Jackson Churchill is a rising trombonist, composer, and educator. He currently serves as a Band Director and the Director of Jazz at Valley High School in West Des Moines, Iowa. He is also a Teaching Artist of Jazz Trombone at Drake University.
As a jazz artist, Jackson's recent accomplishments include: finalist in the 2022 J.J. Johnson Jazz Trombone Competition (International Trombone Association); finalist in the 2022 National Solo Jazz Competition (American Trombone Workshop); acceptance into the 2022 JAS Academy Big Band, led by Christian McBride (Jazz Aspen Snowmass); 2021 Outstanding Small Ensemble Arrangement (Downbeat Magazine). He was also a member of and contributing arranger to the UNT U-Tubes Jazz Trombone Ensemble, winners of the 2021 Kai Winding competition (International Trombone Association). As a classical trombonist, Jackson won the 2019 Concerto Competition at his alma mater, Luther College.
A passionate educator, Jackson graduated from Luther College summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in music education. There, he served as assistant student conductor for the jazz ensembles and trombone choir. Jackson completed his master's degree in jazz trombone performance at the University of North Texas (UNT), where he directed the Five, Six, and Seven O'Clock Lab Bands and helped instruct undergraduate jazz courses. Equally at home on the podium, Jackson earned accolades from Eugene Migliaro Corporon at the 2021 UNT Conductor's Collegium.
Jackson's performance credits include the UNT One O'Clock Lab Band, Glenn Miller Orchestra, the Nick Finzer Jazz Orchestra, Brad Leali's "Gospel Meets Jazz" ensemble, the Des Moines Big Band, and the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra. Jackson is a Theodore Presser Music Scholar and holds membership in the Pi Kappa Lambda and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies.
