a formative summer.

What can campers expect to learn while working with you this summer?

Campers can expect an environment that supports their curiosity. Through structured practice and play, they will learn to build fundamentals that support their musical growth. Applying these technical skills in small and large ensembles will give them real world experience learning to connect and communicate with the friends they make at Luzerne. 

Elisabeth Shafer Headshot.jpg
Elisabeth Shafer

Senior Session

BM, Temple University

MM, Yale University
DMA, Boston University

Joined LMC Faculty in 2022

Share with us some of your professional accomplishments.

I teach at The University of Akron and have performed with a variety of ensembles both regionally and across the United States, including the Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra, Erie Philharmonic, Akron Symphony Orchestra, Seraph Brass, Olympic Brass, Barclay Brass, Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, and the Toledo Symphony Brass Quintet. I am honored to have been the featured soloist in performance with a number of ensembles including The University of Akron Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band, The University of Akron Orchestra, and Perry High School Symphonic Winds at the Ohio Music Educators Association Conference. In 2018, I was a teaching assistant at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute Trombone Workshop, and in 2020 I was the trombone instructor for Seraph Brass's Online Summer Seminar, where I led classes and taught lessons and masterclasses to students from around the world. Lastly, I am a proud Conn-Selmer performing artist!

What excites you about Luzerne Music Center?

I am very excited to meet and work with campers and become a part of their journeys as they seek to grow into the musicians they want to be. The atmosphere at Luzerne is so welcoming and warm, and I am thrilled to be a part of that! I look forward to sharing musical experiences and meaningful times together. 

What can campers expect to learn while working with you this summer?

The campers can expect tailored instruction to help them grow in their musicianship, practice efficiency, professionalism, technique, ensemble skills, and performance preparation. I love using strengths to develop areas of weakness and tracking progress as we work towards specific goals. My aim is that when campers leave Luzerne, they will have more tools for success than when they started and will be renewed and inspired in their passion for music!

bottom of page