Thomas Hooten is Principal Trumpet of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. Hooten began his career in 2000 with a trumpet/cornet position in “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in Washington, D.C., where he was often a featured soloist. He joined the Indianapolis Symphony as Assistant Principal Trumpet in 2004, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra as Principal Trumpet in 2006, and the LA Philharmonic in 2012. He released Trumpet Call, his first solo album, in 2011. In 2019, he recorded John Williams’ Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra, which was conducted by the composer.

Hooten is on the faculty at the University of Southern California where he and his wife, Jennifer Marotta, teach the trumpet studio. A native of Tampa, Florida, he earned his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of South Florida and his Master of Music degree from Rice University. His primary trumpet teachers have included Armando Ghitalla, John Hagstrom, and Don Owen.

Barbara Butler is a soloist with Music of the Baroque, Chicago Chamber Musicians, and Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra. She is a former member of Eastman Brass, Eastman Virtuosi, and the Vancouver and Grant Park Symphony Orchestras. She has performed, recorded, and appeared in broadcasts with the St. Louis, Chicago, and Houston Symphony Orchestras and the New York Philharmonic. She has made solo appearances with many major orchestras and festivals and presented recitals and master classes worldwide. She appears on recordings and international broadcasts with Eastman Brass, Music of the Baroque, Chicago Chamber Musicians, and CBC Radio. Her most recent recordings include “Carmen Fantasia” on Warner Brothers and “With Clarion Voice” on D’Note Records with Charles Geyer. She is a former faculty member of the Northwestern University, Eastman School of Music and University of British Columbia, and studied with Vincent Cichowicz and Adolph Herseth. Ms. Butler began as Professor of Trumpet at Rice University in 2013.

Billy R. Hunter, Jr., a native of Austin, Texas, has been the Principal Trumpet of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra since 2004. With a versatile career encompassing orchestral, chamber, and solo performances nationwide, he is also a sought-after teacher and brass coach who recently rejoined the faculty at the Manhattan School of Music.

In addition to his work with the MET, Mr. Hunter has served as Guest Principal Trumpet with distinguished ensembles such as The Philadelphia Orchestra, the Malaysian Philharmonic, and the Frankfurt Radio Symphony. His impressive performance history includes collaborations with the New York Philharmonic, Saint Louis Symphony, Dallas Symphony, and Boston Symphony, as well as various trumpet positions with the New World, Baltimore, and Grant Park Symphony orchestras.

As a chamber musician, he has partnered with numerous ensembles across the United States, including the Gateways Chamber Ensemble and the MET Chamber Ensemble, and has performed at prestigious festivals such as the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival, and Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival.

As a soloist, Mr. Hunter has appeared with orchestras including the Classical Tahoe Orchestra, York Symphony, and Chattanooga Symphony, and has given recitals and masterclasses in the U.S., Europe, Africa, and Asia. His accolades include the Roger Voisin Outstanding Trumpeter Prize from the Tanglewood Music Center, first prize in the Kingsville International Solo Competition Brass Division, and multiple Grammy Awards as part of the MET Orchestra. In 2010, he received the University of Texas Outstanding Young Texas-Exes Award, one of the highest honors for alumni.

Mr. Hunter is an esteemed educator, conducting masterclasses and lessons at prestigious institutions such as the Cleveland Institute of Music, Juilliard, and Yale. He frequently coaches the New York Youth Symphony, the New World Symphony in Miami, and the National Youth Orchestra. His previous faculty positions include the Peabody Conservatory, Aspen Music Festival, NJCU, and the University of Texas at Austin. His teachers include legendary trumpeters Raymond Crisara, Raymond Mase, Mark Gould, and hornist Harry Shapiro.