Shelly Suminski received a BM in Trombone Performance from the University of Southern California as the 2007 recipient of the Robert Marsteller Outstanding Brass Musician Award while studying with Dr. Terry Cravens. In 2009 she earned her Masters Degree at the California Institute of the Arts, studying under James Miller, Associate Principal of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
As an active freelance musician in Southern California, Suminski has performed with many local orchestras and musical theatre companies. In addition to classical performance, Shelly also performs and tours with local rock and big bands and has recorded for film, television and other media projects. Her career has led her to play in major venues across the United States, Middle East and Asia. In 2019 she performed the world premier of Meditation and Decision for solo trombone and piano at the International Trombone Festival in Muncie, IN. She returned to ITF in 2022 performing as a founding member of the all-women Empress Trombone Quartet. In 2023, Shelly became a founding member of the organization She Can Play Brass, an organization created to support and elevate women brass players in Southern California.
Devoted to music education, Suminski serves on the Brass Faculty at the Colburn School CSPA, San Bernardino Valley College and Victor Valley College. She received her Kodály Certification from the Kodály Association of Southern California (KASC), and currently teaches Level III Pedagogy for KASC Levels. She previously served on the Board of Directors for the Organization of American Kodály Educators as the Instrumental Advisor and Western Division President and is a Past President of the Kodály Association of Southern California. She served as the Co-Chair for the 2023 International Kodály Society Symposium in Los Angeles.
Shelly Suminski is a Conn-Selmner (Vincent Bach) Performing Artist.