With an innate love for the arts, passion to perform and drive to teach others, Dunwoody Mirvil is a world-traveled and well-versed trombonist from Miami, Fla. For more than 20 years, he has honed his skills as an instrumentalist and educator, performing with various ensembles and sharing his knowledge of the trombone with musicians of all skill levels.
An active performer, Dunwoody currently is the second trombonist of the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he performs regularly with multiple ensembles throughout the North Florida and South Georgia region, including the Sinfonia Gulf Coast Orchestra, Albany Symphony Orchestra, and the Big Bend Orchestra. He also has been featured with the Tallahassee Winds, in which he was privileged to perform as a guest soloist several times with the ensemble. Recently, Dunwoody performed with the MCoE Army Brass Band of Ft. Benning, Georgia as a featured soloist.
Not one to be confined to a single genre of music, Dunwoody considers himself a well-rounded trombonist, and in addition to his regular appearances with symphonic ensembles, he can also be found performing on stage with the cabaret cover band, Tallahassee Nights Live. Through this experience, he has been able to showcase his range, playing music across a variety of genres such as jazz, R&B, gospel, and funk. Additionally, his musical versatility afforded him the unique opportunity to tour the U.S. and Japan as a cast member in the musical stage production, “Drumline Live,” an experience that allowed him to showcase his talents as a dynamic soloist for audiences in Tokyo, New York City, and Los Angeles among others.
Beyond his talent as a performer, Dunwoody is also a music educator who enjoys sharing his knowledge as an instrumentalist with other aspiring musicians. Currently, he is the Assistant Professor of Low Brass at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Fla., a position in which he instructs students of trombone, euphonium, and tuba. Prior to that, he was a doctoral teaching assistant in the Florida State University Trombone Studio, where he taught undergraduate trombonists, coached various brass ensembles and served as a liaison between the major professor and students. His experience as an educator also includes a term as Director of Bands at Amos P. Godby High School in Tallahassee, Fla. and consistent work as a resident clinician. In 2016, he presented at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Ill., and has been a featured presenter over the past two years at the Florida Music Educators Conference in Tampa, Fla. Additionally, his upcoming master class schedule includes sessions for middle and high school band students throughout Florida and Georgia.Over the years, Dunwoody has developed a diverse playing style, which he credits to his tutelage under renowned trombonists including John Drew, John Marcellus, Demondrae Thurman, Scott Hartman, Nathaniel Brickens, Don Lucas, Paul McKee and James Markey. In May 2018, Dunwoody completed a lifelong aspiration, attaining his Doctor of Music from Florida State University. During his tenure at the institution, Dunwoody was a member of the Seminole Trombone Quartet. The group performed in multiple venues across the Southeast, providing recitals for universities, public schools, and the general public. Additionally, STQ presented at the 2016 Midwest Clinic, and the quartet also performed at Carnegie Hall as winners of the 2016 “Noles in NYC” competition.
Dunwoody is an adjudicator for the Florida Bandmasters Association, a member of the International Trombone Association, Florida Music Educators Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity of America, Inc., Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society for Education and a McKnight Fellowship recipient. Dunwoody is also an endorsed Performing Artist for Conn-Selmer, Inc. and has two signature mouthpieces with Giddings Mouthpieces.
