About

About

RJ McLaren is a Boston-based freelance tubist, chamber musician, recording consultant, and educator. He has performed with the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Pro Musica, Mystic Brass, the Boston University Faculty Brass Quintet, Hot Tamale Brass Band, and numerous chamber ensembles throughout New England.

As an educator, RJ served as Boston University’s non-major euphonium instructor while separately maintaining a private studio of students ranging from middle school through undergraduate. His students have earned top placements in district and state honor bands.

A dedicated team player and chamber musician, RJ is passionate about collaborative music-making and believes chamber ensembles have the capacity to make some of the most meaningful musical experiences. He strives to foster that same sense of community through performance and teaching and encourages everyone to include someone else in their music. Whether that's listening, creating, or playing.

RJ is currently pursuing a Performance Diploma at Boston University, where he also earned a Master of Music in Tuba Performance. During his graduate studies, he served as the non-major euphonium teaching assistant, assistant stage manager, and is currently still social media manager for “The Herd,” the combined Boston University and New England Conservatory tuba studios under the teaching of Mike Roylance, Principal Tubist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

He earned his Bachelor of Music from Michigan State University, where he received the Jim Self Endowed Scholarship, the Robert and Eileen G. Houston Endowed Scholarship, and the Honors Brass Quintet Endowed Scholarship. As a member of Grand River Brass, he performed in the university’s honors brass quintet throughout his undergraduate career. He also spent four years in the Spartan Marching Band, serving in leadership roles and arranging music for both the section and local marching bands.

Although primarily a tubist, RJ also performs and teaches euphonium and enjoys playing bass trombone and sousaphone. His principal teachers include Phil Sinder and Mike Roylance.