Atlanta Trumpet Festival

Artists and Conductors
of the Atlanta Trumpet Festival

Michael Anderson
artist/clinician - 2006 festival

Michael Anderson is an assistant professor of trumpet at the Wanda L. Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University. He teaches applied trumpet, directs brass chamber music ensembles, including the Blackwelder Brass, OCU’s scholarship graduate brass quintet, Brass Methods and History of Rock and Roll. Before his appointment to the Bass School of Music, Anderson was on the faculty for 18 years Dana College in Blair, Nebraska.

Professor Anderson is a member of the Board of Directors of the International Trumpet Guild, executive director of the ITG web site, and chairman of the ITG technology committee. He is a regular columnist for the ITG Journal and serves on the Editorial Committee as a peer reviewer of submitted articles.

He was project manager of the ITG Journal anniversary CD-ROM, which made available all ITG Journals and Newsletters in searchable, electronic format. He is founder and administrator of the Trumpet Players International Network (TPIN), the oldest and most active Internet discussion list dedicated to the trumpet.

His degrees are from Illinois State University (BM), and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (MM). Primary teachers have been Dennis Schneider, Herbert Koerselman, and Arnold Jacobs. During his 2003 sabbatical, Anderson observed and studied with master teachers including Bill Adam, Vincent DiMartino, Ronald Romm, Michael Ewald, Karl Sievers, and William Pfund.

He is a member of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, the Lyric Theatre Orchestra, and is in demand as a freelance artist, soloist and clinician. Before moving to Oklahoma, Mr. Anderson was a 21-year member of the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra, and performed often with the Omaha Symphony and Opera Omaha. He was a founding member of the Omaha Brass Ensemble and of the Nebraska Brass, and was a member of the Palladium Brass Quintet. He was musical director for the Omaha Big Band and the Omaha Jazz Youth Project. He is an active freelance trumpeter, and has played for numerous national tours; recording sessions; and jazz, orchestra and chamber music engagements.

^ Back to Top

Scotty Barnhart
artist/clinician - 2007 festival

"Scotty Barnhart........bears watching.....laid out assured melodic lines in a singing, silvery tone."
- Jon Pareles, The New York Times

Whether it is performing as a featured soloist with The Count Basie Orchestra in venues all over the world, playing muted solos behind legends Frank Sinatra, Cab Calloway, Joe Williams, Rosemary Clooney, or Tony Bennett, appearing with pianist Marcus Roberts at Carnegie Hall, or leading his own quintet at major Jazz festivals and night clubs, musicians and critics alike have acknowledged the emergence of a new and original voice in the world of Jazz. Trumpeter, composer, clinician and arranger, Scotty Barnhart began receiving critical acclaim from his work with Marcus Roberts who featured him alongside Wynton Marsalis on the 1990 release of Deep In The Shed (RCA/Novus), and the accolades continue.

Also a university professor and published author who resides in Los Angeles, California, Tallahassee, Florida, William Terrell "Scotty" Barnhart was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on October 27, 1964. His earliest exposure to music was hearing his mother sing in the choir at Atlanta's historic Ebenezer Baptist Church where he was christened by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and baptized by Dr. King, Sr. In addition to singing in the youth choir, Scotty began playing trumpet solos during regular Sunday morning worship services and special occasions.

While in high school, Scotty was chosen first chair trumpet for the all-district, all-county, and all-state bands, and was chosen to attend the prestigious summer music camp at Northwestern University. He was also selected as first trumpet and soloist for the NFL's Atlanta Falcon Band and the Atlanta Community Orchestra. The Atlanta Branch of the NAACP selected him as one of the "Outstanding Young Person's Of The Year for 1981" and upon his high school graduation, Scotty was named a member of the Jazz Abroad program that toured Europe for three weeks. The King family presented him with a music scholarship in honor of the mother of Dr. King, Jr., The Alberta Williams King Scholarship for Music and he was also the recipient of The Count Basie Scholarship from the estate of William "Count" Basie. These scholarships were used to attend Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida, where he obtained a B.S. Degree in Music Education and was an active member of the music fraternity Kappa Kappa Psi and all music ensembles including the world renowned Marching 100.

^ Back to Top

Mike Barry
artist/clinician - 2004 festival

Michael Barry graduated from Lawrence University with a Bachelor of Music degree in trumpet performance, and continued his education at the Eastman School of Music, receiving a Masters degree in Jazz and Contemporary Media.

Mr. Barry moved to Atlanta in 1990 and performed with the house band at Ruperts nightclub until late 1995. He joined the Peachtree Brass in the early part of 1996.

He has a wide range of performance credits. He is a frequent performer with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in its "Pops" concerts. He has recorded broadcast music for CNN (for the shows "Sports Tonight", "Crossfire", etc.), The Cartoon Network ("Space Ghost: Coast to Coast"), and the station identifications for the Global Catholic Channel, EWTN.

More recently, he has recorded with matchboxtwenty on their latest CD, "Mad Season" and performs on all music for CNN International News as well as the theme for the CNNFN show “Street Sweep.”

^ Back to Top

Peter Bond
artist/clinician - 2005 festival

Peter Bond is in his thirteenth season as a trumpeter with the Metropolitan Opera. Prior to his appointment to the Met Orchestra, Mr. Bond spent five years as Principal Trumpet of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra in Albuquerque.

A native of Rockford, Illinois, Mr. Bond grew up playing in a local drum and bugle corps, and was interested primarily in drum corps and big band jazz throughout high school and college. After receiving a BA in Music Education from Western Illinois University, an invitation from Georgia State University Director of Bands, Robert Morsch brought him to Atlanta as a graduate assistant to Dr. Morsch. At GSU Mr. Bond began serious study of orchestral trumpet playing with John Head, Principal Trumpet of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra who also became a mentor. ASO trumpeter Larry Black and GSU Music Department Chairman and trumpeter Steven Winick were also important influences. After receiving his Masters Degree in 1981, Mr. Bond remained in Atlanta, enjoying a busy freelance career before winning the New Mexico position in 1987. During these years Mr. Bond continued his study of orchestral playing, making frequent trips to Illinois to study with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

In addition to the Metropolitan Opera and New Mexico Symphony, Mr. Bond has also appeared with the Atlanta Symphony, New York Philharmonic, New York City Opera, Atlanta Ballet, New York City Ballet, Santa Fe Opera, and at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival.

As a teacher, Mr. Bond was on the music faculty at Rutgers University for 10 years, and is associated with the Hartwick College Summer Music Festival. Coming full circle, he even spent five summers coaching the drum and bugle corps where he began playing in 1968.

^ Back to Top

Charles Brown
adult ensemble conductor - 2005 festival

A graduate of Fayette County High School, Mr. Brown received his undergraduate degree in Music Education from the University of Georgia. Upon completion of his studies at UGA, Mr. Brown attended the University of Illinois and received a Masters Degree in Horn Performance. Mr. Brown then joined the United States Army Ground Forces Band based out of Ft. McPherson, GA where he served as a soldier-musician for 4 years. After leaving the Army, Mr. Brown served 8 years as the Director of Bands At Central Gwinnett High School. While at Central Gwinnett, Mr. Brown established a reputation of being a fun but tough director with many students going on to advanced music studies in college.

Mr. Brown has been an active freelance artist in the Atlanta area for over 15 years, performing with many different musicians and groups throughout the southeast. In addition to performing, Mr. Brown has an active horn studio and has produced several of the top student musicians on horn in the Atlanta metro area. Mr. Brown is also an active clinician providing master classes on many different topics for musicians in the Atlanta metro area.

Currently, Mr. Brown is the Director of Instrumental Music Ministries at Hebron Baptist Church in Dacula, GA. His duties include conducting the Worship Orchestra, Celebration Orchestra, Beginning Band and overseeing the Hebron School of Music. He resides in Dacula with his wife Kim and their two daughters Abby and Anna.

^ Back to Top

Mark Clodfelter
artist, clinician and adult ensemble director - 2006 & 2007 festivals

Mark Clodfelter hails from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He is currently one of the most active performers in the Southeast and can be heard as Principal Trumpet of the Asheville Symphony Orchestra and the Trade Winds (Tamp Fl.) as well as split lead with the DiMartino/Osland Jazz Orchestra (DOJO) and the Kentucky Jazz Repertory Orchestra. Mark is a founding member and guest artist with the Giannini Brass and is a Yamaha Performing Artist. In addition he is currently Co-Conductor of the Blue Grass Area Jazz Ambassadors.

As a soloist, Mark has appeared throughout the United States, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, and Ireland, with orchestras, organists, wind ensembles, brass ensembles, and jazz bands. He has recorded extensively in styles ranging from classical to rock including the 2004 Grammy Nominated “Self Contained” with the UK Jazz Ensemble. He has appeared with such headliners as The O' Jays, Gladys Knight, Mannheim Steam Roller, the Moody Blues, Doc Severinson, Bob Mintzer, Lou Rawls, and Ray Charles. Recent solo appearances have included the World Premier of Lawrence Bitensky’s revision of “Awake You Sleepers” for trumpet and wind ensemble, tours and concerts with the UK Jazz Ensembles, soloist with The Saxton’s Cornet Band at the Great American Brass Band Festival and the acclaimed Chautauqua Music Festival, and solo appearances at the 2003, 04 and 05 Kentucky Music Educators Conventions. Additionally Mark was featured at the 2005 Florida and Southern Division MENC Convention in Tampa as well as the 2005 Tennessee Music Educators Convention in Nashville.

Mark is Professor of Trumpet at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. Prior to this appointment he was Instructor of Trumpet and Director of the Jazz Band as a member of the faculty at Mars Hill College. From 1996- 2005 he spent summers playing Lead Trumpet for the Flat Rock Playhouse, the state theatre of North Carolina. In 1996 he served on the faculty of the prestigious Eastern Music Festival as a member of the Eastern Philharmonic Orchestra and chamber music coach. Mark has also held positions with the Greensboro Symphony, the Western Piedmont Symphony, the Salisbury Symphony, the Greenville (SC) Symphony, and from 1999 through 2002, served as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Smoky Mountain Brass Band.

Mr. Clodfelter holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Lenoir-Rhyne College. While earning his Master of Music Degree from the North Carolina School of the Arts, Mark received a fellowship as Lead trumpet for the NCSA Jazz Ensemble where he also served as co-principal trumpet for the NCSA Orchestra, and was a winner of the 1990 International Music Program Concerto Competition.

Sought after as a clinician, Mark makes numerous appearances annually as guest adjudicator, instructor, and soloist nationally at both the High School and Collegiate level. He has written and developed educational programs among which are the Brass Builders Clinics and the acclaimed Science of Sound interdisciplinary presentation. In 1991 he was appointed to the North Carolina Resident Artist roster and continues to pursue educational endeavors through schools, communities, and an active private studio.

Mark plays Yamaha trumpets and Curry mc Mouthpieces.

^ Back to Top

Vincent DiMartino
artist/clinician - 2006 festival

Vince DiMartino is one of the most sought after trumpet performers and educators. Since graduating from The Eastman School of Music in 1972, professor DiMartino had taught at the University of Kentucky until 1993. At that time, Mr. DiMartino began a new appointment as Distinguished Artist in residence at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. There he teaches trumpet, brass and jazz ensembles, and jazz history. He has served as the Music Chair and is currently coordinator of the Centre College Instrumental Program. He is distinguished Matton Professor of Music at Centre College.

Vince DiMartino is equally known as a jazz artist. He has been the lead and solo trumpet in the Lionel Hampton Band, the Chuck Mangione Band, the Clark Terry Band and The Eastman Arranger’s Holiday Orchestra. He has also performed with some of this country’s finest college jazz ensembles. Vince has been a member of the artist-faculty of the highly acclaimed Skidmore Jazz Institute since its inception in 1988 working with fellow artist-teachers Milt Hinton, Todd Coolman, Ed Shaughnessy, Frank Mantooth, Curtis Fuller, Dick Oatts and Pat LaBarbera.

The International Trumpet Guild has featured Mr. DiMartino as an artist-clinician in major solo programs at their conferences including Louisiana State University, University of Gothenburg-Sweden, University of Colorado, University of New Mexico, University of Denver and London, England. DiMartino also was a guest at the University of Kentucky Conference in 1998, an event that Professor DiMartino hosted at this same location in 1982.

He has served twice as President and Vice President of The International Trumpet Guild as well as a member of its Board of Directors for two terms. He serves as chair of the Board of Directors of The National Trumpet Competition in Washington, D.C.

Mr. DiMartino has been soloist with many symphony orchestra including Cincinnati, Buffalo, Sante Fe, North Carolina, Orlando, Baton Rouge and Rochester, New York. He also appeared as guest soloist with the Boston Pops on their Summer Tour ‘99 and a national television broadcast of the same. He has also been a soloist with the Army Blues Jazz Band, The Army Brass Band, The U.S. Air Force Band of Flight and The United States Marine Band. Mr. DiMartino is the first civilian to perform with this ensemble. He is also co-founder of the New Columbian Brass Band, a turn-of-the-century town band, with Dr. George Foreman, Director of the Norton Center for the Arts at Centre College. The band has recorded three CD’s for Dorian Records.

Mr. DiMartino is also prominently featured on some of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra’s most recent recordings including, “Mancini’s Greatest Hits”, “Bond and Beyond”, “Big Hit Parade”, and ”Hollywood’s Greatest Hits”. He recorded Mel Torme’s “Christmas Album” as lead trumpet. Mr. DiMartino also has completed a recording project on Summit Records with jazz artists Allen Vizzutti and Bobby Shew and The Summit Brass called, “Trumpet Summit”.

With Dr. Schuyler Robinson, Mr. DiMartino made a recording for Mark Records with the DiMartino-Robinson trumpet and organ duo entitled “Orchestral Favorites for Trumpet and Organ”. The ITG has designated this CD as its membership gift CD. The duo was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship. In the summer of 1994 he performed in the Lincoln Center with The Canadian Brass, The New York Philharmonic Brass and The New York Brass. He also was a featured artist-teacher at the Kiev International Trumpet Competition in 1998.

Throughout his teaching career, Professor DiMartino has been a member of the artist faculty of many international seminars and courses. These include The Empire Brass Quintet-Tanglewood summer program, The Spanish Brass Festival in Alzira-Spain, The Kalavrita Brass Course in Greece, as well as seminars in England, Ukraine, Thailand, Germany and Canada.

He is 2004 CASE Professor of The Year for the state of Kentucky. This award is given nationally each year to one person in each state in The United States.

Mr. DiMartino is a Yamaha Performing Artist.

^ Back to Top

Carol Doemel
high school ensemble conductor - 2007 festival

Carol Doemel is the Director of Orchestras at Lassiter High School. She received her Bachelor of Music degree in Music Performance from Florida State University in 1984. That summer, Mrs. Doemel was accepted into the graduate program at the Cleveland Institute of Music. She decided to delay her graduate degree to serve her country, and won the position as Principal/Solo trumpet in the United States Army Forces Command Band, touring nationwide from 1984-1991. Following her military service, Mrs. Doemel received her Masters of Music degree in Performance from Georgia State University, and followed with a post-baccalaureate degree in String Education. Mrs. Doemel maintains an active playing career and has performed with the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony, Macon Symphony, Columbus Symphony, Augusta Symphony, Peachtree Pops Orchestra, and the Atlanta Pops Orchestra. Mrs. Doemel is a frequent adjudicator and clinician in the Atlanta area. She is an active member of the Georgia Music Educators Association and was selected as a Master Judge for the organization, and a member of the Music Educators National Conference. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Chris, her 9-year-old, Sydney (violinist and gymnast) and her 18-year-old, Curt (cellist and wrestler).

^ Back to Top

Kevin Eisensmith
artist/clinician - 2007 festival

Kevin Eisensmith is Professor of Trumpet at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he also directs the IUP Trumpet Ensemble and the IUP Jazz Ensemble.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (1978), a Master's degree in Music Performance from Georgia State University (1982), and a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Performance degree from Temple University (1994). Dr. Eisensmith has studied with John Head, former principal trumpeter with the Atlanta Symphony and with Seymour Rosenfeld, former second trumpeter with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Dr. Eisensmith served as the solo trumpeter with the U.S. Army Forces Command Band (FORSCOM'S OWN) in Atlanta, Georgia from 1979 through 1984 and performed over 700 concerts through 26 states and the Virgin Islands during this period. As a free-lance artist, Dr. Eisensmith has worked with Carol Channing (Hello Dolly!), Richard Harris (Camelot), Barbara Eden (Woman of the Year), Judy Collins, Andy Williams, The Osmond Brothers, Bob Hope, Bernadette Peters, Julio Iglesias, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Doc Severinson, Shari Lewis, Peabo Bryson, Aaron Neville, Roberta Flack, Melissa Manchester, the Lettermen, the Moody Blues, Natalie Cole, Olivia Newton-John, LeAnn Rimes, Marvin Hamlisch and Peter Nero. He has performed as principal trumpeter with many regional orchestras in the Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia areas and frequently served as an extra trumpeter with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Since 1998 Dr. Eisensmith has served as the principal trumpeter with the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra.

He has published numerous articles in such magazines as The Sinfonian (official magazine for Phi Mu Alpha Professional Music Fraternity), The Instrumentalist, The International Trumpet Guild Journal and the Bluegrass Music News (official magazine of the Kentucky Music Educators Association). For fourteen years (1991-2005) Dr. Eisensmith served as compiler and editor for the "Trumpet and Brass Programs" issue of the ITG Journal. He is a member of the Board of Directors for the National Trumpet Competition and is currently the Secretary of the 7,000-member International Trumpet Guild.

His students have established themselves as successful educators and performers. Many teach in the public schools in Pennsylvania and surrounding states, while others have gone on to instruction at the university level. Still other former students have achieved success as performers, and serve as members of military bands and symphony orchestras throughout the United States.

Dr. Eisensmith is a clinician for the C.G. Conn Corporation and performs on the Conn Vintage One B-flat and C trumpets and flugelhorn. He presents numerous clinics and guest appearances annually throughout the eastern and mid-western states.

^ Back to Top

Ryan Forbes
adult ensemble conductor - 2006 festival

Ryan Forbes is presently serving the First Baptist Church of Decatur, GA as the Associate Pastor in Music and Worship Leadership. Among his responsibilities are planning and leading in worship, coordinating all music ministries, directing several choral groups (youth to adult), and directing the church orchestra. Ryan has over 25 years experience in church music and worship serving churches in North Carolina , Indiana , Kentucky , and Georgia . He is presently in his fifth year at First Baptist Church of Decatur coming from North Broad Baptist Church in Rome , GA where he served for over 17 years. In addition to his church related responsibilities, Dr. Forbes was an Adjunct Professor for the School of Fine Arts and a teacher for the Center for Ministry Education, both programs of Shorter College in Rome where he taught several courses related to music and worship. Ryan has led several worship conferences for various organizations throughout the years. He is an active hymn writer and arranger.

Ryan holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Georgia Southern University with a major in music theory and composition. His applied area is trumpet. He received his Master of Church Music degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1982. In 2002, Ryan earned the Doctor of Worship Studies from The Institute for Worship Studies in Jacksonville , Florida.

Ryan lives in Lilburn , GA with his wife, Cynthia, and his two sons, Tucker and Tanner.

^ Back to Top

Gary Gribble
high school ensemble conductor - 2006 festival

Gary D. Gribble has been the Director of Bands at Pope High School since its opening in 1987. Under his guidance, the Pope Concert, Marching, and Jazz Bands have earned consistent Superior ratings and numerous awards from area and regional events. The Band Program at Pope has grown from its initial 92 students to over 290. Pope offers four symphonic bands, a 240 piece marching band, a jazz ensemble, and a percussion ensemble. Students are also encouraged to participate in woodwind choir, brass choir, brass quintet, woodwind quintet, saxophone ensemble, flute choir, trumpet choir, and trombone choir.

Mr. Gribble earned his Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Georgia State University. He also holds an Associate of Science Degree in Commercial Music from Georgia State. Prior to his arrival at Pope, he taught one year in Dekalb County, Georgia as the Assistant Director of Bands at Redan High School, and two years as Assistant Director of Bands at Lassiter High in Cobb County, Georgia.

Mr. Gribble earned a fine reputation as an adjudicator, guest conductor, and clinician in Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Florida. He has designed marching shows for bands across the southeast. His articles have been published in both "Fanfare" and "Today's Music Educator." He was on staff as a choreographer and production assistant for the 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.

Mr. Gribble is a member of the Georgia Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, National Band Association, International Association of Jazz Educators, International Trumpet Guild, and the Percussive Arts Society. He was cited in 1987 as an "Outstanding Young Man of America," was selected for inclusion in the 1989-1990 edition of "Who's Who in American Education," was Pope High School's "STAR Teacher" in 1989-1990, and is listed in the 1992 and 1995 editions of "Who's Who Among America's Teachers." The Pope Marching Band, under Mr. Gribble's guidance, was awarded the 1992 "Sulder Shield of Marching Excellence" by the John Philip Sousa Foundation. In February 1994, Mr. Gribble has twice been awarded the recipient of the National Band Association "Citation of Excellence" for outstanding contributions to band and band music. He was named the 1994 state winner of the ASBDA "Distinguished Band Director" award. The Pope Marching Band has been selected to receive the National Band Association Citation of Marching Excellence for 1995. In 1999, Mr. Gribble was named a member of the Bandworld Legion of Honor and National Award of the John Phillip Sousa Society. In May 2001, he was featured on the cover of “School Band and Orchestra Magazine.”

^ Back to Top

Charles Jackson
middle school ensemble conductor - 2004-2007 festivals

Mr. Charles Jackson is in his 9th year as the Director of Bands at Dodgen Middle School and his 28th year as a professional educator. Prior to his appointment at Dodgen, Mr. Jackson taught band for six years in the Meridian Separate Public School System in Meridian, Mississippi. He left his duties in Meridian to accept the position as Director of Bands at Campbell High School in Smyrna, Georgia, where he remained for eight years. Following his appointment at Campbell, Mr. Jackson served as Director of Bands at Garrett Middle school for five years. During the past 28 years, Mr. Jackson's bands have been awarded numerous superior ratings at regional, state, and international music festivals and competitions. He has had several students awarded positions in the Georgia All-State Bands over the past 19 years with some being awarded first chair positions in their section. In addition to his duties and responsibilities at Dodgen, Mr. Jackson maintains an active performance career on trumpet. He performs frequently as a soloist and in chamber ensembles throughout the Metro Atlanta area and has performed throughout Florida, Mississippi and Illinois. Mr. Jackson currently performs in the Cobb Wind Symphony and in the Les Still Swing Band Still Swingin'.

Mr. Jackson earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and was a conducting student of Dr. Joe Barry Mullins. He has additionally earned the Master of Science degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois. While at Illinois, Mr. Jackson was a trumpet student of recording artist David Hickman and was a conducting student of Dr. Harry Begian. In 1994, Mr. Jackson earned his Education Specialist degree from Georgia State University and was a trumpet student of Dr. Steve Winick. During the summer of 2004, Mr. Jackson began work on his Doctorate degree at the Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia.

^ Back to Top

Kevin Lyons
artist/clinician - 2004 festival

Kevin Lyons comes from Clinton, Mississippi, and has been interested in jazz and classical music from a very early age. Mr. Lyons attended the Cleveland Institute of Music where he received his bachelor's degree in music performance. While there, he was awarded the Bernard Aldestein Award in trumpet.

After conservatory life, he spent two years with the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Mr. Lyons has performed throughout the U.S., Canada, Japan, the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean. Mr. Lyons currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia, where he is a freelance musician and can be heard in several venues throughout the city. He recently won the audition as 4th Trumpet / Utility Trumpet with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

^ Back to Top

Christopher Martin
artist/clinician - 2004 festival

Christopher Martin was appointed principal trumpet of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 2005. Mr. Martin came to the CSO from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, where he served as principal trumpet since 2001.

Before joining the Atlanta Symphony, Mr. Martin was associate principal trumpet of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He was an affiliate trumpet professor at Emory University in Atlanta and Temple University in Philadelphia, and has given master classes at conservatories and colleges throughout the United States, including at the Manhattan School of Music. He has performed as principal trumpet with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Seattle Symphony, and the Grand Teton Music Festival.

Mr. Martin, a native of Marietta, Georgia, comes from a musical family. His father, Freddy Martin, is a band director for a prestigious Georgia private school, and his mother, Lynda Martin, sings in the Atlanta Symphony Chorus. While a member of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, Mr. Martin trained with then-Atlanta Symphony Orchestra trumpeter Larry Black. He later received his bachelor’s degree in trumpet performance in 1997 from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where his primary teachers were Charles Geyer and Barbara Butler. As principal trumpet of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, he can be heard on a number of recent recordings, including the ASO’s 2003 Grammy Award-winning recording of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony conducted by Robert Spano.

^ Back to Top

Freddy Martin
high school ensemble conductor - 2004 festival

Freddy Martin was born and educated through high school in Cobb County, Georgia. In high school Freddy was an all-state French horn player. He attended Jacksonville State University in Alabama where he received the Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education and was Vice President of the Sigma Nu Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia professional music fraternity. Freddy has done post-graduate work at Georgia State University in Atlanta.

Freddy is the founding director of the famed Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps and continues to serve the Corps today as director emeritus. Under his direction the corps has been recognized as one of the finest marching music units in the world. Freddy is now on the brass instructional staff of the Phantom Regiment Drum Corps from Rockford, Illinois.

Freddy served as director of the South Cobb High School Bands. Under his ten-year direction the band grew from a membership of 17 students to one of the finest high school bands in the country with a membership of 284 students. The band program had a nationally recognized marching band, a fine jazz band, and four very fine concert bands, along with three winter color guards. He most recently served as band director at Buford High School. When Freddy arrived at Buford the high school band program was beginning to rebuild from a low of seven members. On his departure from Buford the high school band program had grown to 75 playing members and a color guard of 22 members in a high school of less than 300 total students.

Freddy is a trained adjudicator by the Central States Judges Association and the Southern States Judges Association. He has served as a clinician and adjudicator in most of the fifty states and in England. He has been an active adjudicator for Bands of America for the past twenty five years and has judged the Bands of America National Championship over a dozen times. Freddy has adjudicated over forty Bands of America Regional Championships along with a number of local and regional band competitions. He is an active adjudicator with the New York Field Band Conference adjudicating dozens of N.Y.S.F.B.C local shows and the New York State Field Band Conference Championships several times. He has also participated in adjudicating many concert band festivals and contests. His concert band adjudication includes work in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida, Texas, Mississippi and New York State.

Freddy is married to Lynda and they have two sons and a daughter. Chris, their oldest, is principal trumpet with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and was recently named Principal trumpet in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Crystal is now a senior at Jacksonville State in Psychology and performs regularly with stage productions and with the Jacksonville State Marching Band. Michael is a sophomore at Northwestern University where he is studying trumpet with Chris's former teachers Charles Geyer and Barbara Butler Geyer.

Freddy is adjunct faculty for brass at Emory University and is in his fourth year as band director and brass specialist at the Westminster Schools.

^ Back to Top

James Seda
high school ensemble conductor - 2007 festival

James O. Seda is currently the Director of Bands at Southwest Dekalb High School. A native of Nairobi, Kenya, Mr. Seda came to this country at the age of five and has lived in Atlanta ever since. He is a product of the Atlanta Public School System, having graduated from Southside Comprehensive High School in 1989. Mr. Seda received his Bachelors of Science Degree in Music Education from Florida A&M University. While there, he studied conducting with Dr. William P. Foster and Dr. Julian E. White. He was also in the trumpet studio of Dr. Marty Robinson. Mr. Seda is currently enrolled in the Masters of Music Education Program at Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, Illinois.

Mr. Seda has been the Director of Bands at Southwest Dekalb High School since 2001. Prior to that he served as Assistant Director of Bands at Chapel Hill Middle School for two years, the primary feeder school to Southwest Dekalb High School, also assisting with the band program at Southwest Dekalb simultaneously. Mr. Seda is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the Screen Actor's Guild and MACE. Mr. Seda has been recognized and honored by Who's Who Among America's Teachers multiple times.

While attending Florida A&M University, Mr. Seda quickly placed himself in the musical elite, soon earning the principal trumpet chair in the FAMU Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, and the lead trumpet chair in the FAMU Jazz Ensemble. As a member of the world famous 'Marching 100' Mr. Seda served as trumpet section leader for two years, as well as being elected business manager, vice-president, and president in consecutive years.

Expanding beyond the walls of FAMU, Mr. Seda has performed in Paris, France, The Montreaux Jazz Festival in Montreaux, Switzerland and the North Seas Jazz Festival in The Haag, Holland. He has also performed in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Television and radio features are also to his credit as CNN displayed his talents in a television documentary on the life of jazz musician Jesse Stone. He has done studio sessions for television and radio commercials, as well as short films and movies. Mr. Seda also worked on the 20th Century Fox motion picture DRUMLINE as a music arranger, band organizer, instrumentalist, and actor extra.

Mr. Seda is in demand as a trumpet and band clinician and an adjudicator. He is also maintaining an active performance schedule, frequenting the jazz scene throughout the southeastern United States. Music has impacted and molded Mr. Seda's life, and he feels that he should share and expose his knowledge and experiences with his students so they may have the same opportunities. His educational philosophy is to foster a true understanding and appreciation of music by exposing his students to its many styles, therefore making them competitive and adaptive in any musical situation.

^ Back to Top

Bradley Ulrich
artist/clinician and conductor - 2005 festival

DR. P. BRADLEY ULRICH, Professor of Music, has been the Trumpet Professor at Western Carolina University since 1989. Dr. Ulrich received his Bachelor of Music Degree in Trumpet Performance from the Florida State University where he studied with Bryan Goff. His Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Trumpet Performance and Literature were awarded from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, where he studied with Ray Sasaki and Michael Tunnell. He has had additional lessons with Raymond Mase, George Vosburgh, Adolphe Herseth, James Thompson, Vincent DiMartino and Chrispian Steele Perkins.

Maintaining an active performing career, Dr. Ulrich is currently Principal Trumpet with the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra and Second Trumpet with the Asheville Symphony Orchestra. He has formerly held positions in the Greenville Symphony Orchestra (SC), Brevard Chamber Orchestra (Principal Trumpet), the Springfield Symphony Orchestra (IL), the Champaign-Urbana Symphony (IL), Sinfonia da Camera (IL), and the Cedar Falls Waterloo Symphony (IA). In addition to his orchestral experience he has performed numerous recitals across the United States, performed with the Smoky Mountain Brass Band, the areas finest brass quintets, and has also been a featured soloist with the Brevard Chamber Orchestra.

Dr. Ulrich has published a dozen articles in the International Trumpet Guild Journal and since 1999 he has been the Public Relations Director for ITG. He is an Artist/Clinician and member of the Product Advisory Council for the Jupiter Band Instrument Company.

^ Back to Top

Gordon Vernick
artist/clinician - 2005 festival

Dr. Gordon Vernick is associate professor of music and coordinator of Jazz Studies at Georgia State University. He holds a Bachelor of Music from Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY; a Master of Music in Education from the University of Miami, and a Doctor of Arts in Trumpet Performance and Jazz Pedagogy from the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley.

As a professional trumpet player, he has performed in all musical mediums from symphony orchestra to jazz quartet and has freelanced in Miami, New York, Denver, Kansas City and the Caribbean Islands. He is currently active in the southeastern United States as a clinician, adjudicator and freelance trumpet player.

As a jazz educator he is the past president of the Georgia Association of Jazz Educators, past chair of the International Association of Jazz Educators Curriculum Committee, and was recently appointed as the Southeast Coordinator of that organization. He was the Director of the NARAS Georgia Grammy High School Jazz Band from 1994 to 1999. He is the co-editor of the book Teaching Jazz: A Course Of Study, published by MENC. He recently co-wrote the college textbook, Jazz History Overview, published by Kendall-Hunt, which has been adopted by numerous universities around the country.

He is director of the GSU Faculty Jazztet which performs regularly in Atlanta area schools and has appeared at the Atlanta Jazz Festival, the Brasstown Music Festival, Oxford University Music Series and many other venues in the southeast. He has performed with such world renown jazz artists as Kenny Werner, Clare Fischer, John Hart, Kevin Hays, Conrad Herwig, Marc Copland, Randy Brecker, Paul McCandless and many others. The Jazztet was twice invited to perform in San Jose, Costa Rica by the Centro Cultural Costarricense-Norteamericano. During the summer of 2001 the Jazztet performed in Moscow, Russia at the Tribute to Willis Conover Jazz Festival and in March 2003 performed at Capitol University in Beijing, China. The group was invited to perform in November 2004 in Florianopolis, Brazil at the Curso e Colegio Bardal.

^ Back to Top

Artists and Conductors of the Atlanta Trumpet Festival

Artists and Conductors
of the Atlanta Trumpet Festival