Brass

Brass

The Hugh Hodgson School of Music’s brass department features internationally recognized faculty, including our most recent appointment of Philip Smith, former principal trumpet of the New York Philharmonic. 

Brass students from around the world come to study with our renowned faculty, having numerous opportunities to play in various ensembles within the School of Music. Students have opportunities to play in large ensembles such as the band, orchestra, and jazz band, and also have chamber opportunities including various small instrumental ensembles. The fully funded graduate brass quintet, the Bulldog Brass Society, is active both around campus and the community. Weekly masterclasses provide the students with ample opportunities to perform, visiting guest artists provide inspiration, and a newly formed brass band create boundless opportunities for the motivated student.

The brass area pride ourselves on giving individual attention to every student.  All music majors study with their major professor rather than a teaching assistant, and studio trips to various festivals and competitions are commonplace amongst our studios. Please feel free to contact any of our brass faculty for further information about UGA, and we hope to see you in Athens in the future!

Personnel

Joshua Bynum

Professor of Trombone

He is a founding member of Resonant Projection, a professional trombone quartet dedicated to promoting new and undiscovered works. In the summers, Bynum serves as trombone faculty for the Festival of Vale Veneto, in the Rio Grande de Sul region of Brazil. He also coordinates the brass studies with the Music of the Spheres Festival, located in…

Brandon Craswell

Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies, Professor of Trumpet

Adept at both classical and jazz, Craswell spent a year playing trumpet on the North American tour of the Broadway musical 42nd St. An International Trumpet Guild prize winner, Craswell has been a featured soloist at numerous international festivals, including the Aspen Music Festival, the International Trumpet Guild Conference, and the…

Jean Martin-Williams

Professor of Horn, Horn

As a soloist, chamber musician, and lecturer, Dr. Martin-Williams has appeared at the Georgia Music Educators conference, the Southeast Horn Workshop, the International Horn Society conference, the International Trumpet Conference, the International Double Reed Society, Music Educators National Conference, International Society of Music…

James Naigus

Brass Area Chair, Horn, Lecturer

Naigus' compositions have been performed throughout the United States and beyond, with enthusiastic reception and rave review. In 2013 he was the Composer-in-Residence at the Southeast Horn Workshop in Richmond, VA. In 2009 he was awarded an honorable mention award in the International Horn Society Composition Contest. He has written commercial…

Matthew Shipes

Assistant Professor of Tuba and Euphonium

Philip Smith

William F. and Pamela P. Prokasy Professor in the Arts, Trumpet

An avid brass band enthusiast, Mr. Smith has been guest soloist with the United States Army Brass Band, and the contesting bands of Goteborg Brass (Sweden), Black Dyke and GUS Rigid Containers Band (Britain).  In Canada, he has been guest soloist with Hannaford Street Silver Band and Intrada Brass Band.  In the USA, he has soloed with San…

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