The Brass Junkies

John Rojak of the American Brass Quintet joins Andrew & Lance to discuss portfolio careers and chamber music. John also discusses how the American Brass Quintet finds and commissions new pieces.   He also talks about how he got started and why he sometimes has to explain ledger lines to composers.    Website: John Rojak   Links: American Brass Quintet Julliard NYU The Hartt School   You can help o...

Magically Fearless (Fearlessly Magical?) Jeff Nelsen joins Andrew & Lance to discuss his diverse and fascinating career. Jeff explains how he got started and progressed from orchestra playing to a stint with Canadian Brass and on to his current role teaching horn at Indiana University. He also talks about his newest project "Fearless Performance," his TEDx talks (and hosting) and how studying magi...

Jeff Conner of Boston Brass joins Andrew & Lance to discuss how Boston Brass got started. Jeff also explains what it takes to run a full-time touring group and how things have (and haven't) changed over the last 30 years. He also talks about how much he misses having Andrew and Lance in the group and details his adventurous eating habits. Chicken feet, anyone? Oh, and pickle neck tattoos. Links: B...

Fred Powell of Powell Trumpets joins Andrew & Lance to discuss trumpet design and brass repair. Fred also discusses the many times he has shared the stage with Andrew and Lance with Boston Brass and his freelance career. He also talks about how he got started in the repair business and his vast knowledge of barbecue.   Website: Powell Trumpets   Links: National Trumpet Competition Fred's Email   Y...

Andrew & Lance are joined by tuba player, pianist, and arranger for Presidio Brass, Scott Sutherland. Scott talks about life on the road with a full-time touring brass quintet and how the group got its start. He also talks about the benefits of having multi-instrumentalists in a chamber group and about what goes into planning a show for a group like Presidio Brass.   Website: http://www.presidiobr...

Andrew & Lance are joined by Mary Bowden, an international trumpet soloist and founding member of the Seraph Brass. She discusses her travels around the world, a transformational experience she had with our good friend Jens Lindemann that inspired her to take her career to the next level, and her new brass quintet, Seraph Brass. She also talks about how she has gone about creating her personal bra...

Phil Munds currently holds the position as Principal Horn for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Prior to that, he served as a member of The United States Air Force Band with the one and only, Lance LaDuke! Phil shares how he went from playing in the Air Force to rising through the ranks in the BSO horn section. He also discusses the day-to-day preparations for his job and having a long sustaining...

  Andrew & Lance talk shop with Jamie Lipton, Euphonium Artist and Professor of Low Brass at Henderson State University.    Jamie discusses her musical upbringing and how that led her to attending Northwestern and North Texas to study with Rex Martin and Brian Bowman. She tells us the reasons for her career decisions and the direction she would love to see Euphonium go in.    When she’s not winnin...

Andrew & Lance are joined by Jim Nova, trombone player for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Jim talks about how his successful audition for the Pittsburgh Symphony was the 39th of his career! He also shares a very moving story about the loss of his mother and the trombone that she saved up money to buy for him before she passed away. He tells some really great stories about his father, a profess...

Andrew & Lance are joined by Marty Hackleman, former horn player for the Canadian Brass, Empire Brass, and National Symphony Orchestra. Marty talks about the many stops along his incredible career, including winning his first professional audition at the age of 19. He also shares with us the decision he made as a 16-year-old that got him to apply himself and propelled him to success on the horn. H...

Andrew & Lance are joined by Joe Alessi, Principal Trombone of the New York Philharmonic, from Vail, Colorado where the orchestra was on tour. Joe talks about his career as a teacher, soloist, and orchestral musician, including stops with the Philadelphia Orchestra and New York Philharmonic. He also touches on the the influence his parents, both professional musicians, had on him and which musicia...

Andrew and Lance are joined by Carol Jantsch, Principal Tuba for the Philadelphia Orchestra and international soloist. She talks about what the experience was like successfully auditioning for one of the best orchestras in the world at the age of 20. She also talks about her recent solo appearances with the orchestra and how they were the highlight of her career as well as her future plans in the...

Andrew & Lance are joined by Amy McCabe to talk about her winning a major military band audition, what it was like to be the featured soloist for Blast while being suspended from the ceiling every night, and about a health scare that helped her to focus and become the world class trumpet player she is today. Interestingly, Amy went to undergrad planning on being an elementary school librarian! She...

Andrew and Lance are joined by their good friend, international trumpet star Rex Richardson. Rex talks about touring all over the world, playing with Rhythm and Brass for the last two decades, and how he came to be so accomplished at both jazz and classical music.  He has one of the most diverse and interesting careers in the brass world today!   You can help offset the costs of producing the show...

Andrew and Lance are joined by the Fredericksburg Brass Institute's Austin Boyer & Buddy Deshler, otherwise known as the producers of this podcast! Austin & Buddy discuss how they came to successfully launch a brass festival featuring world class soloists while they were still in their early 20's.  They also talk about their roles within the Pedal Note Media Podcast Network and what it's like to c...

THE BRASS JUNKIES EPISODE 5: VICTOR BARRANCO Victor Barranco, trombonist for the US Army Blues, is the guest on this episode of The Brass Junkies. He talks about growing up in the only Puerto Rican family in North Pole, Alaska, playing in the One O'Clock Lab Band at UNT, how he got his gig with the Army, and about his passion for woodworking. Spoiler Alert: He's hilarious.   You can help offset th...

Andrew and Lance interview - themselves. No really. They give you a little bit of background on Pedal Note Media, the origins of this podcast, and their Pray For Jens campaign. You can help offset the costs of producing the show by making a small donation at  https://www.patreon.com/thebrassjunkies . Your support is greatly appreciated!

Kevin Gebo joins Andrew and Lance for the latest episode of The Brass Junkies to discuss the many different aspects of his career. Kevin Gebo joins Andrew and Lance for the latest episode of The Brass Junkies to discuss the many different aspects of his career. Kevin is a trumpet player with the US Army Ceremonial Band in Arlington, VA.  He is also a soloist, chamber musician, and entrepreneur.  I...

THE BRASS JUNKIES EPISODE 3: MICHAEL PARKER OF PARKER MOUTHPIECES Michael Parker joins Andrew and Lance to discuss his line of mouthpieces, being an entrepreneur, and a special connection he feels through his mouthpiece manufacturing with his late father. Michael is an accomplished player, teacher, and entrepreneur.  He is the tuba player for the Monumental Brass in Washington DC and teaches tuba...

Our former colleague from Boston Brass, horn player JD Shaw, joins us for this episode of The Brass Junkies.  JD is currently Associate Professor of Horn at the University of South Carolina, musical arranger for Santa Clara Vanguard, and is frequently in demand as a soloist and clinician. This episode was actually recorded way back in January 2014 immediately following our recording session for th...

For the first ever episode of The Brass Junkies, Andrew Hitz and Lance LaDuke welcome one of the greatest brass players in the world, Ryan Anthony.  Ryan is the former star of Canadian Brass and is currently the Principal Trumpet of the Dallas Symphony.  On top of that he is a cancer survivor, the head of The Ryan Anthony Foundation, and one of the nicest human beings you could ever hope to meet....