Summer Faculty

Pedro Maia

Brazilian violinist Pedro Maia has played in some of the most prestigious venues throughout Asia, South America, and North America including Weill Hall at Carnegie, Sala São Paulo, and Seoul National Theater. Recently Maia made his Mexico debut soloing The Four Seasons by Piazzolla with the Orquesta Filarmonica Tlaxcalan. Maia is a founding member of Cosmos New Music ensemble, which had their Carnegie Hall debut at Weill Hall in 2018. He is also a member of Trio Riva, ensemble with which he travelled extensively in the US and Italy.

An active pedagogue as well, Maia has years of experience teaching students from diverse backgrounds. He maintains a private studio in Memphis, Tennessee and has been on the faculty of festivals in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, the United States, and Mexico. At Florida State University, he taught chamber music as well as technique classes for undergraduate students. For the Tallahassee Youth Orchestra, he coached precollege students and founded and directed TYO’s first camerata. Most recently he was appointed as violin faculty at Interlochen Summer Arts Camp. His private students and chamber groups have placed in competitions such as the NOLA Chamber Fest and Charleston International Competition.

Pedro has performed with some of the leading conductors in the world including Paul Tortelier, Ira Levin, Kurt Mazur, and Emil Tabakov. His orchestral and chamber music engagements has brought collaborations with artists such as Shlomo Mintzs, Itzhak Perlman, Roberto Diaz, Yo-Yo Ma, Albrecht Mayer, Giles Apap, among others.

Maia holds a doctoral degree and a master’s degree in violin performance from Florida State University and a bachelor’s degree in violin performance from the University of Southern Mississippi. Currently, he is an Iris Fellow for Iris Orchestra, under the direction of Michael Stern. His principal teachers have included Erich Lehninger, Katia Andrade, Nadia Nedialkova, and Shannon Thomas.
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Hannah MacLean

Violinist Hannah Ruth MacLean is an avid performer of solo, chamber, and orchestral music and has performed throughout the United States and Canada. As a chamber musician, Hannah has collaborated with Rachel Barton Pine, Philip Chiu, Marina Thibeault, David Kalhous, Lambert Chen, Paul Zafer, and Julie Trudeau, and she is a founding member of the Cheng-MacLean Duo. Hannah serves as the Principal Second Violinist of the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, and regularly performs as a secMon violinist of the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, the Venice Symphony, Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, and Sinfonia Gulf Coast. She served as concertmaster of the Florida State University Symphony Orchestra during its 2020-2021 season and she was the winner of the 2021 Doctoral Concerto CompeMMon at Florida State University, performing the Sibelius Violin Concerto. Most recently, the Cheng-MacLean Duo made its debut at Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall in May of 2022.

Hannah has appeared at numerous summer fesMvals, including Bowdoin InternaMonal Music FesMval, Domaine Forget InternaMonal Music FesMval, Northwestern Summer Violin InsMtute, and Camp Musical des LaurenMdes. She has performed in masterclasses for esteemed violinists Midori Goto, Noah Bendix-Balgley, Ilya Kaler, Rachel Barton Pine, Paul Kantor, MarMn Chalifour, and Régis Pasquier.

As a dedicated pedagogue, Hannah taught undergraduate violinists and coached chamber music ensembles at Florida State University. She served as the first violin secMonal coach in the Tallahassee Youth Orchestras, and she maintains a private studio. Her students have been finalists in regional concerto compeMMons and have been awarded leadership roles in youth orchestras. In the summers, Hannah serves as arMst-faculty for the TuY Chamber Music Summer FesMval Program in Wheaton, Illinois.

Hannah holds a Doctorate of Music in Violin Performance from Florida State University, where she was a graduate teaching assistant to Dr. Shannon Thomas. She completed her Master of Music in Violin Performance from the Schulich School of Music at McGill University and a Bachelor of Music EducaMon from Wheaton College. Her primary teachers include Dr. Shannon Thomas, Violaine Melançon, Felicia Moye, and Paul Zafer.
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Andrea Beltran Landers

Andrea Beltran Landers is a passionate chamber and orchestral musician with extensive teaching experience in cello and chamber music. She is founding member of the Kahlo Quartet, which was nominated for the XI Pepsi Music Awards in Venezuela in 2023. As a member of this ensemble, Andrea has performed in various outreach and interactive recitals, and received special training in the 2019 Audience Engagement Intensive at Carnegie Hall. One of the goals of the Kahlo Quartet is to bring high quality chamber music performances to communities and create new audiences for classical music.

Andrea’s teaching experience spans over fifteen years. She is comfortable teaching at all levels: from young beginners who are learning the basics of the instrument to college level students who need guidance with the most complex aspects of cello playing. Andrea has taught at the graduate and undergraduate level at William Carey University, and is currently adjunct cello instructor at University of South Alabama. As a guest lecturer, Andrea has recently taught in the last three editions of Cellobration at University of Alabama, and the 2021 Bienal de Violoncello hosted by the Universidad Nacional de Música del Perú. In addition to running a healthy private cello studio, Andrea is Education Instructor with the Mobile Symphony Education Program. Andrea is excited to return to the faculty of Prizm this year.

As an orchestral musician, Andrea has performed extensively in the orchestras of the Gulf Coast region of the United States. She is a member of the Mobile Symphony Orchestra, Assistant Principal Cello of Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, and was appointed Principal Cello of the Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra in 2023. She has worked under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel, Benjamin Zander, and Apo Hsu, to mention a few.

Andrea holds a doctorate in Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Southern Mississippi. She also received a master’s degree from this institution, and a bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University. Her main teachers include Annika Petrozzi Helasvuo, Moises Molina, and Alexander Russakovsky.
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Delara Hashemi

Delara Hashemi is Acting Second Flute of the Memphis Symphony for the 2023-2024 season and has been since 2018, she is freelance artist, and teacher in the Mid-South region. She plays with the Memphis Symphony Woodwind Quintet, and plays in the Blueshift Ensemble, Shear Winds, Gemini Duo and River City Flute Quartet.

Ms. Hashemi is currently pursuing her Doctorate in flute performance at the University of Memphis where she studies flute with Associate Professor Elise Blatchford, and also holds a degree from the University of Central Oklahoma where she studied with Professor Dr. Emily Butterfield.
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Kelsey Paquin

Dr. Kelsey Paquin is a vibrant performer whose passion and clear musical vision engages audiences in an authentic way. Her joy for music has taken her around the world, having performed throughout the United States and Europe, including the Czech Republic, Austria, and Italy, most notably at Terme Milano and Casa Verdi in Milan and Dvořák Hall in Prague. She is Assistant Principal clarinet of the Shoals Symphony Orchestra and has appeared with Panama City Pops Orchestra, Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, Winston Salem Symphony, Western Piedmont Symphony, Piedmont Wind Symphony, Greensboro Opera, and American Wind Symphony Orchestra.

Dr. Paquin is Assistant Professor of Music (Clarinet) at University of North Alabama and has served as Adjunct Applied Faculty in Clarinet at Troy University and Teaching Assistant in Clarinet at Florida State University. She has appeared as lecturer and clinician at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Virginia Commonwealth University, Kutztown University, Stetson University, Florida A&M University, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Furman University, Tennessee Tech University, Chicago State University, and University of Central Arkansas.

Dr. Paquin’s current research focuses on the clarinet works of Indian composer John Mayer. As a recipient of the Presser Graduate Music Award, she recently traveled to Kolkata, India to continue this research. Her research has resulted in a publication in the International Clarinet Association’s journal, The Clarinet, and lectures and recitals at ClarinetFest (2021 and 2022), The University of Alabama-Birmingham Clarinet Symposium, and various universities. Dr. Paquin holds a Doctor of Music degree from Florida State University, a Master of Music degree from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a Bachelor of Music degree from Ithaca College, and has studied at G. Verdi Conservatorio di Musica in Milan, Italy. Her primary teachers include Deborah Bish, Jonathan Holden, Anthony Taylor, Kelly Burke, Michael Galván, Luigi Magistrelli, David Sapadin, and Miriam Lockhart.

Dr. Paquin is a member of the International Clarinet Association, College Music Society, National Federation for Music Educators, Alabama Music Educators Association, and International Society for Music Education.
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Rachel Frederiksen

Rachel Frederiksen is an in-demand bassoonist and educator who is based in Fayetteville, Arkansas. As a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player, she performs across the United States and abroad. As a teacher and pedagogue, she has educated many bassoonists in university masterclasses, camps, conferences, and lessons, and previously held positions at the University of Alabama and the University of Texas at San Antonio as Lecturer of Bassoon. Her current position is Teaching Assistant Professor of Bassoon at the University of Arkansas.

As a soloist, Rachel performed her Tour of South America recital at the 2022 International Double Reed Society in Boulder, CO and in San Germán, Puerto Rico at the Puerto Rico Center for Collaborative Piano Festival where she served as a guest artist and faculty member. She also performed the world premiere of the wind band transcription of the Weber Bassoon Concerto in May 2021 with the Heart of Texas Concert Band. As a recording artist, Rachel can be heard on Ricardo Lorenz’s chamber CD, Open Borders, which was released in December 2020. The piece that features her on the CD is ‘Tendril Rapture’ a piece written for oboe, bassoon, and piano as part of a commissioning project that was funded through a grant award from the 2019 MSU Running Start Entrepreneurship Competition. Currently, Rachel is in the editing stage of her recent recording project of the consortium piece Rude Moods, an unaccompanied bassoon suite by Aaron Houston.

In demand as an orchestral musician, Rachel served as Principal Bassoon with the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra for 2022-2023 season. She previously served as a section bassoonist of the Symphony of the Hills orchestra for the 2021-2022 season as well as guest appearances with many other ensembles including Victoria Symphony and SA Harmonia. As a chamber musician, she has performed regularly at festivals and venues throughout the United States including International Double Reed Society conferences, MegQuigley Bassoon Symposium, and the Memphis International Prizm Chamber Ensemble Festival.

As a researcher and academic, Rachel is actively investigating the life and works of German composer Emilie Mayer, and keenly transcribing her violin sonatas to be performable on bassoon. She also focuses on undergraduate teaching techniques and student learning in higher education in both private bassoon lessons and classroom teaching. While at MSU, Rachel was a part of a team of researchers and artists from the Michigan State University Residential College of Arts and Humanities (RCAH) Fellowship Program. Their project, titled ‘Love the Learner,’ investigates professor/student relationships and their effects on student learning. The preliminary findings show that developing deeper connections with students, having student input on class structure and topics, and having clear personal and work boundaries allow for positive learning environments. Rachel has delivered presentations and masterclasses at universities and festivals internationally including the 2022 IDRS conference, PRCCP, and 2021 MegQuigley Bassoon Symposium, Columbus State University, Memphis University, and the University of Southern Mississippi, among many others.

​ ​Dr. Rachel Frederiksen completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Michigan State University. She holds a Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music Education degrees from Texas Lutheran University and a Master of Music and Master of Music Education degrees from Baylor University, where she was inducted into the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Fraternity. When she is not busy teaching, performing, or reed-making, you can find Rachel hanging out with her friends or helping her parents with their many basset hounds and cats in their home in Texas. ​
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Maya Stone

Maya Stone is a faith-filled, Black female classical musician, creator, performer, educator and health coach. Her creative output is filtered through that personal and professional lens.

For the 2023-2024 orchestral season, Maya Stone is excited to join the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra in Florida as Second Bassoon for a one-year, full-time contract. She is the tenured 2nd bassoonist of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra in AL and a bassoonist with the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra. She regularly gives recitals and/or leads masterclasses around the U.S. each year.

Maya Stone is frequently engaged as a freelance musician all over the country. She enjoys performing in several capacities. In addition to playing with several orchestras, she loves serving as a member of Nashville alternative classical ensemble, chatterbird. She has also been fortunate to perform with the new music groups Bang On A Can and Alarm Will Sound for some engagements. And, 2023 is her second year serving as faculty at the Bang On A Can Summer Festival at Mass Moca in North Adams, MA.

Dr. Stone received her D.M.A. in bassoon performance from the University of Texas at Austin in 2010 (Kristin Wolfe Jensen), an M.M. in bassoon performance and woodwind specialty from Michigan State University in 2003 (Barrick Stees), and a B.M. in music education (minor in Africana Studies) from SUNY Potsdam in 2001 (Frank Wangler). She has held multiple teaching positions, including visiting professorships at the University of Missouri in Columbia and Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Dr. Stone was the Assistant Professor of Bassoon at Middle Tennessee State University for 7 years, and in 2004, she held a visiting professorship in Double Reeds at Austin Peay State University. She currently maintains an active teaching schedule, where she focuses on developing the musicianship and life skills of young people.

As a musical entrepreneur, she founded the Negus (nēɡəs) Bassoon Ensemble, an ensemble of all-Black bassoonists dedicated to presenting Classical works by Black composers from the present and 100+ years back. She also performs with the Rushes Ensemble, a group of seven bassoonists which premiered, recorded, and tours, composer Michael Gordon’s hour- long work "Rushes."

Other creative and entrepreneurial collaborations include working with spoken word artist, Stephanie Pruitt-Gaines. Together, they created a set of pieces titled "Peace Like a River." A previous project, Solo Bassoon in Black Gospel Music, features the bassoon as gospel soloist with piano. She engaged composers Raymond Wise, Mark Lomax II and William Menefield, and premiered 3 works in 2012 at the International Double Reed Conference. Stone has commissioned and/or premiered several works by living composers throughout the years.

Dr. Stone is a public speaker and educator. Her voice projects from a personal connection of mental, spiritual and physical healing and health. These three focal points are all connected, and benefit from alignment. Her discourse is filled with experience, persistence, hopefulness and a desire for growth. Through her development over the years, Maya has cultivated a flexible perspective. This perspective continues to challenge and be challenged by the world we live in. This informs her approach to speaking and pedagogy. As a Health Coach, Maya helps Black Women in Classical Music struggling with IBS symptoms and anxiety to soothe their gut and overcome feelings of anxiousness. She is passionate about this work and supporting Black Women who share similar experiences in her field.

Active behind the scenes with several musical organizations, Maya previously served on the Regional Orchestra Players Association (ROPA) Executive Board as a Member At Large from 2015 to 2019. She also served as the ROPA Delegate, Alternate Delegate and Orchestra Committee Chair, for the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Players Association.

Maya enjoys exploring matters of health and wellness. She loves walking other peoples dogs and dancing out loud.
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Jennifer Oliverio

Dr. Jennifer Oliverio is a celebrated cornet and flugelhorn player who holds the positions of principal cornet with the Fountain City Brass Band and flugelhorn with the Athena Brass Band. Jen is currently the Assistant Professor of Music in trumpet at Missouri Western State University and one of the directors for the Fountain City Youth Brass Academy.

As an avid supporter of new music for cornet and flugelhorn, Jen has commissioned and premiered solo works by composers like Lucy Pankhurst, Dorothy Gates, Kevin Day, and Andrea Hobson for her premiere solo album Enigma. Her work on Enigma received overwhelmingly positive reviews and was nominated for the 4barsrest Album of the Year, a silver medal in the Global Music Awards, and winner of the 2023 American Prize in brass performance. Jen is on the board of directors for the Fountain City Brass Band, the Athena Brass Band, the Visionary Panel for the National Youth Brass Band of America, and serves as the column editor for the International Trumpet Guild’s cornet column.

As a freelance musician, Jen has performed as an extra with the Kansas City Symphony, the Kansas City Ballet, the Alabama Symphony and is a founding member of the Trilogy Brass Trio.
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Nairam Simoes

Originally hailing from Brazil, Nairam Simoes has established himself as an award-winning trumpet artist and currently holds the position of Assistant Professor of Trumpet at Arkansas State University. His diverse international career spans performance, music education, and clinician roles. Cited by the International Trumpet Guild (ITG) for his "virtuosity and musicality," Simoes has collaborated with distinguished ensembles, including the Arkansas Symphony, Memphis Symphony, and Fountain City Brass Band.

Simoes's recorded work, specifically the album "Braziliana" released under the Fundamental Sounds label, has garnered international acclaim, earning a silver medal in the Global Music Awards. Within the academic realm, he assumes the role of editor for the Orchestral Spotlight Column in the International Trumpet Guild Journal, contributing numerous interviews with prominent orchestral trumpet players.

At Arkansas State University, Dr. Simoes oversees a thriving trumpet program, guiding students to acceptance in premier graduate programs and successful careers in performance and music education across various educational levels. His trumpet ensembles have achieved distinction, being acknowledged as one of the top student chamber ensembles globally by the ITG. Dr. Simoes holds a Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) from the University of Cincinnati College- Conservatory of Music, a Master of Music (M.M.) degree from the University of Massachusetts- Amherst, and a Bachelor of Music (B.M.) from the University of Memphis. He proudly aligns with esteemed affiliations such as S.E. Shires, Torpedo Bags, Robison Remedies, and Fundamental Sounds. For more detailed information, please visit www.nairamsimoes.com
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Martin McCain

A third-generation musician, Martin McCain’s career spans an impressive range of musical genres. As an ambassador of the bass trombone, Martin maintains a versatile performance schedule as a soloist, recording artist, chamber, orchestral, jazz/commercial musician and educator. He is a four-time winner of the Global Music Awards and was featured as their “Emerging Artist” in Billboard magazine, with performances described as "solid and masterful," (International Trombone Association Journal) with a “warm and beautiful,” tone (Glissando Magazine).

McCain’s performances include concerts at Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, Croatian National Theatre and others. His performances have been broadcast on CNN’s Juneteenth: A Global Celebration of Freedom, Radio Television Hong Kong and NPR's "Performance Today”.

  As a recording artist, Martin has released four CDs, Renew (2021), Trombone Czar: The Extended Version (2015), Shades (2014), and Trombone Czar: Russian Treasures Recorded Live! (2012). He can be heard on RCA Records, Motown Records, Atlantic Records, Summit Records and numerous film and videogame soundtracks. As a soloist, Martin has performed with the Croatian Army Wind Band, United States Army Concert Band "Pershing's Own", the United States Army Brass Quintet, Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra, Kingsville Symphony Orchestra Youth Orchestras of San Antonio, and the Balcones Chamber Orchestra. 

As an orchestral musician, McCain is a member of the IRIS Collective, Gateways Music Festival Orchestra and regularly performs with the orchestras of Memphis, San Antonio and Austin. He has also been invited to be guest bass trombone with numerous top-tier orchestras including the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Utah Symphony Orchestra, among others. As a chamber musician, Martin is a member of the Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass and regularly performs with his wife, pianist Artina McCain as the McCain Duo.

As a jazz/commercial musician, McCain is the leader of the award-winning Austin based jazz trombone ensemble, JazzBonez. He has performed with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Frank Sinatra Jr. Orchestra and several Broadway shows including recent tours of Ain’t Too Proud, Tina, and Hello Dolly. Martin has also collaborated with a number of legendary artists such as Earth Wind and Fire, Roberta Flack, Bel Biv Devoe, Jon Batiste, Chaka Khan, Ne-Yo, Robert Glasper, The Roots, Lenny Williams, the Temptations and the Four Tops.

In the 2023-24 season, Martin’s engagements include performances in London, Colombia, Chicago, Iowa, and Washington. A passionate advocate of creating new trombone repertoire, McCain has commissioned and arranged works that are becoming standard in the canon. These works include his own arrangements of Weber/Rachmaninov, Jack Wilds’ Leviathan for trombone ensemble and Marcus Wilcher’s Shades (international solo competition repertoire). 

In fall 2023, Dr. McCain will join the faculty at the University of Memphis Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music. Martin previously held similar positions at Texas State University, Henderson State University and Huston-Tillotson University. Dr. McCain’s students have also been extremely successful in solo and ensemble competitions including those hosted by the International Trombone Association, the American Trombone Workshop, and the Big 12 Trombone Conference and are regular winners of university concerto competitions. In recognition of his teaching, Martin received the College Achievement Award in Teaching and the Presidential Distinction Award for Excellence in Teaching. His students have been accepted into some of the nation's most prestigious graduate programs such as the Juilliard School, Eastman School of Music, Yale University, Northwestern University, Manhattan School of Music and the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Dr. McCain’s students have also performed with the Boston Pops, Cincinnati Symphony, Houston Symphony and U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors. In addition to his duties at Texas State, Martin has spent summers on the faculty of the Interharmony International Music Festival (Italy), the SliderAsia Music Festival (Hong Kong) and the English Brass Academy (Croatia).

McCain received his Bachelor of Music degree with a business minor at the University of Southern Mississippi, a Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Martin McCain is a performing artist for S.E. Shires, Reunion Blues Gig Bags and plays on the "McCain" signature mouthpiece series manufactured by Pickett Brass. In his spare time, Martin is an avid BBQ pitmaster and sports enthusiast.

For more information, visit www.martinmccain.com.
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Dunwoody Mirvil

Dunwoody Mirvil is Assistant Professor of Trombone at the School of Music at Stetson University. Prior to his appointment at Stetson, Mirvil was Director of Trombone at Florida Memorial University (Miami, Fla.) and Assistant Professor of Low Brass at Southeastern University (Lakeland, Fla.), a position in which he instructed students of trombone, euphonium, and tuba. His experience as an educator also includes a term as Director of Bands at Amos P. Godby High School in Tallahassee, Fla., and consistent work as a resident clinician.

As an active performer, Dr. Mirvil is currently second trombonist of the Colour of Music Festival Orchestra. His performance resume includes several ensembles throughout North Florida and South Georgia, including the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia Gulf Coast Orchestra, Albany Symphony Orchestra and the Tallahassee Winds, in which he was a guest soloist several times. His work as an accomplished soloist includes performances with The Jazz Ambassadors – United States Army & Field Band as well as The Maneuver Center of Excellence (MCoE) Army Brass Band of Ft. Benning, Ga.

On a global stage, Dunwoody has performed on multiple occasions at the International Trombone Festival, appearing with the Cramer Choir, Southeast Trombone Symposium Professors Choir, and the Lift Every Voice Trombone Choir, an ensemble comprised of select minority trombone professionals and professors across the U.S. He has performed as a featured soloist with the theatrical stage production, “DRUMLine Live!” during its 13-city tour of Japan.

Dunwoody’s research interests center on equipping educators and students with practical techniques to overcome common challenges of the trombone. He demonstrated a commitment to this by co-authoring a chapter on trombone pedagogy in Teaching Instrumental Music: Perspectives and Pedagogies for the 21 st Century (August 2023), a textbook published by Oxford University Press as a resource for prospective and current music educators nationwide. Additionally, his treatise, entitled Dr. Nathaniel O. Brickens: His Pedagogy, Career, and Influence on Trombone Performers and Educators, is cited in the International Trombone Association Journal Vol. 50, Issue #3 (July 2022) and being used by several trombone professors as a blueprint for developing and maintaining a reputable trombone studio.

Dr. Mirvil has also presented clinics and masterclasses throughout the United States. Most notably, he has given presentations at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the Florida Music Education Association’s Professional Development Conference, the Georgia Music Education Association’s Professional Development Conference, the 22 nd Annual North Carolina Trombone Festival, and countless other venues. He recently shared his presentation entitled “Dotting the I’s and Crossing the T’s: Developing the Effectual Habits of an Intentional Trombonist” at the Louisiana Music Educators Association’s Professional Development Conference.

Dunwoody is an adjudicator for the Florida Bandmasters Association, a member of the International Trombone Association, Florida Music Education Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity of America, Inc., Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society for Education, and a McKnight Fellowship recipient. Dr. Mirvil is also an endorsed Performing Artist for Conn-Selmer, Inc., and has two signature mouthpieces with Giddings Mouthpieces.
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Juan Valdez

Juan Sebastian Valdez was born in Anaheim, California and moved to OregonJuan Sebastian Valdez was born in Anaheim, California and moved to Oregon with his parents when he was 7. At age 11, he began playing the tuba on the recommendation of his middle school band teacher who was short on low brass players. By age of 13, Valdez was actively involved in music at school, but soon faced an impossible choice: giving up the tuba forever to remain with his parents who were returning back to Mexico, or remaining in the US to pursue a life focused on making music. Valdez made the tough decision to separate from his family and remain in the states. He lived with his childhood best friend so he could pursue an education in the United States. Valdez’s gamble would pay off as his work ethic led to great success.

Valdez won 3rd place in the Young Artist Competition at the Northwest Regional Tuba/Euphonium Conference (NWRTEC). In addition, Valdez was a part of the Ducktet, a tuba and euphonium quartet at the University of Oregon, that received 1st place in the Quartet Competition at the NWRTEC. Valdez has performed with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Eugene Symphony Orchestra, the Salem (OR) Symphony Orchestra, and has been invited to play with Vancouver (WA) Symphony Orchestra.

Valdez is an active performer and teacher. He has given master classes at Mississippi State University, Colorado State University, and at the University of Memphis. Valdez currently plays in the Bluff City Brass Quintet in Memphis, Tennessee where they focus on playing diverse repertoire and educational outreach. Valdez played with a Mexican Banda ensemble in Memphis, TN on sousaphone and has performed throughout the city of Memphis in public venues. Valdez has done non-profit work as a Teaching Artist at Memphis Music Initiative, an organization that invests in youth development through transformative music engagement, creating equitable opportunities for black and brown youth in Memphis. In addition, Valdez is currently on faculty at PRIZM Ensemble which builds a diverse community through chamber music education, youth development, and performance.

Valdez teaches at Overton High School for the Creative and Performing Arts as a Band Director in Memphis, TN, as well as having a private studio in the Memphis area. His students have placed in local honor bands.
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Mark Bonner

Lauded as an energetic and musical conductor, Dr. Mark Bonner, Jr. is an accomplished musician from Memphis, TN. Serving as an assistant professor at the University of Central Missouri and Corps Director of the Memphis Blues Drum Corps during the summer, Dr. Bonner is in high demand as a musician, conductor, and arranger for some of the most recognizable ensembles in the country including the World Youth Wind Symphony, UMKC Conservatory, Blue Springs Golden Regiment, the Penn State Band of Blue, and Louisiana State University. Dr. Bonner's music is performed worldwide, has been featured internationally on ESPN, showcased by the prominent cast members of "The Office,” and was recently part of a collection of works nominated for a Grammy Award in Music.

During the year, Dr. Bonner teaches courses in graduate conducting, music literature, high school music education, instrumentation, and aural theory at the University of Central Missouri. Mark also makes music with the student musicians in the Symphonic Band and the music ensembles relating to the athletics program, including the Marching Mules and UCM Basketball Pep Band. Dr. Bonner has arranged 45 works for the ensemble at UCM, including the UCM Wind Ensemble and Orchestra. While at UCM, Mark has kindly been asked to guest concert on concert with the Warrensburg Community Band, UCM Orchestra, Jazz Band, and Wind Ensemble.

Inspired by Steven D. Davis, his mentor during his Doctorate at UMKC Conservatory, Mark regularly spends his summers inspired by the students at the Interlochen Arts Camp (IAC). Mark has worked as an ensemble manager for the World Youth Wind Symphony and has conducted concerts with the IAC Intermediate Band (Middle School) and the IAC Junior Band (ages 9-11). At UMKC Conservatory, Mark had the opportunity to arrange multiple pieces for Wind Ensemble and Chamber Ensemble. As a guest conductor for the Conservatory Wind Symphony and Conservatory Wind Ensemble and principal conductor of the UMKC Saxophone Ensemble, Mark worked with some of the finest musicians in the country.

Mark holds a Master of Music degree in Wind Conducting from Louisiana State University, where he studied conducting with Damon Talley and Dennis Llinas and euphonium with Joseph Skillen. As a member of the LSU Band Staff, Mark performed in the LSU Wind Ensemble during their 2019 CBDNA tour. Mark also had the responsibility of guest conducting on concerts presented by the LSU, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Winds, and Symphonic Band. LSU's elite athletic band programs allowed Mark to arrange for and work with the Bengal Brass Pep Band and the Sudler-winning Golden Band from Tigerland. Mark also regularly performed with the LSU Brass Band, Tuba- Euphonium Ensemble, and the Four-Guys Tuba Quartet.

Before attending LSU, Mark was the Director of Bands at Cordova High School and Cordova Middle School in Cordova, TN. He grew the band from 40 members to 220 and guided the program in receiving superior ratings at all concerts, marching, and jazz festivals. Mark served as a clinician, music arranger, and musician in the Memphis area as a member of Big Band Swing, Mt. Moriah East Gospel Choir, and the Memphis Wind Symphony on trumpet, trombone, and euphonium, respectively.

Mark earned his Bachelor of Music in Music Education at the University of Memphis, where he studied euphonium under Dr. Kevin Sanders and music education under Dr. Albert Nguyen and Dr. Armand Hall. While attending the University of Memphis, Mark was a drum major, trombone section leader, euphonium section leader, and student arranger for the Mighty Sound of the South Marching Band. Mark served as Vice President and a Founding Member of the Theta Lambda Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, as well as Fraternal Education Officer of the Theta Rho Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Mark was a member of the Bottomline Tuba Ensemble as a euphonium soloist and music arranger on multiple CDs released on Spotify and iTunes. Mark was also a member of the “iTuba” Quartet, which competed as finalists for the International ITEA Chamber Ensemble Competition in 2012 and 2013. Mark holds membership in the National Association for Music Education, Tennessee Music Education Association, West TN School Band and Orchestra Association, Kappa Kappa Psi, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Tau Beta Nu.
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