Described by Samuel Pilafian as a 'great young brass virtuoso', Joshua Bledsoe has established himself as one of the premier performers amongst a new generation of musicians. Josh is currently the trombonist for the Presidio Brass Quintet: an internationally acclaimed Jupiter XOBrass ensemble that has toured the U.S. extensively as well as Canada and China.
Joshua has received accolades on the international stage as an exciting soloist. Credits include winning the ’10 International Trombone Association Alto Trombone Competition, ’08 International Trombone Association Marsteller Solo Competition, ’07 Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Competition (local, regional, and national levels), ’06 Yamaha Young Performing Artist Award, and ’04 International Trombone Association Solo Competition. Joshua in is demand as a recitalist and has performed as soloist with the Missouri Symphony Orchestra, the University of Central Arkansas Symphonic Band, Arizona State University Wind Ensemble, Southeast Missouri State Wind Ensemble, Pensacola Civic Band, Crestview High School Band, Salt River Brass, and in 2014 made his Carnegie Hall debut performing the Rimsky-Korsakov Concerto for Trombone in Isaac Stern Auditorium.
Equally at home in the orchestra, Joshua serves as Principal Trombone with the Missouri Symphony, Principal Trombone with the North Florida Ballet Orchestra, 2nd Trombone with the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, and appears regularly with the Pensacola Symphony. He has held positions/appeared with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Symphony of the Southwest, Sinfonia Gulfcoast, and the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra.
Joshua was born into a family of music educators, and has quickly been identified as one of the brightest minds of his generation, and is currently Artist-Faculty at the University of West Florida where he teaches trombone and euphonium. He has also served on the teaching faculties of the Northwest Florida State College, University of Central Arkansas, and Arizona State University. He credits his own incredible teachers for his many successes in the field of education. Bledsoe’s teachers include Ralph Sauer (Principal Trombone, LA Phil), J. Samuel Pilafan (University of Miami, Founding Member – Empire Brass Quintet), Gail Eugene Wilson (Principal Trombone, Phoenix Symphony), Michael Becker (Principal Trombone, Tucson Symphony), Mark Lawrence (Principal Trombone, San Francisco Symphony – Music Academy of the West) John Drew (Professor, Florida State University) and Don Snowden (Music Department Head, Pensacola State College)
Joshua received the BM from Florida State University and MM from Arizona State University. He is finishing a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) from Arizona State University."
