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Meet the Musicians
Nathan Frazier, Tuba
A native Texan, Nathan began his studies under the direction of David Kirk of the Houston Symphony Orchestra. He went on to attend the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA., where he studied under Chester Schmitz of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and received his Bachelor's Degree in Music Performance. While in Boston, Nathan performed with the Boston Lyric Opera, as well as many other orchestras in the New England area. Mr. Frazier is now an active freelance musician in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Nathan holds the position of Principal Tuba in the Irving Symphony Orchestra and performs regularly with the Plano Symphony Orchestra. He has also played with the East Texas Symphony, the Dallas Wind Symphony, the Garland/Los Colinas Symphony and various other groups. He is also a Registered Massage Therapist, who works throughout the North Texas area. Nathan is a founding member of the Imperial Brass.
Susan Frazier, Horn
Originally from Minnesota, Susan began her music studies at an early age, playing the piano and flute and then changing to theFrench horn in high school. She was then accepted to the School of Music at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. While at NU, she studied under Gail Williams and Barry Benjamin and received a Bachelors Degree in Music Performance and Sound Technology. She then moved to Dallas to attend SMU, where she received her Master's Degree in Horn Performance, under the direction of Gregory Hustis. During college, Susan attended many music festivals including the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, the Aspen Music Festival and the Pacific Music Festival in Japan. Since moving to Texas, Susan has become an active freelance musician in the DFW area. She holds positions in various regional orchestras, including Principal Horn of the Plano Symphony Orchestra, Principal Horn of the Irving Symphony Orchestra, Associate Principal Horn of the Dallas Wind Symphony and Third Horn of the East Texas Symphony Orchestra. She also regularly performs with the Fort Worth Symphony and the Dallas Opera. Susan is also an educator and teaches privately out of her home studio.
Oscar Passley, Trumpet
Equally proficient in both classical and jazz genres, Oscar Passley has performed at some of the most renowned venues and festivals throughout the nation and world. Some of the national stages recently include Fair Park Music Hall, Meyerson Symphony Center, Bass Hall, Dallas Theatre Center, Nokia Theatre and the Village Vanguard. Mr. Passley has also been featured at the Taste of New Orleans Festival - San Antonio, TX, Cutting Edge Music Business Conference - New Orleans, LA, Main Street Festival - Fort Worth, TX, Denton Arts and Jazz Festival and has been featured and interviewed by John McCaa on Dallas' Metro, WFAA Channel 8. Internationally, He has performed in Russia, Finland, Ukraine, Bolivia, Jamaica, Bermuda, and the Ivory Coast (West Africa).
In the classical realm, Mr. Passley has performed with groups such as the Las Colinas Symphony, Garland Symphony, Arlington Symphony, New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving, Chamber Orchestra of Denton and the Metropolitan Classical Ballet Orchestra. He has recently been elected, by audition, to be a member of the professional chamber group, Imperial Brass. Mr. Passley has also been performing with the Dallas Opera Orchestra since the 2005-2006 season.
In the jazz idiom, Mr. Passley has shared the stage with such notable musicians as Gladys and "Bubba" Knight, Louis Price (former lead singer for the Temptations), "Bebe" Neuwirth, Benjamin Wright, Winard Harper, Regina Carter and Wynton Marsalis. He has also toured and performed nationwide with the New Orleans style brass band, Inner City All Stars.
A native of Baltimore, Maryland Mr. Passley graduated from Morgan State University with a B.A. in music where he studied trumpet with Melvin Miles. He finished master degrees in trumpet performance (M.M.) and music education (M.M.E.) in 2004-2005 at the University of North Texas, studying classical trumpet with John Holt and is currently working on a D.M.A. in trumpet performance. Mr. Passley has recently been appoint the Visiting Scholar of Music at Eastfield College.
Adam Miller, Trumpet
Adam Miller is freelance trumpeter and trumpet teacher from the Dallas area. After receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Trumpet Performance from Southern Methodist University in 1999, Mr. Miller traveled to New York City where he completed a Master's Degree in Trumpet Performance at The Juilliard School. While attending the Juilliard School, Adam was able to study with some of the greatest trumpet players and conductors in the world, including Wynton Marsalis, Raymond Mase, Philip Smith (Principal Trumpet, New York Philharmonic), Mark Gould (former Principal Trumpet, Metropolitan Opera), Pierre Boulez, and Gerard Schwartz. After leaving New York in 2001, Mr. Miller played Principal Trumpet for the Shanghai Broadcasting Symphony in Shanghai, China. While in the Orchestra, he performed with artists Empire Brass, YoYo Ma, and Luciano Pavarotti. When Adam settled down again in the Dallas area, he began playing with the Irving Symphony, Plano Symphony, and Dallas Wind Symphony. Mr. Miller is also active teaching trumpet lessons in the Plano school district. As a member of the Imperial Brass Quintet, Adam Miller hopes to keep promoting this diverse and talented group of musicians.
Simon Willats, Trombone
Born in England, Simon is a graduate of the University Of London. He has studied trombone with Roger Brenner, Denis Wick and Chris Mowat. After cruising the Mediterranean, South America and the Caribbean with Cunard and Holland America Cruise Lines, Simon now lives in Plano Texas. A busy freelancer, he has performed with groups such as the Dallas Wind Symphony, Texas Chamber Orchestra, Richardson Symphony, Dallas Jazz Orchestra, Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Les Elghart Big Band and the Four Freshmen. Simon has also recorded for the BBC and PBS as well as numerous other artists. As a Low Brass Specialist for the Plano ISD, Simon greatly enjoys educating young musicians.
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