CIM Summer Brass Lab
About
Open to trumpet, french horn, trombone, and tuba students entering grades 9–12 and recent high school graduates (ages 14–18), The CIM Summer Brass Lab offers an unparalleled opportunity for high school brass musicians to take their skills to the next level.
This elite program is designed for passionate young players eager to deepen their musical knowledge and gain invaluable experience with today's top brass professionals in the classical music industry.
Arrival: Sunday, July 5, 2026
Program Dates: July 6 – 10, 2026
Concert: July 10, 2026
Departure: July 11, 2026
Lead Faculty
John Sebastian Vera, CIM Faculty, Principal Trombone, Pittsburgh Opera
John Sebastian Vera, a native of Texas, became the principal trombonist of the Pittsburgh Opera in 2010.
As Head of Brass & Percussion and lecturer of music entrepreneurship at the Cleveland Institute of Music, he is passionate about helping young musicians develop dynamic and successful careers in music.
He is a founder of the Third Coast Trombone Retreat, an elite pre-professional program and host of the Trombone Retreat podcast listened to in over 130 countries around the world. He is also on trombone faculty at Duquesne University.
In addition to the Pittsburgh Opera, Vera has performed with the symphonies of Dallas, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Buffalo, Kennedy Center Opera House, Malaysian Philharmonic, New York City Ballet, Harrisburg, American Ballet Theatre, and Orquesta Sinaloa de las Artes amongst others.
He can also be heard as solo trombone on the HBO documentary, The Words that Built America, and on euphonium in the PBS documentary, Abraham and Mary Lincoln, A House Divided, as well as on many commercial and video game soundtracks.
John Sebastian Vera is an artist for Thein Instruments and the designer of JSV Mouthpieces, a signature trombone mouthpiece line he developed with Houghton Horns. When he can get away from the trombone he most enjoys traveling, meditation and basketball. You can follow his travels, performances and food adventures on Instagram @js.vera.
Faculty
Michael Miller, CIM Trumpet Faculty, Trumpet, The Cleveland Orchestra
Michael Miller began his tenure as fourth trumpet of The Cleveland Orchestra with the 2006 Blossom Festival season. A native of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Mr. Miller took a winding path before returning home: He served in the Peace Corps in Liberia, in an orchestra in the Dominican Republic, and on a Fulbright scholarship in Ecuador. He was living and performing in Charlotte when trumpeter James Darling retired and Mr. Miller successfully auditioned for his hometown orchestra.
Jack Sutte, CIM Trumpet Faculty, Second Trumpet, The Cleveland Orchestra
Jack Sutte joined The Cleveland Orchestra as second trumpet in 1999. Prior to his Cleveland appointment, he was the principal trumpet in Norway’s Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. He made his international solo debut in Argentina in 1995 and has performed as a soloist with The Cleveland Orchestra, Symphony in C, New World Symphony, Contemporary Youth Orchestra, and CityMusic Cleveland, among other ensembles. Highlights include the world premieres of Clint Needham’s Fractured Elements for solo trumpet and wind ensemble, and Matthias Pintscher’s Chute d’étoiles for orchestra and two solo trumpets, performed with Michael Sachs.
A native of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, he attended the Curtis Institute of Music, where he earned a bachelor of music degree, and the Juilliard School, where he earned a master of music degree. His teachers include Dr. Patricia Backhaus, Michael Davison, Frank Kaderabek, Raymond Mase, and Chris Gekker. Mr. Sutte, who is a proponent of contemporary music and a Schilke artist, has released three recordings: Beyond the Moon, featuring music for trumpet and piano, and Fanfare Alone and BENT, which are collections of pieces for unaccompanied trumpet. In addition to his work as a soloist, composer, and arranger, Mr. Sutte is a founding member of Factory Seconds Brass Trio — an artist group-in-residence at Baldwin Wallace Conservatory. He teaches at Baldwin Wallace and Cleveland State University.
In his spare time, Mr. Sutte can be found enjoying a cup of strong coffee, gardening, chopping wood, and striving to learn the sonata canon for trumpet and piano.
Brian Wendel, CIM Trombone Faculty, Principal Trombone, The Cleveland Orchestra
Brian Wendel joined The Cleveland Orchestra as Principal Trombone in August of 2022, appointed by Franz Welser-Möst. He previously served as Principal Trombone of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) for five seasons, beginning in 2017. Enjoying the creativity and the thrill of solo performances and competitions, he has appeared as a soloist with the Vancouver and Prince George Symphonies, Denver University Brass Ensemble, and the Juilliard Trombone Choir, and was winner of the Music International Grand Prix — Winds and Brass category (2021), Online Trombone Competition (2020), Alessi Seminar Asia Competition (2018) and two International Trombone Association competitions (2014 and 2016). He has also performed with the Seattle Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, and New York Philharmonic Brass Ensemble. He received his bachelor’s degree from The Juilliard School under the mentorship of Joseph Alessi.
Nathaniel Silberschlag, Horn Faculty, Principal Horn, The Cleveland Orchestra
Nathaniel Silberschlag was appointed principal horn of The Cleveland Orchestra in May 2019, and took up the position in August prior to the start of the 2019-20 season. He previously served as assistant principal horn of the Washington National Opera/Kennedy Center Opera House orchestra, where he was the youngest member ever to win a position with the ensemble, at the age of 19. He was appointed to the CIM faculty in 2021.
As soloist, Silberschlag has performed with the Juilliard Orchestra, Bulgarian Philharmonic, Romania State Symphony, New York’s Little Orchestra Society and the Chesapeake Orchestra. He has also played concerts with a variety of ensembles, including the New York Philharmonic and Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
And more!
Sample Day
- 8:15am - Breakfast
- 9:00am - Group Warmups
- 10:00am - Lessons or Individual Practice
- 12:00pm - Lunch
- 1:30pm - Masterclasses or Chamber Music
- 4:00pm - Music Enrichment Courses
- 6:00pm - Dinner
- 7:00pm - Social Activity
Tuition & Fees
Application fees are non-refundable
$25 application fee through February 28
$40 application fee after February 28
Financial aid is available to CIM Summer Institute participants and is primarily need-based and merit-informed. Applicants may request to be considered for financial aid at the time of application.
Upon acceptance to a program, students will receive information on how to complete the financial aid application. Awards are determined by committee prior to the start of the program and may cover up to the full cost of attendance. Any financial aid award is subject to revision or proration if registration details or student status change.
Limited funds are available; early application is encouraged. For questions about financial assistance, please email CIMSummerInstitute@cim.edu
Tuition: $1450
Housing: $490
Dining: $420
All travel expenses are the responsibility of the participant.
All students are required to pay the CIM Summer Institute dining fee, regardless of whether they use on-campus housing.
For international students: proof of visa requirements for entry to the USA are required at the time of acceptance of admission offer.
Application Timeline:
Applicants are encouraged to apply early as selected participants may be selected on a rolling basis
Early November Applications Open
February 28 Priority Deadline: April 1 Final Application Deadline
March 1 Admission decisions for priority applicants sent
March 15 Financial Aid application due
April 1 $300 non-refundable enrollment deposit is due upon accepting your admission offer. This deposit will be applied toward the total tuition due.
Recorded Audition Information
Two contrasting solo movements or etudes of the applicant's choice.