Ryan Anthony

Virtuoso trumpeter Ryan Anthony, best known for his contribution to the Canadian Brass, currently enjoys a varied career as soloist, educator, chamber musician and orchestral player. Having departed the world-renowned brass ensemble in 2003, Anthony quickly became one of the most sought after trumpet players in America, prompting the celebrated trumpeter, Doc Severinsen, to note: “He will be missed with [Canadian Brass], but I feel certain he will have a great and distinguished career as a soloist”. In the summer of 2006 Mr. Anthony once again joined the ranks with Canadian Brass as part of the “Dream Team” and appeared in various performances with the famed group.

As a soloist or featured artist with Canadian Brass, Anthony has stood on stage in front of such orchestras as Cleveland, Philadelphia, National, St. Louis, Houston, Minnesota, Milwaukee, Montreal, and Atlanta among others. Reviews have said “In his hands, the horn gets beyond the stereotype to become a mouthpiece for the composer’s voice and performer’s personality” (Memphis Commercial Appeal) and “There must be other trumpet players in this world as fine as Ryan Anthony, but you’d never think so while listening to him play” (Fanfare Magazine).

After acting as Guest Principal Trumpet with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra for seasons 2004-2006 and filling the position as Interim Principal Trumpet in 2006-2007, he will start his full-time duties as Principal Trumpet with the 2008-2009 season. Other symphonies in which he has worked as an orchestral performer are Cleveland, New York, Indianapolis, Detroit, Memphis, Israel Philharmonic and Mexico City’s Orquesta Filarmonica de la U.N.A.M.

Anthony’s versatility is evident in his numerous recording projects for television, radio, and motion pictures. In 1998, Ryan Anthony’s solo in “Farewell” was heard nightly as NBC’s “Must See TV” theme. With various brass ensembles, his recordings on Brass Classics, Chandos, Dorian, d’Note, New World and Opening Day labels enjoy continuous airplay. He has also premiered two compositions which were written for and dedicated to him by leading 21st century composer Donald Erb.

As an educator he was Assistant Professor of Trumpet at Oberlin College Conservatory of Music just prior to joining the Canadian Brass in 2000 and served as Artist/Faculty at North Carolina School of the Arts during 2004-2005. His master classes have spanned the globe to include leading conservatories in Europe, Asia, and North America. He is currently a Yamaha artist and has edited and recorded both the Haydn and Hummel Trumpet Concertos for Hal Leanord Publishing. A graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music, Ryan Anthony received the school’s Alumni Achievement Award in 2001.

Barbara Butler

Barbara Butler, professor of trumpet at Northwestern University, was previously professor of trumpet at the Eastman School of Music. Former co-principal trumpet with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, principal trumpet of the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra, and acting associate/assistant principal trumpet with the Houston and St. Louis Symphony Orchestras, Ms. Butler was also a member of the Eastman Brass and Eastman Virtuosi. Currently an ensemble artist with The Chicago Chamber Musicians, as well as soloist and co-principal trumpet with Music of the Baroque and the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra, Ms. Butler continues to perform as soloist and guest artist with orchestras and music festivals in Spain, Italy, Finland, Japan, Switzerland, and throughout the United States and Canada. Also in demand for her teaching skills, Ms. Butler has offered master classes and recitals around the world. Her students are members of the finest orchestras and college/university faculties.

Ms. Butler has been featured on national and international radio broadcasts with Eastman Brass, Grand Teton Music Festival, The Chicago Chamber Musicians, and Music of the Baroque, among others, and has released two recordings: With Clarion Voice (Music of the Baroque, on D'Note) and Music for Two Trumpets and Organ (Gasparo). Ms. Butler has also performed as guest artist with the Chicago Symphony Brass Ensemble, the International Women's Brass Conference, the Minnesota Symphony's Rug Concert, and New York's Mostly Mozart series. Most recently, Ms. Butler and Charles Geyer were featured soloists at the International Trumpet Guild in Denver and in a two trumpet and organ recital in Venice, Italy. In December 2003, she and Mr. Geyer released their latest recording, Carmen Fantasia for Two Trumpets and Orchestra, on the Warner Classics label.

Mnozil Brass

In their latest show Magic Moments Mnozil Brass, the seven masters of perceptive brass-and-song, will once again move and enchant their audience.

Throughout finely chiseled arrangements and charming original compositions the splendid tone colors and timbres of their priceless brass instruments are fully shown to advantage.

With the instinctive sureness of a somnambulant limits are being extravagated and many musical opera, rightly having fallen into oblivion, will be kissed awake. And one more time reference will be made to the fact that the basis of every solid groundwork is the foundation.

As early as three months prior to their premiere, various critics of the feature pages already attested the seven gentlemen a thrilling transparency in terms of intoning as well as acting skills of the highest incontin-ähh, intransposit-ähhh, well, caliber.

Hence, you can gladly look forward to two hours full of thrilling performance or, as one of the ancient Greeks used to say, to one-hundred-and-twenty minutes of a jolly good show.

Theaterentertainmentshowstuffmagicmomentseurekaandagainanwatchmacallitsuperconcert. All that as usually based on Mnozil's slogan: by sounds even quietly expressed you'll also immediately feel caressed.

Thomas Marriott

Trumpeter Thomas Marriott is one of the most exciting musicians to emerge on the national jazz scene in more than a decade. The six-time Golden Ear award winner is a skilled instrumentalist, composer and producer, and is always seeking to expand the boundaries of jazz music in all its forms.

After winning the prestigious Carmine Caruso Jazz Trumpet Competition in 1999, Marriott headed east from Seattle to New York where he gained initial acclaim through his work with Maynard Ferguson’s Big Bop Nouveau band. Marriott completed 3 world tours with Ferguson (who called Marriott “a truly great jazz trumpet player”), and then continued to work in New York and on the road with the likes of Rosemary Clooney, Joe Locke, The Tito Puente Orchestra, Brian Lynch, The Chico O’Farrill Orchestra, Eddie Palmieri, Eric Reed, Bebo Valdez, Les Brown and the Band of Renown, Kenny Kirkland, Ritchie “Alto Madness” Cole, and many others.

Marriott’s diverse interests and skills are reflected in the range and success of his albums. His 2005 release on Origin Records, “Individuation,” was named among the top 10 jazz records of 2005 by WBEZ radio, Chicago. 2007’s “Both Sides of the Fence” received over 3300 spins nationally, pushing his album into the top ten on jazz radio. His most recent release “Crazy: The Music of Willie Nelson,” was released in early 2008 to wide critical acclaim. Jazz Times Magazine declared Marriott a “first-tier trumpet player” with “serious chops and a luxuriant trumpet sound….This album is a kick in the pants.”

Known for his innovative spirit and broad musical scope, Thomas continues to perform on the stages of the world’s greatest jazz clubs and concert halls, as a leader and alongside the top names in jazz. The Seattle native is featured on more than 50 recordings with musicians of all genres and styles. Thomas has produced albums for a number of artists including saxophonist Hadley Caliman and serves on the Board of Governors of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. His fourth album on Origin Records, "Flexicon," was released in April of 2009 and made it to number 10 on the national jazz radio airplay charts in it's first few weeks of release.

Marc Reese

Internationally acclaimed trumpeter Marc Reese joined the Empire Brass in 1996. Mr. Reese maintains a busy schedule as a chamber musician and soloist touring extensively throughout the United States, Europe, and the Far East. He continually receives critical acclaim for his performances throughout the world including recent performances at the Kennedy Center, Mozarteum in Salzburg and Tokyo’s Suntory Hall.

As an educator Mr. Reese serves as Assistant Dean and Head of the Brass Department for Lynn University’s Conservatory of Music. He conducts master classes throughout the world as a trumpet artist and clinician for Conn-Selmer and is in demand as a performer and adjudicator at international brass conferences and competitions. Mr. Reese has contributed articles to various brass publications and is the contributing editor of the International Trumpet Guild Journal’s Chamber Connection, a recurring column that deals with the many facets of brass chamber music.

Mr. Reese is also highly regarded as an orchestral musician having been engaged to perform with the New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, and Boston Symphony Orchestra. He is a frequent performer and teacher at the world’s great summer festivals including Marlboro, Tanglewood, and the Pacific Music Festival. Mr. Reese has taken part in numerous premieres of new music and is responsible for commissioning multiple new works for the trumpet in various settings. He has also created dozens of new arrangements for both the trumpet and the brass quintet.

In addition to recording for Telarc with the Empire Brass, Mr. Reese has recorded for Sony with the Boston Pops and has been featured on the Naxos label with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project. He has performed on PBS’ Evening at Pops, and has appeared on Japan’s NHK TV. Mr. Reese’s debut solo album, The Other Trumpet, will be released later this year.
As a young artist Mr. Reese attended the Tanglewood Institute and Juilliard School where he studied with Mel Broiles and Mark Gould. He received his B.M. from Boston University as a student of Roger Voisin, was a Fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center and went on to receive his M.M. from the New England Conservatory studying with Tim Morrison. For the latest information visit www.MarcReese.com.

United States Army CONCert Band

Providing a musical backdrop for many of the country’s most notable events, The United States Army Concert Band has a worldwide reputation for extraordinary musicianship.

Headquartered in Washington, DC, The U.S. Army Concert Band has performed in such notable concert venues as the Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, and Hollywood Bowl. The ensemble often appears at national and international music events, including the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the Music Educators National Convention, the Texas Bandmasters Association, and the American Bandmasters Association.

During the summer months, the Concert Band performs outdoor concerts on the West Steps of the U.S. Capitol and at venues throughout the Washington Metro area. Regular concerts are offered during the cooler months at The U.S. Army Band’s training facility, Brucker Hall, located on historic Fort Myer, Virginia.

In an effort to promote international goodwill, the 65-piece traditional concert band has performed joint concerts with the Soviet Army, the Russian Navy, and the Ukrainian Navy bands, as well as appearing in military tattoos in Scotland, Sweden, Holland, Norway, Australia, and Japan.

The musicians in this elite ensemble have been trained at some of the most prestigious music conservatories and universities in the country. Displaying their versatility, the Concert Band members perform a variety of styles, ranging from classical to popular. The power and repertoire of The U.S. Army Concert Band is greatly enhanced when combined with other musical ensembles of “Pershing’s Own,” such as The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets and The U.S. Army Chorus. 

United States Army Band BRASS QUINTET

Since its inception in 1972, The United States Army Brass Quintet has performed for a wide variety of audiences and dignitaries in 39 states and 12 foreign countries. An element of The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” in Washington, DC, The U.S. Army Brass Quintet performs at the White House and at such televised national events as presidential inaugurations and official state ceremonies in the nation’s capitol.

The ensemble has been selected repeatedly as the first to honor new presidents with the traditional “Hail to the Chief” on live national broadcasts. The Army Brass Quintet frequently performs for special events hosted by the Secretary of Defense the Secretary of the Army, and the Army Chief of Staff; as well as ceremonies supporting the Military District of Washington.

The U.S. Army Brass Quintet has entertained nation-wide audiences with its performances on National Public Radio, NBC’s “Today Show,” the CBS “Sunday Morning Show,” ABC, Fox TV, CNN, TNN, “Larry King Live,” as well as international audiences on the BBC. It has also performed on a wide variety of local and regional broadcasts such as WCBS in New York. Recently, the Army Brass Quintet found itself performing the National Anthem for televised Major League Baseball, NBA, and NHL games as well as NASCAR races. It has even been featured on the Food Network.

The repertoire for the ensemble includes over 500 selections from all eras and genres of classical music as well as a variety of popular music, interactive entertainment, video, and works for children’s concerts. The Army Brass Quintet’s library also includes historic music from the American Civil War which the ensemble enjoys performing on authentic instruments. Commissioned works as well as works produced by The U.S. Army Band’s arranging staff complete its repertoire.

The U.S. Army Brass Quintet enjoys an outstanding tradition of supporting national and international educational conferences such as Music Educators National Conference, the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, as well as the international conferences of the various brass associations. The ensemble was the first military group to start the tradition of performing for the instrument associations in 1977 at the International Trumpet Guild Conference.