Originally from Philadelphia, William Takacs joined the faculty of West Texas A&M University in the spring of 2002. Prior to his appointment at WTAMU, he was instructor of trumpet at the University of West Georgia. He has also served as Artist-in Residence as a member of the Skyline Brass at Iowa State University, Drake University, Grinnell...
Read More
Alan Wenger is Assistant Professor of Music at Central Missouri State University. He held prior faculty positions at Amarillo College (Texas) and Midland Lutheran College (Nebraska). A native of Omaha, Nebraska, Dr. Wenger’s education includes a Bachelor of Music Degree (1988) in Trumpet Performance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, graduate studies at Boston University, and...
Read More
Currently on a two-year leave of absence from his position at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Ramon Vasquez is finishing up the requirements for a DMA in Trumpet Performance from the University of Minnesota studying under Dr. David Baldwin. While in Minneapolis, Ramon has been sought after as a freelance musician playing with the top Rock,...
Read More
Michael Valasek graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and has been an educator, concert/clinic artist, and performer throughout his career. Mike has represented, produced and managed acts on a national and international level. Now living in Sarasota, FL Mike performs with The Sarasota Jazz Project, The First Brass...
Read More
Born into a musical family in 1963, at the age of five Jeff was given his first cornet for Christmas. The heavily used cornet would be the instrument Jeff would teach himself to play, thus beginning his life-long passion. When his parents recognized his dedication towards practice as well as his growing ability, they bought...
Read More
J.D. Chaisson is a Pittsburgh based freelance trumpet player. Though originally from the New England area, J.D. chose to attend Duquesne University (Pittsburgh, PA) where he completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Jazz Performance. While at Duquesne, J.D. studied with Sean Jones and Mike Tomaro. Currently, J.D. is one of the most sought after...
Read More
Graham Ashton was born in London and trained at the Royal Academy of Music. Now a US citizen, he has been Professor of Trumpet and Chair of Brass at Purchase College, State University of New York since 1999. As a soloist, he has appeared with orchestras around the world including the BBC Symphony with Sir...
Read More
Iskander Akhmadullin, Associate Professor of Trumpet at the University of Missouri holds degrees from the Kazan Music College, the Moscow Conservatory, and the University of North Texas. His major teachers were Abbas Slashkin, Vadim Novikov, Leonard Candelaria, and Keith Johnson. Dr. Akhmadullin has performed in several professional orchestras in Russia and the United States and...
Read More
ClayJenkins’ career as a performer began at an early age playing with the Stan Kenton Orchestra in 1977-78. He moved to Los Angeles in 1978 and from there he toured with the Buddy Rich Band, and the Count Basie Orchestra. Since moving to Rochester, NY, to join the Eastman faculty in 2000, Clay has remained...
Read More