CINCINNATI MAY FESTIVAL NAMES MAX TROMBLEY AS 2025-26 MAY FESTIVAL CHORAL CONDUCTING FELLOW
CINCINNATI, OH (August 18, 2025)— The Cincinnati May Festival has announced Max Trombley as the May Festival Choral Conducting Fellow for the 2025-26 season. Trombley is a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate in Choral Conducting at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He previously earned his degree from Western Michigan University. Before beginning his graduate studies, Trombley taught secondary choral music in Michigan public schools and coordinated state-level honors choirs and adjudication festivals for the Michigan School Vocal Music Association. As a vocalist, he has performed internationally and with major American orchestras, has performed at the Spoleto Festival USA and currently serves as a VOCES8 U.S. Scholar. In addition to his work as a performer and educator, Trombley is a member of the summer voice faculty and managerial staff at Interlochen Center for the Arts and now serves as Choral Conducting Fellow with the Cincinnati May Festival.
“I am thrilled to work with the May Festival Chorus as the next Choral Conducting Fellow,” said Trombley. “To be a part of the oldest choral festival in the Western Hemisphere is truly an honor, and I’m excited to be able to connect the community with the highest quality performances of great music.”
Created in 2013 through the generosity of Ginger Warner, a long-time trustee of the University of Cincinnati and Director Emeritus of the May Festival Board of Directors, the May Festival Choral Conducting Fellowship aims to expand on the Festival’s long-standing traditions. The position provides rising conductors with the opportunity to participate in the leadership of a high caliber choral music organization through several ways, including commissioning new works and arrangements as well as providing real-time conducting experience.
In collaboration with CCM’s graduate choral conducting program, the annually appointed Fellow is selected from CCM’s Doctorate of Musical Arts (DMA) class to serve one season as the assistant conductor of the May Festival Chorus. Trombley will directly assist Director of Choruses Matthew Swanson and Associate Director of Choruses Jason Alexander Holmes with leading the May Festival Chorus as well as all operations of a major symphonic choral organization. Trombley will also work alongside esteemed industry professionals, including this year’s May Festival Director, Julia Bullock, to support a successful classical music festival, which is consistently named “One of the Best Classical Music Festivals in the USA and Canada” by BBC Music Magazine.
"I am excited to welcome Max Trombley to the May Festival. Max's extensive experience as a performer and choral leader will greatly benefit this year’s programs and events. We look forward to all that he will achieve with the May Festival chorus, the College-Conservatory of Music, and in our broader community,” said May Festival Director of Choruses Matthew Swanson.
“Max Trombley will be an invaluable individual to add to the May Festival’s artistic team this year,” said May Festival Executive Director Julianne Akins Smith. “We are eager to welcome him to this important program ─ aligning his experience, expertise and passion with our organizational goals. We are confident he will join the twelve other former Fellows who have gone on to leave an incredible mark in the world of choral music!”
TICKETS
Official programming details and the Festival Pass for the 2026 May Festival will be released in the coming months. To receive first access to the latest information on next season’s May Festival, sign up here.
BIOGRAPHIES
The May Festival gratefully acknowledges support from: