DJ Rice

Described as an amalgamation of J.J. Johnson and Curtis Fuller, DJ Rice is an elite, award-winning jazz trombonist and composer. Having studied with Nick Finzer, Michael Dease, and Rich DeRosa, he creates opportunities for himself and consistently sets a high musical standard for those around him. DJ has performed with and recorded with some of jazz's greatest musicians such as Christian McBride, Bill Cunliffe, and Andre Hayward. In 2024, he placed 2nd in the UNT Jazz Trombone Day Competition. He was also a member of the 2023 Jazz Aspen Academy where he worked with Christian McBride, playing lead trombone and providing compositions/arrangements. DJ was a finalist for the 2023 American Trombone Workshop, he was the 2nd Place Winner for the 2021 UNT Jazz Trombone Day, and he was a co-winner of the 2020 International Trombone Association J.J. Johnson competition. DJ is currently on faculty at Collin College as their professor of jazz trombone.