Jonathan Bhatia is a Yamaha Performing Artist, the Lecturer of Trumpet at the University of Nevada, Reno Department of Music, and the Second Trumpet of the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra. Jonathan has performed in various venues and competitions across the globe. He was a prizewinner at the International Prize Competition in Tuscany, Italy, a featured artist at the International Trumpet Guild Conference in Hershey, PA and a contributing artist at the International Horn Symposium in Natal, Brazil.
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As a founding member of the Alias Brass Company, Jonathan can be found making numerous performance and masterclass appearances around the world. In addition to regularly performing with the Alias Brass Company, Jonathan has performed with the Houston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Brass, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Classical Tahoe Orchestra, Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, All-Star Brass, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass, Orchestra Santa Monica, Brazos Valley Symphony, Symphony of Southeast Texas, Columbus Ballet, Great Basin Brass Quintet, and the Southeast Symphony. He has also held positions with the Young Musicians Foundation Debut Orchestra as their tenured Principal Trumpet, the American Youth Symphony as their second trumpet, and was fortunate enough to play alongside Icelandic composer Johann Johannsson in a live performance of “The Miners’ Hymn” which was featured in the Los Angeles Times’ List of the Best 25 Classical Moments of 2014. As a recording artist, Jonathan has been featured on National Public Radio, can be heard playing on various films and albums including the animated feature film Duck Duck Goose, Jens Lindemann’s album ‘Northern Lights’ and various recorded performances on his YouTube channel he shares with hornist Natalie Brooke Higgins, the BrassHaus Network.
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Jonathan’s flair for trumpet solo performance has earned him numerous appearances with ensembles of varying scope and size. Jonathan was featured as a soloist with the University of California, Los Angeles’ Philharmonia, the Debut Orchestra for their 60th Gala Celebration, and the Soul of the City Concert Series in Beaumont, TX with the Lamar University Brass Ensemble.
As a college professor, Jonathan educates undergraduate and graduate music performance, and music education trumpet students weekly through applied lessons, studio classes, and chamber ensembles. Prior to his appointment at the University of Nevada, Reno, Jonathan held the position of Instructor of Music in Trumpet at Lamar University, a Texas State University.
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Jonathan Bhatia holds two degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles where he studied with Jens Lindemann and Tom Hooten. Additional mentors include Mark Hughes and Rob Roy McGregor.
Jonathan is a founding member of the Alias Brass Company.
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For more information please visit Jonathan's website at www.jonbhatia.com.
Dr. T.J. Tesh is among the newest members of the School of Music faculty at The University of Southern Mississippi, having assumed his position as the Assistant Professor of Trumpet in August of 2016. T.J. relocated to Mississippi after an exciting and successful career as a freelance trumpeter and music educator in the Los Angeles area. Dr. Tesh is a Yamaha Performing Artist and Pickett Brass Artist, and has enjoyed an eclectic performance career, having performed with music legends like Stevie Wonder, Natalie Cole, Patti Austin, Take 6, Quincy Jones, Dave Koz, Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, the San Diego Symphony Orchestra and many others. Prior to leaving Los Angeles, T.J. recorded, toured and performed around the globe for three years as a member of the internationally-celebrated brass quintet, Presidio Brass. Dr. Tesh has also toured and performed throughout the United States and Canada with Victory Brass, the Southern Arts Brass Quintet, and with Mel Brooks’ Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, The Producers, where he served as principal trumpet. T.J. is a current member of the Alias Brass Company, principal trumpet in the Meridian Symphony, acting principal trumpet in the Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra, and served as Guest Principal Trumpet last season in the Mobile Symphony. T.J.’s debut solo recording, Adaptations for Trumpet, was released in November of 2017.
T.J. received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Trumpet Performance and Music Education from The University of Southern California in 2012, having previously completed his Master of Music in Trumpet Performance at The University of Kentucky in 2004 and his Bachelor of Arts in Music at Mars Hill College in 2002.
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For more information please visit TJ’s website at www.tjtesh.com.
Natalie Brooke Higgins, is an active performer, educator, administrator, and entrepreneur located in Reno, Nevada. She currently holds the positions of hornist and founding member of both the BrassHaus Network and the Alias Brass Company, affiliate artist with the Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass, media coordinator for the International Horn Competition of America, and Assistant Professor of Horn at the University of Nevada, Reno. Based on her innovative achievements, service to her community, and commitment to inspire the next generation of musicians and music educators, she has been recognized as one of Georgia Trend Magazine’s 40 under 40 honorees, a feature that celebrates the best and brightest in business, government, nonprofits, education, healthcare, banking, and professional sports.
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As a performer, Natalie has been featured in concert series and clinics across the country, has been a featured artist at the International Trumpet Guild Conference in Hershey, PA, and has participated as a contributing artist at the International Horn Symposium in Natal, Brazil. She is a prizewinner of the International Winds, Brass, and Percussion Enkor Competition, winner of both the Music Teacher’s National Association State and Regional Young Artist Brass Competitions, and finalist of the National Round, and winner of the St. Louis Artist Presentation Series. Natalie has also performed with such ensembles as the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, South Dakota Symphony, Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, Southwest Florida Symphony, Symphony of Southeast Texas, Macon Pops, St. Joseph Symphony, American Festival Orchestra, Banff Festival Orchestra, and Columbus Symphony Orchestra.
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As an educator, Natalie has instructed and adjudicated throughout North America. In addition to her current University post, she has held the positions of Assistant Professor of Horn at the Columbus State University Schwob School of Music, Adjunct Professor of horn and high brass methods at Missouri Western State University. Natalie was a featured artist at Lamar University's Brass Festival, Southeast Missouri State’s Horn Day, and has given clinics and performances at such workshops as the International Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, Missouri Music Educators Association Conference, Oklahoma Horn Day, Southeast Horn Workshop, and the Western Horn Workshop.
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As an administrator and artistic innovator, Natalie co-founded the Schwob Summer Music Festival, the Kansas City Horn Club, and has held positions as the George Mason University Symphony Orchestra and Library Manager, The Gluck Foundation Chamber Music Program Coordinator, and the Gluck Foundation Music Partnership Coordinator.
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Natalie received her Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance, Masters of Music from George Mason University, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles. She has studied with many internationally recognized and accomplished brass performers and teachers, among them Martin Hackleman, Chris Cooper, Brian O’Connor, Pete Nowlen, Jens Lindemann, and Patrick Sheridan.
Dunwoody Mirvil is Assistant Professor of Trombone at Stetson University’s School of Music, where he leads trombone instruction and mentor students in both music education and performance. Prior to his appointment at Stetson, Dr. Mirvil served as Director of Trombone at Florida Memorial University and as Assistant Professor of Low Brass at Southeastern University, where he taught trombone, euphonium, and tuba. His teaching background also includes work as Director of Bands at Amos P. Godby High School in Tallahassee and ongoing service as a resident clinician.
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An active performer, Dr. Mirvil is second trombonist with the Colour of Music Festival Orchestra and has appeared with ensembles across North Florida and South Georgia, including the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia Gulf Coast Orchestra, and Albany Symphony Orchestra. He has been a guest soloist with the Tallahassee Winds and has performed with the U.S. Army Field Band’s Jazz Ambassadors and the Maneuver Center of Excellence Army Brass Band at Fort Benning. He is also the trombonist for the Alias Brass Quintet, a chamber group of university artist-scholars known for dynamic performances that span classical, jazz, pop, and crossover genres.
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Internationally, Dr. Mirvil has made multiple appearances at the International Trombone Festival, performing with the ITF All-Star Trombone Choir alongside distinguished professors and professional trombonists from around the world. He has also performed with the Southeast Trombone Symposium Professors Choir, the William Cramer Trombone Choir, and the Lift Every Voice Trombone Choir, an ensemble of prominent minority trombonists. In addition, he presented a solo artist recital at the festival, showcasing new works by underrepresented composers. Beyond the festival stage, Dr. Mirvil toured Japan as a featured soloist with the theatrical production DRUMLine Live!
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Dr. Mirvil’s research focuses on practical strategies for addressing common challenges in trombone instruction. He co-authored a chapter on trombone pedagogy in Teaching Instrumental Music: Perspectives and Pedagogies for the 21st Century (Oxford University Press, 2023) and wrote the treatise Dr. Nathaniel O. Brickens: His Pedagogy, Career, and Influence on Trombone Performers and Educators, which has been cited in the International Trombone Association Journal and adopted by trombone professors to inform their teaching.
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A trombone pedagogue, Dr. Mirvil has presented performance and educational workshops at major conferences, including The Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, as well as professional development events for the Florida Music Education Association, Georgia Music Educators Association, Louisiana Educators Association, and other regional venues.
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He also serves as an adjudicator for the Florida Bandmasters Association and is an active member of the International Trombone Association and the Florida Music Education Association. A recipient of the McKnight Fellowship, Dr. Mirvil is an endorsed Performing Artist for Conn-Selmer, Inc., and Sshhmute Practice Mutes, and he has two signature mouthpieces with Giddings Mouthpieces.
Clayton Maddox, a native of South Bay, Florida, is an active soloist, educator, and freelance musician. He currently holds the positions of Lecturer of Music and Adjunct Instructor of Music at Henderson State University and the Huel D. Perkins Fellow at Louisiana State University where he is pursuing his doctoral studies.
Clayton has competed in and placed in many solo tuba competitions including, the Leonard Falcone International solo artist competition, the International Tuba and Euphonium Conference solo artist and chamber music competition, and the University of Alabama's Concerto-Aria Competition. As an award winning chamber artist he is the 1st tuba of the Boreas Quartet, which debuted its first album, “The Serpent’s Kiss”, in 2014, and has since received the Roger Bobo Award for Excellence in Recording from the International Tuba and Euphonium Association.
As an in demand soloist he has traveled to Tokyo, Japan to perform a recital at the Yamaha Headquarters, Sapporo, Japan where he performed at the Sapporo Clock Tower, and Madison, Wisconsin where he performed with the University of Wisconsin Tuba and Euphonium Ensemble.
Clayton has been a guest artist with several professional orchestras, among them, The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra, Tallahassee Symphony, and the Orquesta de Sinfonica in Monterrey, Mexico.
Clayton holds degrees from the University of Alabama, the University of Memphis, and Florida State College, where his primary teachers included Dr. Demondrae Thurman, Paul Weikle, Paul Ebbers, and James Jenkins.