A native of McKinney, Texas, Devin Drinan joined the North Carolina Symphony as Principal Trombone at the start of the 2025-2026 season at the age of 20. As an orchestral musician, he has performed with numerous ensembles, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, Boston Pops Brass Quintet, Symphony New Hampshire, and the New World Symphony.
Devin has spent his summers as a fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center (‘24, ‘25) and has worked with acclaimed conductors such as Andris Nelsons, Gustavo Dudamel, Alan Gilbert, Daniel Harding, and Sir Andrew Davis. In May 2025, he had the opportunity to travel to Leipzig, Germany, to perform as a member of the Festivalorchester in the 2025 Shostakovich Festival alongside the Boston Symphony and Gewandhaus Orchestra.
As a soloist, Devin was most recently named the winner of the International Trombone Association’s Gilberto Gagliardi Tenor Trombone Competition, the American Trombone Workshop’s National Trombone Quartet Competition, the Big 12 Tenor Trombone Solo Competition, as well as the Southeast Trombone Symposium’s Youth Solo Competition.
Devin began playing the trombone at the age of 11, and quickly fell in love with the pursuit of being a professional orchestral musician. After high school, he went on to study at the New England Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Toby Oft, Principal Trombone of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Outside of music, Devin enjoys playing pickleball, disc golf, and spending time with his family.
“I’m always striving to replicate the ideal sound that I have in my head, and I believe that my Edwards has brought me the closest I’ve ever been to producing it. The ease of response, beautiful resonant sound, and versatility of these instruments is truly why I decide to play my Edwards every single day.”