Filipino-American trombonist Keefe Ismael is a rising professional musician and music educator based in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a versatile performer, recent engagements include, but are not limited to, the Vallejo and Cambrian Symphonies, a four-trombone plus rhythm section band known as Bonecore, and performing in Meredith Monk’s live premier of the multidisciplinary work “Indra’s Net”. He is also a grant recipient of Lift Music Fund, an organization dedicated to uplifting emerging BIPOC artists in the music industry.

As a music educator, Keefe has taught students from elementary school all the way through the adult amateur level. In the spring of 2023, he taught fifth grade band in the public schools of Mountain View, CA through the Community School for Music and Arts.  He has also provided coachings at several schools across the Bay Area, including Itliong-Vera Cruz Middle School, Piedmont Hills High School, Henry M. Gunn High School, and Notre Dame High School. He also teaches students in one-on-one instruction through his private teaching studio.

Keefe Ismael received his Bachelor’s Degree in Trombone Performance from San Jose State University studying under Tom Hornig on scholarship. Other notable teachers include Esther Armendariz and Alex Knutrud. In his free time, Keefe likes to hit the gym, play chess (sometimes even well!), and take care of his family’s dog, birds, and guinea pig.