Bio

Kolbe is a senior at The University of Iowa pursuing his B.M. in Trombone Performance and B.B.A. in Accounting. During his time at Iowa, Kolbe served as Principal Trombonist of The University of Iowa Symphony Band and played with Johnson County Landmark for four years. Outside of the university, Kolbe has performed with Joe Mattingly's Holy Mountain Singers, Jim McDonough and his Orchestra, Blake Shaw’s Big(ish) Band, and the Clinton Street Quartet. In addition, Kolbe is a founding member of the 5K Jazz Quintet, which was featured by KCCK jazz radio. He currently serves as Principal Trombonist of the Iowa Brass Band and performs with the national touring King's Brass led by Tim Zimmerman.

In 2020, Kolbe was selected as a member of both the 2020 Jazz Band of America and the 2020 Honor Band of America. In 2023, as a member of the West Slides Quartet, the group advanced as a semifinalist in the Thailand International Trombone Festival Ensemble Division. Kolbe also ​competed as a semifinalist in both the solo and excerpt competitions at the Southeast Trombone Symposium in Columbus, GA. Lastly, Kolbe was selected into the prestigious Jazz Aspen Snowmass Academy led by the Frost School of Music, under the direction of Christian McBride.

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In 2024, as a member of the Clinton Street Quartet, the group finished second alternate in the highly competitive International Trombone Association's 2024 Trombone Quartet Competition. In January of 2024, Kolbe finished runner-up for the Band of the West Air Force Band at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX. In March of 2024, Kolbe was selected as a finalist for the Heritage Band of America Air Force Band at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA.