Hailed by Stereophile Magazine for "sound[ing] like 21st-century grandchildren of JJ Johnson and Kai Winding" (with his co-bandleader Chris Glassman) and praised by the International Trombone Association Journal for his "virtuosity [and] melodic and harmonic mastery," Altin Sencalar is in high demand across the country as a performer, educator, and composer.
Altin has also gained international and national recognition through numerous competitions and awards. Such honors have come from Yamaha, The American Trombone Workshop Jazz Competition solo divisions, the International Trombone Association's Jazz Solo (Carl Fontana Competition and J.J. Johnson) Competitions, the Kai Winding Trombone Ensemble Competition, the Texas State Trombone Symposium Michael Rath Jazz Solo Competition, the Downbeat Student Music Awards, and the International Tuba-Euphonium Association Rich Matteson Jazz Euphonium Competition, among others.
As an active performer, Altin has shared the stage, toured, and/or recorded with DeeDee Bridgewater, Rodney Whitaker, Christian McBride, Michael Bublé, John Lee, The Dizzy All Stars Alumni Big Band, David Sanborn, Dafnis Prieto, Ulysses Owens Jr., The Temptations, The Four Tops, Martha Reeves, The Velvalletes, Ne-Yo, Big Sean, and many others. He has also recorded for several motion pictures including Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, My Little Pony: The Movie (2017 release), and other independent films.
Altin holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Performance from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Music in Music Performance and Jazz Studies from Michigan State University. He has held teaching positions at Michigan State University, Brevard Jazz Institute, the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts Summer Jazz Intensive, the Jazz & Creative Institute, Central Texas College, and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Altin exclusively performs on Yamaha Trombones and Euphoniums and is a Yamaha Performing Artist. He is also a Posi-Tone Recording Artist, a Pickett Brass and Blackburn Brand Ambassador, and is a performing artist for Earasers Earplugs & InEarz Audio, Robinson's Remedies, and AEA Ribbons Microphones & Pre-Amps. Altin is currently based in New York City with his wife Marina, and dogs Navy & JJ.
