Patrick Lenertz

Performing in concerts worldwide and working with great musical minds such as John Fedchock, Craig Kirchhoff, Frank Kimbrough, Bob McChesney, and Bill Reichenbach, trombonist Patrick Lenertz never ceases to expand his repertoire. A native of frost-bitten Minnesota, Patrick performs all styles of music, from big band and salsa to chamber and orchestral music.

Patrick has been very fortunate in his musical career. He was a member of the (phone number hidden)7 Minnesota All-State Jazz Ensemble and received honorable mention in the George Roberts Bass Trombone Competition for the (phone number hidden)8 International Trombone Association. While studying at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Patrick performed in top ensembles, such as the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble I, and various chamber groups. Playing in these ensembles gave Patrick the opportunity to perform at the Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA) Conference in Minneapolis, MN, record composer Alex Shapiro’s Paper Cut under the direction of Craig Kirchhoff, as well as record for the Neil A. Kjos Music Company with jazz trombonist and educator Dean Sorenson.

While living in Minneapolis, Patrick worked as a freelance musician. He performed with various chamber groups around the Twin Cities area such as the trombone quartet Three Men and a Mann and the University of Minnesota Trombone Ensemble. Patrick also performed with multiple jazz big bands throughout Minnesota, including the Black Bear Big Band, Stan Bann Big Band, Adam Meckler Orchestra, Bill Simenson Orchestra, and the Minnesota Jazz Orchestra.

Patrick moved to the Los Angeles area to attend graduate school at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at Cal State Long Beach and to continue his pursuit of excellence within music. During his graduate studies, Patrick played in the Concert Jazz Orchestra under Jeff Jarvis, the Jazz Lab Band under Drew Ninmer, the Wind Symphony under John Carnahan, and the Brass Ensemble under Rob Frear. He also performed in the Saddleback Community College Big Band under trombonist Joey Sellers.

Professionally, Patrick plays with the Long Beach-based salsa band La Playa Larga All-Stars, the Southern California Brass Consortium, the trombone quintet Sticks N’ Bones, and works as a freelance musician and private lesson instructor. While attending graduate school, Patrick was cast as a sidelining musician for the award-winning film Whiplash (2014), marking his film debut.

Outside of the music world—and L.A. smog—Patrick enjoys nature by hiking, hunting, fishing, rock climbing, and going to the beach, among other activities. He also maintains an intellectual thirst by always expanding his knowledge, with a strong interest in humanities, the human mind, and the physical sciences.

Patrick received his B.M. in Music Performance from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (2011). While there, he studied with John Tranter and Tom Ashworth. He received his M.M. in Music Performance from California State University, Long Beach (2014) while studying with Bill Reichenbach.