About
Wade Parton is a primarily jazz trombonist from Greeneville, Tennessee, currently studying Jazz and Commercial Music under Dr. Matt Niess at the Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia. Wade has participated in several different ensembles within the conservatory, such as the Studio Big Band, Little Big Band, Commercial Rock Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, brass quintet, and several other combos. In January 2024, he traveled to Peru doing a two-week tour with Studio Big Band, and in January 2025, he traveled to London for a one-week tour. There, he had the opportunity to play at the internationally known venue Pizza Express. Additionally, Wade has found new opportunities, performing with the Capital Bones and Capital Bones Big Band three times within 2025. At the age of twenty, it is a tremendous honor to play in this group given the personnel are highly esteemed in the music industry.
One of Wade’s most notable achievements is his participation in the prestigious Glenn Miller Scholarship Competition and Festival. Selected through a competitive audition process, he advanced to the final round as one of the top ten finalists. Winning third place in the competition was a significant honor for him not only as a recognition of his performance abilities, but also because of his admiration for Glenn Miller’s legacy as a musician, bandleader, and musical innovator in the jazz world. The opportunity reinforced Wade’s passion for both performance and artistic leadership, inspiring him to continue developing his versatility across musical genres.
A passionate, disciplined, and collaborative musician, Kendall Wade Parton continually strives to refine his craft and deepen his connection to the rich traditions of orchestral and jazz music. With a strong foundation of training, performance experience, and artistic curiosity, he is eager to bring his talent, dedication, and creative spirit to every ensemble he joins. Wade remains committed not only to personal artistic growth, but also to contributing meaningfully to the musical communities he is fortunate to be a part of both now and throughout his future career.
