Tubaist Dr. Carl Kleinsteuber has led a varied career to date, including a solo recital in Carnegie Hall, performances and recordings with the New York Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein, the Boston Symphony with Seiji Ozawa, the Metropolitan opera under James Levine, and the Canadian Brass as well as a host of others. He was solo tubist with the Hague (Netherlands) Philharmonic for 24 years. Carl is also active in the jazz field, having performed and recorded with Gravity (a jazz tuba sextet), Lionel Hampton, and Quincy Jones.

Carl is an active educator, having taught, adjudicated and given master classes around the world. In addition, he is owner of Denton Big Brass, a DFW merchant providing quality brass musical instruments. Carl also designs, repairs, modifies and builds brass instruments and operates Denton Big Brass in North Texas.

Jaime Esposito is a percussion performer and educator based in Dallas, Texas. In 2018, Jaime co-founded Spectrum Ensemble. As a performer, Esposito has been an artist internationally with ensembles such as the International Lyric Academy in Italy, Britten-Pears Festival Orchestra in the United Kingdom, and MarimbaFest Australia. Domestically, Jaime has been an artist with ensembles such as Athena Brass, World Percussion Group, and Heartland Marimba, where they performed concerts and offered coaching sessions to students across the country. Esposito frequently plays with the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra, Texarkana Symphony, Allen Symphony, Abilene Philharmonic, DFW Brass, and Dallas Chamber Winds. As an educator, Esposito currently serves as a private lesson instructor and front ensemble tech at LD Bell High School in Hurst, Texas. Additionally, Jaime has taught as an adjunct professor at North Texas Central College, and front ensemble tech for the Vigilantes Indoor Percussion Ensemble.

Jaime holds a Masters of Music in Percussion Performance from the University of North Texas and a Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance from Northwestern University. Their primary teachers include She-e Wu, the late Christopher Deane, Chris Lamb, James Ross and Robert Schietroma. Jaime currently lives in Denton, Texas with their wife Isabelle and children Hodge and Elzora.

Internationally celebrated trumpeter, musician entrepreneur and professional fundraiser, Dr. Lacey Phelps, is a Native Oklahoman of Cherokee ancestry who grew up on a farm in Tecumseh. She is the Founding Executive Director of DFW Brass. She has played in venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Vatican and countless theaters throughout the world under the direction of conductors such as Gustavo Dudamel, Helmuth Rilling, Julius Rudel, David Andrews Rogers, Frederick Fennell, Placido Domingo, Itzhak Perlman, and Valery Giergiev. She has taught at the collegiate and secondary levels for nearly 2 decades while simultaneously navigating a highly successful international performance career. In 2024 she served on Faculty at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp as well as the International Trumpet Festival of Corfu in Greece, where she was a featured soloist. Dr. Phelps previously held a position at the Verdi Opera House in Italy and now serves as the Executive Director of DFW Brass and is a highly active artist and clinician throughout the United States, Latin America, and Europe. She has recorded in 11 countries on 3 continents, judged for The National Trumpet Competition, and performed at the first-ever International Trumpet Guild (ITG) Regional Conference in Oklahoma City as well as other ITG conferences. Comfortable with numerous styles, Dr. Phelps performs regularly in several professional orchestras, chamber groups, musical theaters, and collaborates with choral groups such as New American Voices and The Orpheus Chamber Singers. She has performed with Pacquito D’Rivera, Johnny Mathis, Il Divo, Mariachi Vargas, Jacki Evancho, and for Broadway Tours such as A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Matilda, and An American in Paris in Dallas and Fort Worth. She has been a featured soloist with the Sofia Philharmonic in Bulgaria in a special concert to celebrate National Women’s Day and is a Conn-Selmer Artist. Her former students can be found in recording studios, military bands, orchestras, and teaching at both the secondary and collegiate level throughout the US and abroad. Phelps loves traveling and has performed at countless music festivals throughout the world including The International Brass Festival (Mexico), The Aspen Music Festival (Colorado), Young Euro Festival (Berlin), Spoleto (Italy), Spoleto USA (South Carolina), Le Domain Forget (Canada), Great Waters International Music Festival (New Hampshire), Le Festival Bel Canto (Québec), Snape Maltings (England), Festival de Musique de Monton (France), Musica Riva Festival (Italy), & Campos do Jordao Music Festival (Brazil), among others. Phelps is married to Dr. Josh Phelps, a Champion Auctioneer, Ministry Professional, and Conductor of DFW Brass. Together they operate the highly successful Phelps Fundraising & Auctions Team, and raise significant funds for select non-profit organizations.

Dr. Josh Phelps serves as the Principal Conductor of DFW Brass and is the Director of Music Ministries at Church Street United Methodist Church in Knoxville, TN. Dr. Charles Joshua "Josh" Phelps enjoys a diverse career as a conductor, performer, minister, auctioneer, and entrepreneur. He holds degrees in Vocal Performance from the University of Tennessee (Bachelor of Music), the University of Oklahoma (Master of Music), and the Graduate Theological Foundation (Doctorate of Sacred Music). As an accomplished tenor soloist and conductor, Phelps has performed in the world’s most celebrated venues including Carnegie Hall, several opera houses in Italy, and has conducted throughout the United States as well as Europe. Choirs and orchestras under his direction have been featured on national television broadcasts and have performed at state and regional conventions of the American Choral Directors Association, as well as at multiple high profile events for heads of states and presidents of the US and Canada. He has served as guest and principal conductor of several notable ensembles including Lovers Lane United Methodist Church Sanctuary Choir in Dallas, The Oklahoma City Community College Symphonic Choir, Oklahoma Choral Artists, Paserina Chamber Choir, Pathways Middle College Choir, Westmoore and Southmoore High School Choirs, DFW Brass, as well as Voci Nel Montefeltro in Italy. He has coordinated several collaborative choral events such as hymn festivals, Messiah sing-alongs, and Mozart in Memoriam, a concert commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Murrah Federal Building bombing; as well as special projects in conjunction with the American Guild of Organists and the Oklahoma Alliance of Liturgy and The Arts. 

Josh has helped raise nearly 3 million dollars in gifts for sacred settings and has commissioned and premiered over a dozen new works by composers such as Randol Alan Bass, Joseph Martin, Craig Phillips, Alan Pote, K. Lee Scott, Z. Randall Stroope, and Ovid Young. In addition to serving as a Committee Chair for the Graduate Theological Foundation, he has taught at the collegiate level for several years. Dr. Phelps also enjoys mentoring beginning auction professionals and serves on faculty at Auctioneer University and Oklahoma Auctioneer School, as he is a 5-time Champion Auctioneer. He is in demand as a professional announcer and vocal coach, and is regularly invited to present at state auction associations and conventions where he is lovingly referred to as “The World’s Most Interesting Auctioneer.”

Dallas native Mr. Adam Miller is a founding member, and Artistic Director, of DFW BRASS and is an active performer and teacher in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Adam currently serves as Second Trumpet of both the Plano and Irving Symphonies. As a freelance artist, Adam has performed hundreds of weddings, recitals, and services in local churches and other venues over the last 20 years. He has performed with Dallas Winds (formerly the Dallas Wind Symphony), Jacksonville Symphony, the Blast of Brass Ensemble, as well as the Texas Star Brass Band.

After completing his Bachelor of Music at Southern Methodist University, Mr. Miller moved to New York City where he attended the Juilliard School. Mr. Miller had the pleasure of studying under Mark Gould, Phil Smith and Wynton Marsalis while working on his Master of Music.  Upon completing his M.M. at Juilliard, Mr. Miller moved once again.  This time to China where he served as Principal Trumpet of the Shanghai Broadcasting Symphony.  Throughout his career, he has performed with artists such as Wynton Marsalis, Yo-Yo Ma, Luciano Pavarotti, Empire Brass, Canadian Brass, Josh Groban, and Idina Menzell. 

In addition to his many performances, Mr. Miller is also a successful teacher.  Mr. Miller is on faculty at the Blast of Brass Camp held at Texas A&M - Commerce Campus every summer. His students have participated in honor bands including the TMEA All-State ensembles, competitions such as the National Trumpet Competition, and festivals such as the Grand Valley State Trumpet Seminar and International Trumpet Guild Conference.

Mr. Steve Peterson, co-founder of DFW BRASS, is an active teacher and performer in the Dallas and San Antonio areas.  Currently he serves as Principal Trombone of the Fort Worth Symphony, and was formerly the Principal of the San Antonio Philharmonic. He has also performed with the Cincinnati Symphony, Detroit Symphony, and Dallas Symphony Orchestras and frequently plays at the Vail Music Festival in Colorado with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

A native of Michigan, Mr. Peterson earned a Bachelor of Music in Trombone Performance from the University of Michigan where he studied with David Jacson.  After the completion of his undergraduate degree he traveled and performed throughout the world before settling in Dallas where he completed a Master of Music at Southern Methodist University where he studied with John Kitzman.  Steve serves as Adjunct Professor of Trombone at Richland College where he performs regularly with the Richland Faculty Jazz Ensemble.

In addition to performing with DFW BRASS, Steve is a member of Bishop Arts Brass and also performs with the Avant Chamber Ballet. In addition to his performance and teaching schedule, Mr. Peterson is an active videographer and has produced short documentaries for the Dallas Symphony, Avant Chamber Ballet, and Bosphorus Cymbal Factory.  Steve's films can be seen at thepetersonproject.com

DFW Brass’s Hornist, Dr. Heather Suchodolski also serves as Principal Horn of the East Texas Symphony Orchestra.  She is an active chamber and orchestral musician and teacher in the Dallas - Fort Worth metro area. Heather performs regularly with countless ensembles throughout the region including The East Texas Symphony Orchestra, The Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra, Lewisville Lake Symphony Orchestra, Allen Philharmonic, and the Dallas Opera.

During her doctoral studies at the University of North Texas, Heather held the coveted position as a Teaching Fellow in the horn studio. She has served on faculty at the University of Nevada – Reno, and as Interim Faculty at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX, as well as at Collin College in Plano, TX.

Outside of the collegiate setting, Heather maintains a large private studio of horn students from ten of the finest band programs in the Dallas - Fort Worth metro area. Her students successfully audition into the highly competitive All-Region Bands for Texas Music Educators Association Regions 2 and 31, as well as the All-State Bands and Orchestras. Heather’s students frequently continue to study music upon graduation from high school, continuing to foster a love of music through their university years and beyond.

Heather graduated Magna cum Laude from the University of Arizona, studying with Dr. Keith Johnson and Mr. Daniel Katzen, and earned Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of North Texas, under the guidance of Dr. William Scharnberg. Her primary teachers include the previously listed professors, as well as Dr. Douglas Campbell, whose career was the subject of her doctoral dissertation.

When not practicing, rehearsing, performing, or helping others of the proper pronunciation of her somewhat tricky surname (it's Such-a-doll-skee), Heather enjoys painting, cooking, traveling, and good coffee.

GUEST PERFORMERS

Andrew Smith has performed as a soloist and commercial trumpet player for productions worldwide. He is also an active educator and has held clinics throughout the United States, Japan, and Australia. He holds a Bachelor of Music from Southern Nazarene University and two Master of Music degrees from the University of Oklahoma in Instrumental Wind Conducting and Trumpet Performance.

Andrew’s touring career began in 2005 as the trumpet soloist for the hit Broadway show "Blast!". From 2006-2012 Andrew went on to perform four additional tours with Blast in the United States and Japan, as well as perform as a soloist and lead trumpet player with the Australian Rat Pack, Australian Rock Legends Tour, Little River Band, The Temptations, and other notable acts. In 2008, he held an ongoing residency in Macau, China for two years performing and arranging music for clients such as the Saudi Royalty, US Olympic Basketball Team, and other high profile celebrities.

During his time overseas, Andrew also worked as an educator and clinician performing masterclasses in Australia and Japan. In 2010, he was hired by John Paul College in Brisbane, Australia to design and teach one of the first field marching bands in Australia and in 2012 he also worked with the Aimaichi Drum and Bugle Corps as a clinician and educator. In 2014, Andrew joined Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Baileys Circus as their lead trumpet player on the “Build To Amaze” tour and in 2016 he was lead trumpet on the 42nd Street National tour. In 2018 he joined the national tour of “Kinky Boots” until his move to Oklahoma in 2019.

In 2019, Andrew pivoted full time into being an educator and taught for Mustang Public Schools until he started as a graduate conducting associate for the University of Oklahoma Band Department in the Fall of 2022. He has been performing regularly with DFW Brass since that time as well. This Fall, Andrew will pursue a DMA in Trumpet Performance under the guidance of Josef Burgstaller at Arizona State University as well as continue work as a conductor and clinician for ensembles in the Phoenix Metro Area.