The Music Department is saddened to announce the loss of our extraordinary and beloved low-brass teacher and trombone choir director Roy Main, who passed away on Monday, May 9, following a stroke. He is survived by his wife, Kathy, four children, two grandchildren and a great-grandchild; additionally, he will be missed by many admiring and grateful students and many close friends. Our music community will miss his gracious, smiling presence; we are grateful that our students received the benefit of his artistry, pedagogy, determination, and patience!

Roy was a native of Los Angeles, California, having served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. His career as a freelance studio trombonist spanned virtually every form of live and recorded professional music performance. Main performed at all of the major television and film studios and has played with many orchestras and bands including Nelson Riddle, Henry Mancini, Michel Legrand, Bill Conti, Les Brown and Harry James. His motion picture, television and recording credits include performances on productions for every major studio in Hollywood with many great artists namely Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, Bob Hope and Tony Bennett. Main’s varied orchestral experience was with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Glendale, Inglewood, Brentwood, COTA and Master’s Symphony Orchestras. He was a member of the Nova Brass Quintet, California Brass Ensemble, Composer’s Brass, New West Brass as well as many other chamber groups. He was also the principal trombonist for the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera for 15 years and played at the Dorothy Chandler, Schubert, Ahmanson and Pantages Theaters for many years.

Main was an internationally renown teacher and educator sought out by both student and professional brass players from around the world. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees in Trombone Performance from California State University at Los Angeles. Many of his students are among the world’s finest professional players and teachers. Until his relocation to the Central Coast, Main served on the faculties at the California State Universities at Los Angeles and Long Beach as Professor of Trombone, Brass Methods, Trombone Choir and Brass Chamber Music. He was the trombone and low brass instructor and conductor of the Trombone Choir at California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo. He also taught trombone at Cuesta College and was an active performer with local jazz groups in the San Luis Obispo area.

The Main family asks that memorial donations be made to the "Roy Main/Olga Termini Music Scholarship," a student scholarship Roy originated when he retired from Cal State Los Angeles, administered by the CSULA Friends of Music.

The Cal Poly Music Department will host a memorial celebration in Roy's honor in the fall; details will be announced soon.

A memorial has also been planned at CSU Fullerton on September 11.