J.T. Holdbrooks is currently a freelance bassoonist in the Athens and Atlanta area. He offers services including private lessons and hand crafted bassoon reeds. Currently, J.T. is at The University of Georgia Athens studying a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Bassoon Performance. He serves as the graduate teaching assistant under Dr. Amy Pollard.

J.T. began his journey with music 13 years ago and has not looked back since. Since joining the Alabama Symphony Youth Orchestra, J.T. fell in love with classical music and knew that is what he wanted to pursue in life. The real turning point in J.T. 's decision to pursue music as a profession was when he got the opportunity to perform Vivaldi’s Concerto in E minor with the ASYO. This experience showed him just how rewarding and fulfilling music can be.

He attended The University of Alabama and obtained a BM in Bassoon Performance under the teachings of Dr. Jennifer Mann. He then went on to obtain his Master of Music from The University of Colorado Boulder, studying under Dr. Yoshi Ishikawa. While in college, J.T. has performed with various different ensembles including wind bands, orchestras, operas, chamber groups, and contemporary ensembles. In 2019, J.T. was able to perform Weber’s Andante and Hungarian Rondo with The University of Alabama’s Wind Ensemble. That summer, J.T. attended The Hot Springs National Music Festival where he studied and performed with some of the best musicians around the world. In the summer of 2023, J.T. was appointed a fellowship to the Sewanee Summer Music Festival where he won the Jacqueline Avent Concerto Competition. He was able to perform Villa-Lobo’s “Ciranda das setes notas” with the Festival Orchestra.

One of J.T.’s passions is performing chamber music. Being able to be so intentional and be in control of all the musical ideas is what makes chamber music so appealing. J.T. has been apart of several chamber groups during his career. At the moment, J.T. is a member of the Southern Winds Quintet, the graduate woodwind quintet at The University of Georgia Athens. He was previously a member of the Juniper Winds, the graduate quintet at The University of Colorado Boulder. Other than quintets, J.T. has performed with trios, quartets, and many other chamber groups.

Professionally, J.T. has performed with the Chattanooga Symphony, Atlanta Ballet, Atlanta Pops, Bozeman Symphony, Cheyenne Symphony, and others in the Southeastern area.

In his free time, J.T. enjoys hiking with his wife Emma Kate, and spending time with their new daughter, Jane Elizabeth Holdbrooks. They also have two cats, Mae and June who run the household of course!