John Baumgartner is currently active in the Twin Cities and beyond as a freelance trombonist, composer, and private lesson instructor. Aside from nearly a decade at the UNW Academy of Music, his teaching experience includes coaching low brass at Farmington and Hopkins High Schools, working with all brass at Mahtomedi Middle School, and preparing students for high level auditions, including All-State, MYS/GTCYS, and college auditions. He works with his students to help them set goals to achieve their full potential as both musicians and as people. John holds a degree in Music Performance from Northwestern, and his instructors have included Dr. Jeremy Kolwinska, Dr. John Tranter, Dr. Scott Agster, and Rick Gaynor. Along with trombone, he also teaches euphonium, tuba, and beginning trumpet and french horn.
John regularly tours and records with Minneapolis-based Coyote Kid (formerly Marah in the Mainsail), is a member of the Twin Cities Jazz Composers Workshop, and performs with various other groups including Shirts and Skins, Big Toe and the Jam, and K-Libre 24. Along with Coyote Kid/Marah in the Mainsail's three albums, he can also be heard on recordings from Good Morning Bedlam, Steve Yeager, and the soundtrack for Syfy movie 400 Days.