Meet the Collective
Visit personal websites for more information about individual performers. Each person’s name is linked to their page.
Dr. Zach Buie
Dr. Zach Buie is a versatile performer based in Boise, Idaho where he is an Assistant Professor of Music at Boise State University. Dr. Buie has performed extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America in venues such as the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, Cadogan Hall in London, Seoul Arts Center, Auditorio de Zaragoza in Spain, the Macao Cultural Center in China, and the National Theatre of El Salvador among others.
He can be heard on various recordings in classical, jazz, alternative, rock, soul, and funk styles. His recording credits include studio albums from musical centers including Austin, New Orleans, and the legendary Muscle Shoals. He has also worked as a session musician recording tracks for film and television at LA East Studios in Salt Lake City.
He has performed with ensembles including the Seoul Philharmonic, Macao Orchestra, Utah Symphony, Dallas Winds, Waco Symphony, Boise Philharmonic, Opera Idaho, Central Texas Philharmonic, Yakima Symphony, Brazos Valley Symphony, Utah Festival Opera, Utah Metropolitan Ballet, Imperial Brass, Boise Baroque Orchestra, and the Helena Symphony.
Dr. Buie also toured nationally with Soul Track Mind, a 7-piece soul/funk outfit based in Austin. He was featured on three of their albums while being recognized by the New York Times as leaders in the resurgence of soul music. He holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Music from Baylor University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The University of Utah.
Dr. Jesse Cook
Dr. Jesse Cook has been hailed by Fanfare Magazine as a trumpeter with “technical surety, a shining tone, dynamic control, a smooth legato, and real imagination.”
Dr. Cook is the Associate Professor of Trumpet at the University of Central Florida, and has also held appointments at Valdosta State University (GA), Pittsburg State University (KS) and Northeastern State University (OK). Dr. Cook received his DMA from the University of Texas at Austin. Among others, he has enjoyed performances with the Houston Symphony Orchestra, the Kansas City Symphony, and the Jacksonville Symphony. Dr. Cook has also appeared as a soloist in Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto #2 with the Austin Bach Cantata Project, Bernstein's Mass for Wind Ensemble and Brass Quintet with the Austin Symphonic Band, the Wind Ensemble at the University of Texas at Austin, and L'Histoire du Soldat with the Round Top Festival Orchestra Faculty.
A frequent recitalist and clinician, Dr. Cook has performed for and instructed students at universities across the United States of America and Europe. He has also written several articles published in the International Trumpet Guild Journal and was an invited speaker at the 2019 National Trumpet Competition, the 2019 International Trumpet Guild Conference, the 2017 Georgia Music Educators Association Conference, the 2014 Texas Music Educator Association annual conference and the 2014 International Trumpet Guild conference.
Dr. Eric Millard
Eric Millard is the Assistant Professor of Trumpet at UNC Charlotte. Millard was formerly third/associate principal trumpet with the Tallahassee Symphony and has performed with the Charlotte Symphony, Charlotte Ballet, Opera Carolina, Boise Philharmonic, Ballet Idaho, Pensacola Symphony, Sinfonia Gulf Coast, and Albany Symphony.
As a soloist, Millard has won prizes at prestigious competitions such as the International Trumpet Guild Solo Competition, National Trumpet Competition, King’s Peak International Music Competition, the American Prize, Music Teachers National Association Solo Competition, and the U.S. Army Band National Collegiate Solo Competition and has won concerto competitions at both of his alma maters. Millard’s fond interest in chamber music led him to win prizes at the National Trumpet Competition (ensemble division), McCauley Chamber Ensemble Competition, and the Calvin Smith Brass Quintet Competition.
Millard received his Doctorate and Master’s Degrees in Trumpet Performance from Florida State University and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Trumpet Performance from the University of Kentucky. Millard’s primary teachers were Dr. Christopher Moore, Robert Sullivan, Vince DiMartino, Mark Clodfelter, and Dr. William Stowman.
Dr. Christopher Scanlon
Trumpet artist and educator, Dr. Christopher Scanlon has performed in Europe, Asia, Canada, Mexico, the Middle East and across the US. In New York City, Dr. Scanlon performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Radio City Music Hall, in Broadway theaters for West Side Story, An American in Paris, Kiss Me Kate, Phantom of the Opera and on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. He has also performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Pops, Boston Lyric Opera, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, Singapore Symphony, US Coast Guard Band, Chamber Orchestra of New York, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and the New World Symphony.
As a soloist he performed Shostakovich Concerto No. 1 with Yuja Wang, Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 and Copland Quiet City. Festival appearances include Artosphere, Banff, Spoleto, Verbier and Tanglewood where he received the Roger Voisin Award. Scanlon has performed with artists such as Seiji Ozawa, John Williams, Valery Gergiev, Joshua Bell, Martha Argerich, Andras Schiff, Harry Connick Jr, Patti Labelle, Josh Groban, Neil Patrick Harris, Rufus Wainwright, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Natalia Lafourcade, Pedro Fernandez and on Netflix’s Mozart in the Jungle. Dr. Scanlon founded Banda Nueva York, a cross-cultural, Mexican brass band that can be heard on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and Mexico City’s Canal 22 Internacional. Scanlon has recorded for Mode Records, Medici.tv, BMPO/Sound and Naxos.
Dr. Scanlon has given masterclasses across the US and Mexico and was a faculty adjudicator for the inaugural Next Generation Trumpet Competition. Dr. Scanlon received his Bachelor of Music from Boston University, Master of Music from Rice University, Graduate Studies Diploma from Manhattan School of Music, and Doctor of Musical Arts from Stony Brook University. His principal teachers were Thomas Rolfs, Joseph Foley, Marie Speziale, Kevin Cobb and Mark Gould. Dr. Christopher Scanlon is currently the Assistant Professor of Trumpet at Northern Illinois University and principal trumpet with the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra.
Dr. Kevin Whalen
Dr. Kevin Whalen is Associate Professor of Trumpet and Jazz Studies at Texas Tech University. Whalen has appeared throughout the United States and Canada as the solo trumpet chair of The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra and has toured internationally while holding a jazz trumpet chair with the Grammy-nominated University of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band.
Dr. Whalen has presented research at the Jazz Education Network Annual Conference, the Annual Conference of the International Trumpet Guild, the International Conference on the Blues, the International Music by Women Festival, and at universities throughout the country, including the the Eastman School of Music, Ithaca College, the University of North Texas, and Virginia Tech.
Whalen’s previous posts include Director of Jazz Studies at Columbus State University and Instructor of Trumpet at the University of Northern Colorado. He holds degrees from the University of North Texas, the University of Northern Colorado, and Colorado State University.
Dr. Lance Witty
Dr. Lance Witty serves as Assistant Professor of Music in the Conservatory at Capital University. Dr. Witty oversees the trumpet program, directs the trumpet choir, and performs with the Capital faculty chamber and jazz ensembles.
A native Ohioan, Dr. Witty has inspired and guided aspiring trumpet players at all skill levels. His students have found success in education, competitions, national and international festivals, professional audition advancements, and gained entrance to continue their studies in some of the finest schools of music in the country.
Living an active professional music career as a nationally and internationally recognized performer, educator, and guest lecturer, Dr. Witty is a Yamaha Performing Artist, and malleable to perform in multiple genres. He has performed extensively as a soloist, orchestral, chamber, and commercial musician.
Prior to his position at Capital, Dr. Witty served as trumpet faculty at Texas Lutheran University, The University of Mary Hardin Baylor, and Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Witty earned his Doctorate of Musical Arts degree at The University of Texas at Austin, and received both his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees at Bowling Green State University. Dr. Witty’s principal trumpet instructors include Ray Sasaki and Charles Saenz.