Stuart Stephenson, Principal Trumpet Stuart Stephenson joined the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) as Principal Trumpet at the beginning of the 2013-14 season.
Mr. Stephenson has performed at the Aspen Music Festival, Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, and Tanglewood Music Center. An active educator, he maintains a private trumpet studio and is a brass coach for the Midwest Young Artists.
A Fairfax Station, VA, native, Mr. Stephenson began playing the trumpet at age 10 and also plays the piano. He holds a bachelor’s degree from The Juilliard School and a master’s degree from Northwestern University. Mr. Stephenson’s notable teachers include Barbara Butler, Charlie Geyer, Chris Martin, Tom Rolfs, Tom Cupples, Adel Sanchez, Raymond Mase, and Mark Gould.
Mr. Stephenson has performed at the Aspen Music Festival, Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, and Tanglewood Music Center. An active educator, he maintains a private trumpet studio and is a brass coach for the Midwest Young Artists.
A Fairfax Station, VA, native, Mr. Stephenson began playing the trumpet at age 10 and also plays the piano. He holds a bachelor’s degree from The Juilliard School and a master’s degree from Northwestern University. Mr. Stephenson’s notable teachers include Barbara Butler, Charlie Geyer, Chris Martin, Tom Rolfs, Tom Cupples, Adel Sanchez, Raymond Mase, and Mark Gould.
Brian Hecht, Bass Trombone Brian Hecht, a native of Dallas, TX, joined the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) as Bass Trombone in September 2013. Prior to joining the Atlanta Symphony, Mr. Hecht held the bass trombone position with the United States Navy Band in Washington, DC.
Throughout his career, Mr. Hecht has performed with several major ensembles, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra (under the baton of Simon Rattle), National Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Washington National Opera, Lyric Opera of Baltimore, and the Kennedy Center Ballet. He has also been a featured soloist with the Navy Band on multiple occasions and can be heard on several of their CDs and DVDs.
Mr. Hecht has been the recipient of numerous performance awards, including first prize at the Zellmer-Minnesota Orchestra Trombone Competition, Edwards Big 12 Bass Trombone Solo Competition, and the Eastern Trombone Workshop’s Trombone Quartet Competition. In addition, he was a finalist in three international competitions including the International Trombone Association’s Edward Kleinhammer Competition, Donald Yaxley Competition, and International Trombone Quartet Competition.
Mr. Hecht received his Master of Music degree from Northwestern University, where he studied with Michael Mulcahy, Charles Vernon, and Peter Ellefson. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree from The University of Texas at Austin, where he studied with Nathaniel Brickens. Other influential teachers include Jon Bohls of the Dallas Metroplex area and Charles Villarrubia at UT-Austin.
Throughout his career, Mr. Hecht has performed with several major ensembles, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra (under the baton of Simon Rattle), National Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Washington National Opera, Lyric Opera of Baltimore, and the Kennedy Center Ballet. He has also been a featured soloist with the Navy Band on multiple occasions and can be heard on several of their CDs and DVDs.
Mr. Hecht has been the recipient of numerous performance awards, including first prize at the Zellmer-Minnesota Orchestra Trombone Competition, Edwards Big 12 Bass Trombone Solo Competition, and the Eastern Trombone Workshop’s Trombone Quartet Competition. In addition, he was a finalist in three international competitions including the International Trombone Association’s Edward Kleinhammer Competition, Donald Yaxley Competition, and International Trombone Quartet Competition.
Mr. Hecht received his Master of Music degree from Northwestern University, where he studied with Michael Mulcahy, Charles Vernon, and Peter Ellefson. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree from The University of Texas at Austin, where he studied with Nathaniel Brickens. Other influential teachers include Jon Bohls of the Dallas Metroplex area and Charles Villarrubia at UT-Austin.
Todd Skitch, Second Flute Introducing the ASO's new 2nd Flute, Todd Skitch. We can't say it any better than Todd did, in his own words!
"I grew up in Peterborough, Ontario, a small college town east of Toronto. After studying at the University of Toronto and McGill University in Montreal I moved to Memphis, TN to join the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. During summers in college, I attended Tanglewood, Blossom, Spoleto (both US and Italy), National Repertory Orchestra, Banff and Sarasota.
In Memphis I taught flute out of my home and at Rhodes College and I also devoted the last two years of my life as chair of the board of directors and acting orchestra manager of the Memphis Youth Symphony Program. (www.mysp-music.org) It was a huge job and a rewarding life experience.
The ASO has been one of my favourites for a very long time. I've been collecting ASO recordings since 1991 when I learned that a young super star Christina Smith became lead flute of the orchestra. I was at McGill doing a post grad at the time. 'Stina and Timothy Hutchins are my greatest flute influences, certainly. I'm thrilled to be here, in a stellar flute section and woodwind section; 'Stina, Rob and Carl are amazing players and colleagues.
I live with my two old cats, Buddy and Holly."
"I grew up in Peterborough, Ontario, a small college town east of Toronto. After studying at the University of Toronto and McGill University in Montreal I moved to Memphis, TN to join the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. During summers in college, I attended Tanglewood, Blossom, Spoleto (both US and Italy), National Repertory Orchestra, Banff and Sarasota.
In Memphis I taught flute out of my home and at Rhodes College and I also devoted the last two years of my life as chair of the board of directors and acting orchestra manager of the Memphis Youth Symphony Program. (www.mysp-music.org) It was a huge job and a rewarding life experience.
The ASO has been one of my favourites for a very long time. I've been collecting ASO recordings since 1991 when I learned that a young super star Christina Smith became lead flute of the orchestra. I was at McGill doing a post grad at the time. 'Stina and Timothy Hutchins are my greatest flute influences, certainly. I'm thrilled to be here, in a stellar flute section and woodwind section; 'Stina, Rob and Carl are amazing players and colleagues.
I live with my two old cats, Buddy and Holly."
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