Growing up on a farm outside of Spartanburg SC, Dr. Phillip Chase Hawkins serves as Principal Trumpet with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, a position he has held since 2013. He is also a member of the cornet section in Fountain City Brass Band and is an active performer on historical instruments as a member of Kentucky Baroque Trumpets and Saxton’s Cornet Band. Hawkins can also be heard as a performing and recording artist for the Nashville Music Scoring Studio and Sound Lair Studio. His previously held positions include Visiting Professor of Trumpet at Centre College and Interim Professor of Trumpet at the University of Kentucky.

 

Hawkins has performed with the Boston Pops Orchestra, Louisville Orchestra, West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Le Château de la Voix Baroque Orchestra, and others. He has appeared as guest soloist with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival and the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra. Hawkins has performed in concert halls and recital venues throughout the United States, Canada, South America, Europe, and Asia.

 

Receiving several awards and achievements in solo competitions, Hawkins has gained both national and international recognition. In 2014, Hawkins won first prize in the Grand Valley State University International Solo Trumpet Competition. In 2013, Hawkins took first prize at the NABBA Solo Competition in the high lyric category. In 2012, he was the first-place winner of the National Trumpet Competition in the Graduate division, having taken second place in 2011, as well as winning first place in the National Brass Symposium Solo Competition. And in 2010, Hawkins was selected as a top 10 finalist in the Prague Spring International Solo Competition in Prague Czech Republic.

 

Hawkins holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and both Master of Music and Bachelor of Music degrees from the Eastman School of Music. At Eastman, Hawkins received the distinguished Performer’s Certificate, was the inaugural recipient of the Sidney Mear Trumpet Prize, and was a Howard Hanson Scholarship recipient for academic merit.

 

For more information, please visit www.trumpetchase.com

 

Phillip Chase Hawkins is a Yamaha Performing Artist

 

Photo: Carroll & Janice Crouch

 

 

 

Maria Fuller was born and raised on a grain farm near Earl Grey Saskatchewan and maintains a profoundly active musical career as a pianist, trumpeter, instructor, conductor, and composer. She currently holds the position of Principal Piano with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra in Indiana. She has also served as piano and trumpet instructor at the Bob Mossing Summer Music Camp at the Mossing School of Music in Regina Saskatchewan.

 

An accomplished musician from an early age, Fuller is a two-time laureate of the Federation of Canadian Music Festival National Competition, Canadian Music Competition National Finals, and Canadian Federation of Music Teachers Association National Finals. She received the Grand Awards at the Regina Music Festival and Provincial Music Festival of Saskatchewan and holds first places in the Gordon Wallis, Shumiatcher, and Florence Bowes Competitions. For three consecutive years, on the trumpet, Fuller won the brass title in Saskatchewan and received the highest marks in the province for her RCM examinations.

 

With her internationally recognized piano trio, Geistrio, Fuller has performed throughout Europe and North America and was a semi-finalist in the Fischoff National Chamber Competition.

 

As guest piano soloist, Fuller has performed with the Cincinnati Ballet and the Longview Symphony Orchestra in Texas. As an orchestral pianist and trumpeter, she has performed with Kentucky Symphony Orchestra and Regina Symphony Orchestra, among others. Recently Fuller has coached for the Saskatoon and Cincinnati Opera Companies and looks forward to expanding her operatic career to the podium as she conducts Mozart’s La Clemenza Di Tito at CCM in Spring 2019.

 

Fuller holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano from McGill University in Montreal. She is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she also received a Master of Music in Piano Performance and an Artist Diploma in Operatic Coaching.

 

For more information, please visit www.mariacfuller.com

 

Photo: Sebastian Serrano-Ayala

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Australian composer and performer Brendan Collins holds the position of Composer-In-Residence at Barker College in Sydney. Formerly, he held the position of Associate Principal Trombone with Opera Australia from 1991-2002 and in 2006 served as Composer-In-Residence with the Sydney Youth Orchestra. Collins grew up just north of Sydney in the city of Newcastle. He attended the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where he studied trombone under the tutelage of Ron Prussing and Arthur Hubbard, as well as composition with George Golla. Collins also received a scholarship for 6 months of study with Ralph Sauer, former Principal Trombonist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.

 

Collins’ compositions enjoy popularity among musicians ranging from early beginner students to some of the world’s finest professional soloists. He has received commissions from leading artists and organizations such as Rex Richardson (United States), Richard Stoelzel (Canada), Steve Rosse (Australia) and Jose Chafer (Spain). Trumpet Mambo was commissioned by the International Trumpet Guild for the 2010 conference in Sydney. Since then, Collins’ compositions have been performed at all subsequent ITG conferences. In 2010, his composition William of Orange March won first prize in the New South Wales School Band Festival Composition Competition, and in 2015 Collins was commissioned by the NSW Band Assoc. to compose two ‘Test’ pieces for the Australian National Band Championships. The Kuringai Philharmonic Orchestra has commissioned two works from Collins, 1) the children’s work based on the Adventures of the Eensy Weensy Spider and 2) Odyssey – a work commemorating the fateful landing of the ANZAC’s (Australian New Zealand Army Corps) on the shores of Gallipoli on April 25, 1915.

 

As a performer Collins has toured the United States and New Zealand as a soloist. In 1982, at only 16 years old, Collins performed the Rimsky-Korsakov Trombone Concerto with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. He toured Europe in 1984 with the Australian Youth Orchestra and has performed with the Seymour Group, Royal Ballet, Warren Daly Big Band and the ‘Cats’ Production Orchestra, Sydney.

 

Collins has recently been appointed to the position of Chief Brass Examiner of New South Wales for the Australian Music Examiner’s Board.

 

For more information, please visit:

www.brendancollins.com.au

 

Photo: Philippa Collins

 

Andrew Lott currently serves as Principal Trumpet of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic since 2015 and as Associate Professor of Trumpet at Purdue University-Fort Wayne since 2016. He received his Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance from Baylor University in 2012, where he studied with Wiff Rudd. Andy was a member of the first Baylor Trumpet Ensemble to win 1st place at the National Trumpet Competition. He received his Master of Music from Indiana University, where he was a student of John Rommel and served as the Associate Instructor of Trumpet. In 2018, Andy performed as soloist on Shostakovich’s Concerto No. 1 for Piano, Trumpet and Strings, J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, and Copland’s Quiet City with the Purdue Fort Wayne Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Andrew Lott is a Yamaha Performing Artist.

 

Photo: Rachel Lott

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A native of the Boston area, violinist Gabriel Lefkowitz is the Concertmaster of the Louisville Orchestra, a position he has held since 2017. A versatile musician of the 21st century, Lefkowitz is an active soloist and chamber musician, conductor, and composer for the film and video game industry.

 

During the 2018-2019 season, Gabriel makes his podium debut with the LO, leading an all-Italian program as both conductor and soloist as part of the Orchestra’s Neighborhood Series.

 

In 2017, Lefkowitz concluded his tenure as Concertmaster of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, a position he had held since 2011. Recent guest engagements include solo performances with the Cape Cod Chamber Orchestra, Oak Ridge Symphony, Ocala Symphony, and performing as guest concertmaster with the Britt Festival Orchestra and Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.

 

Lefkowitz holds a Bachelor’s degree from Columbia University, where he graduated magna cum laude three years, having studied music and economics. In May of 2010, he earned a Masters in Violin Performance at The Juilliard School where he studied with Joel Smirnoff and Masao Kawasaki.

 

Photo: Saul Young

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tyler Simms is currently a Graduate Assistant and Doctor of Musical Arts degree candidate at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where he studies with Timothy Anderson. At CCM, he instructs undergraduate and graduate trombonists and also serves as director of the CCM Trombone Ensemble.

 

Tyler holds a Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Music Education from the University of Kentucky, where he studied with Dale Warren and Bradley Kerns. Simms received a Master of Music in Trombone Performance from the Eastman School of Music under the instruction of Larry Zalkind and Mark Kellogg. There, Tyler was the first MM candidate to earn the Eastman Certificate in College Music Teaching since its inception.

 

Simms has appeared with Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra, Boston Pops Orchestra, Greece Symphony, Eastman Wind Ensemble, Evansville Symphony Orchestra, and Lexington Brass Band.

 

In June 2017, Tyler was invited as a member of the Remington Trombone Quartet to Redlands California as a finalist in the International Trombone Festival Quartet Competition. The Quartet received the runner-up prize both in this competition and in the 2017 American Trombone Workshop Trombone Quartet Competition.

 

Simms co-released an album of transcriptions with Kristen Petty and New Branch Records entitled, Songs Without Words (© Simms, Petty 2015) available on Amazon and iTunes.

 

Photo: Lauren Eisenreich

 

 

Growing up on a farm outside of Spartanburg SC, Dr. Phillip Chase Hawkins serves as Principal Trumpet with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, a position he has held since 2013. He is also a member of the cornet section in Fountain City Brass Band and is an active performer on historical instruments as a member of Kentucky Baroque Trumpets and Saxton’s Cornet Band. Hawkins can also be heard as a performing and recording artist for the Nashville Music Scoring Studio and Sound Lair Studio. His previously held positions include Visiting Professor of Trumpet at Centre College and Interim Professor of Trumpet at the University of Kentucky.

 

Hawkins has performed with the Boston Pops Orchestra, Louisville Orchestra, West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Le Château de la Voix Baroque Orchestra, and others. He has appeared as guest soloist with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival and the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra. Hawkins has performed in concert halls and recital venues throughout the United States, Canada, South America, Europe, and Asia.

 

Receiving several awards and achievements in solo competitions, Hawkins has gained both national and international recognition. In 2014, Hawkins won first prize in the Grand Valley State University International Solo Trumpet Competition. In 2013, Hawkins took first prize at the NABBA Solo Competition in the high lyric category. In 2012, he was the first-place winner of the National Trumpet Competition in the Graduate division, having taken second place in 2011, as well as winning first place in the National Brass Symposium Solo Competition. And in 2010, Hawkins was selected as a top 10 finalist in the Prague Spring International Solo Competition in Prague Czech Republic.

 

Hawkins holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and both Master of Music and Bachelor of Music degrees from the Eastman School of Music. At Eastman, Hawkins received the distinguished Performer’s Certificate, was the inaugural recipient of the Sidney Mear Trumpet Prize, and was a Howard Hanson Scholarship recipient for academic merit.

 

For more information, please visit www.trumpetchase.com

 

Phillip Chase Hawkins is a Yamaha Performing Artist

 

Photo: Carroll & Janice Crouch

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maria Fuller was born and raised on a grain farm near Earl Grey Saskatchewan and maintains a profoundly active musical career as a pianist, trumpeter, instructor, conductor, and composer. She currently holds the position of Principal Piano with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra in Indiana. She has also served as piano and trumpet instructor at the Bob Mossing Summer Music Camp at the Mossing School of Music in Regina Saskatchewan.

 

An accomplished musician from an early age, Fuller is a two-time laureate of the Federation of Canadian Music Festival National Competition, Canadian Music Competition National Finals, and Canadian Federation of Music Teachers Association National Finals. She received the Grand Awards at the Regina Music Festival and Provincial Music Festival of Saskatchewan and holds first places in the Gordon Wallis, Shumiatcher, and Florence Bowes Competitions. For three consecutive years, on the trumpet, Fuller won the brass title in Saskatchewan and received the highest marks in the province for her RCM examinations.

 

With her internationally recognized piano trio, Geistrio, Fuller has performed throughout Europe and North America and was a semi-finalist in the Fischoff National Chamber Competition.

 

As guest piano soloist, Fuller has performed with the Cincinnati Ballet and the Longview Symphony Orchestra in Texas. As an orchestral pianist and trumpeter, she has performed with Kentucky Symphony Orchestra and Regina Symphony Orchestra, among others. Recently Fuller has coached for the Saskatoon and Cincinnati Opera Companies and looks forward to expanding her operatic career to the podium as she conducts Mozart’s La Clemenza Di Tito at CCM in Spring 2019.

 

Fuller holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano from McGill University in Montreal. She is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she also received a Master of Music in Piano Performance and an Artist Diploma in Operatic Coaching.

 

For more information, please visit www.mariacfuller.com

 

Photo: Sebastian Serrano-Ayala

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Australian composer and performer Brendan Collins holds the position of Composer-In-Residence at Barker College in Sydney. Formerly, he held the position of Associate Principal Trombone with Opera Australia from 1991-2002 and in 2006 served as Composer-In-Residence with the Sydney Youth Orchestra. Collins grew up just north of Sydney in the city of Newcastle. He attended the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where he studied trombone under the tutelage of Ron Prussing and Arthur Hubbard, as well as composition with George Golla. Collins also received a scholarship for 6 months of study with Ralph Sauer, former Principal Trombonist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.

 

Collins’ compositions enjoy popularity among musicians ranging from early beginner students to some of the world’s finest professional soloists. He has received commissions from leading artists and organizations such as Rex Richardson (United States), Richard Stoelzel (Canada), Steve Rosse (Australia) and Jose Chafer (Spain). Trumpet Mambo was commissioned by the International Trumpet Guild for the 2010 conference in Sydney. Since then, Collins’ compositions have been performed at all subsequent ITG conferences. In 2010, his composition William of Orange March won first prize in the New South Wales School Band Festival Composition Competition, and in 2015 Collins was commissioned by the NSW Band Assoc. to compose two ‘Test’ pieces for the Australian National Band Championships. The Kuringai Philharmonic Orchestra has commissioned two works from Collins, 1) the children’s work based on the Adventures of the Eensy Weensy Spider and 2) Odyssey – a work commemorating the fateful landing of the ANZAC’s (Australian New Zealand Army Corps) on the shores of Gallipoli on April 25, 1915.

 

As a performer Collins has toured the United States and New Zealand as a soloist. In 1982, at only 16 years old, Collins performed the Rimsky-Korsakov Trombone Concerto with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. He toured Europe in 1984 with the Australian Youth Orchestra and has performed with the Seymour Group, Royal Ballet, Warren Daly Big Band and the ‘Cats’ Production Orchestra, Sydney.

 

Collins has recently been appointed to the position of Chief Brass Examiner of New South Wales for the Australian Music Examiner’s Board.

 

For more information, please visit:

www.brendancollins.com.au

 

Photo: Philippa Collins

 

Andrew Lott currently serves as Principal Trumpet of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic since 2015 and as Associate Professor of Trumpet at Purdue University-Fort Wayne since 2016. He received his Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance from Baylor University in 2012, where he studied with Wiff Rudd. Andy was a member of the first Baylor Trumpet Ensemble to win 1st place at the National Trumpet Competition. He received his Master of Music from Indiana University, where he was a student of John Rommel and served as the Associate Instructor of Trumpet. In 2018, Andy performed as soloist on Shostakovich’s Concerto No. 1 for Piano, Trumpet and Strings, J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, and Copland’s Quiet City with the Purdue Fort Wayne Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Andrew Lott is a Yamaha Performing Artist.

 

Photo: Rachel Lott

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A native of the Boston area, violinist Gabriel Lefkowitz is the Concertmaster of the Louisville Orchestra, a position he has held since 2017. A versatile musician of the 21st century, Lefkowitz is an active soloist and chamber musician, conductor, and composer for the film and video game industry.

 

During the 2018-2019 season, Gabriel makes his podium debut with the LO, leading an all-Italian program as both conductor and soloist as part of the Orchestra’s Neighborhood Series.

 

In 2017, Lefkowitz concluded his tenure as Concertmaster of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, a position he had held since 2011. Recent guest engagements include solo performances with the Cape Cod Chamber Orchestra, Oak Ridge Symphony, Ocala Symphony, and performing as guest concertmaster with the Britt Festival Orchestra and Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.

 

Lefkowitz holds a Bachelor’s degree from Columbia University, where he graduated magna cum laude three years, having studied music and economics. In May of 2010, he earned a Masters in Violin Performance at The Juilliard School where he studied with Joel Smirnoff and Masao Kawasaki.

 

Photo: Saul Young

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tyler Simms is currently a Graduate Assistant and Doctor of Musical Arts degree candidate at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where he studies with Timothy Anderson. At CCM, he instructs undergraduate and graduate trombonists and also serves as director of the CCM Trombone Ensemble.

 

Tyler holds a Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Music Education from the University of Kentucky, where he studied with Dale Warren and Bradley Kerns. Simms received a Master of Music in Trombone Performance from the Eastman School of Music under the instruction of Larry Zalkind and Mark Kellogg. There, Tyler was the first MM candidate to earn the Eastman Certificate in College Music Teaching since its inception.

 

Simms has appeared with Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra, Boston Pops Orchestra, Greece Symphony, Eastman Wind Ensemble, Evansville Symphony Orchestra, and Lexington Brass Band.

 

In June 2017, Tyler was invited as a member of the Remington Trombone Quartet to Redlands California as a finalist in the International Trombone Festival Quartet Competition. The Quartet received the runner-up prize both in this competition and in the 2017 American Trombone Workshop Trombone Quartet Competition.

 

Simms co-released an album of transcriptions with Kristen Petty and New Branch Records entitled, Songs Without Words (© Simms, Petty 2015) available on Amazon and iTunes.

 

Photo: Lauren Eisenreich