Chris Joyce - trumpet
After studying music at Illinois Wesleyan University, Chris has had an active freelance trumpet career based in the Chicago area. In addition to appearances as a solo performer, Chris regularly performs with a number of professional ensembles including area orchestras, chamber music ensembles, brass quintets, jazz groups, rock/blues bands, and pit orchestras.
As a performer, Chris has toured across the US, Russia, and throughout Europe, including a featured solo performance with England's BBC Orchestra in London. Chris has been directed by Tom Scott, shared a stage with Dennis DiBlasio, performed for Arturo Sandoval, been teased by Awadagin Pratt, and has received a number of vigorous hugs from Mstislav Rostropovich.
As his key musical influences, Chris cites Clifford Brown, Chet Baker, Will Scarlett, Steven Eggleston, Judy Saxton, Jack Adams, Kevin “Sticks” Geraldi, and a table full of pots and pans he knocked over in 1993.
Paul Lowry - trumpet
A native of Cartersville, Georgia, Paul Lowry holds a Masters of Music degree in Performance from Florida State University where he studied with Dr. Christopher Moore and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from West Virginia University where he studied with Dr. John Winkler. Mr. Lowry has won numerous solo competitions, including first prize at the MTNA National Brass competition and at state and regional MTNA competitions. Mr. Lowry was also a finalist, finishing runner-up, at the National Trumpet Competition in 2004.
In 2007, Mr. Lowry became a founding member of the Windy City brass quintet where they perform extensively in and around the Chicago area. Mr. Lowry was appointed principal trumpet in 2006 of the Carl Rosa Opera Company which just completed its North American tour performing throughout 43 states and Canada. Mr. Lowry’s other ensemble experience includes principal trumpet with the Carroll Symphony Orchestra where he has also been a soloist, associate-principal trumpet with the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, principal trumpet with the Etowah Chamber Orchestra, the West Virginia University Symphony Orchestra, the West Virginia Wind Symphony which toured the Northeastern United States performing in the prestigious Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., the Florida State University Symphony Orchestra, the Florida State University Wind Orchestra, the Albany Symphony Orchestra, the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra and the United States Honor band which toured England with performances in London, Oxford, and Stratford. Mr. Lowry was also invited to perform with the New World Symphony in Miami, Florida during the 2005 - 2006 season. In the fall of 2005 Mr. Lowry was appointed professor of trumpet at the North Florida Community College in Madison, Florida, where he served as adjunct professor for the 2005-2006 term.
Mr. Lowry is currently living in Chicago, Illinois with his wife Kelly where he enjoys teaching and performing as a free-lance musician.
Andrew King - Horn
Andrew King is in his second year as Director of Orchestras at Purdue University. In addition to his work at Purdue, Mr. King has been a guest conductor and clinician at music festivals throughout the Midwest and the East Coast. His orchestras have performed at Carnegie Hall in New York, the Grand Hall of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic and Kapella Hall in St. Petersburg, Russia, and on tour throughout the United States. Previously, Mr. King held positions as Music Director of the Indianapolis Youth Orchestra, Director of Orchestras at Carmel High School, Lawrence Central High School and Munster High School, and as Assistant Conductor of the Central Illinois Youth Orchestra. In the January 2001 issue of School Band and Orchestra Magazine, the Carmel High School Orchestra was featured in the cover story, Andrew King: Orchestrating Student Success. He has also served as the orchestra division head for the BOA Summer Symposium. Mr. King earned commendations from the school boards at both Carmel Clay Schools and Lawrence Township for his teaching.
Mr. King earned his master’s degree in orchestral conducting from Butler University where he studied with Stanley DeRusha and served as the Assistant Conductor of the Butler Symphony Orchestra. His conducting teachers have included Gustav Meier, Daniel Hege, Rossen Milanov, and Steven Eggleston. He has also participated as a conducting fellow in International Conductor’s Guild workshops with Harold Farberman, Guillermo Figeroa, and H. Robert Reynolds. Mr. King earned his bachelor’s degree in music education from Illinois Wesleyan University where he graduated with honors. Mr. King has commissioned and premiered orchestral works by Peter Gilbert and Joseph Spaniola. He strongly believes that young musicians should have the opportunity to develop an appreciation for high quality contemporary art music. To this end, Mr. King regularly programs music from the last part of the twentieth century.
Also active as a horn performer, Mr. King has studied with Phillip Farkas, Laura Fairfield, Gail Lewis, and Janet Miller. In addition to the Windy City Brass, Mr. King performs with the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Indianapolis.
Ben Dickinson - Trombone
A native of Charleston, South Carolina, Ben Dickinson holds a Masters of Music degree from DePaul University where he studied with Mark Fisher, Charles Vernon, and Floyd Cooley and a Bachelor of Music Degree from Arizona State University where he studied with Gail Wilson. Mr. Dickinson developed his love of brass chamber music while being coached weekly at Arizona State University with Sam Pilafian ( founding Tubist of the Empire Brass). He has performed with such groups as the Phoenix Symphony, Illinois Philharmonic, Brevard Music Center Festival Orchestra, Concertante de Chicago, along with many regional orchestras. Mr. Dickinson currently resides in the city of Chicago as a freelance artist and private music instructor. He also enjoys playing organized sand volleyball and watching college sports.
