The Air Force Academy Band Brass Quintet “Stellar Brass”:

The Zephyr Brass Collective:

Based in Denver, Colorado, Zephyr Brass Collective is a professional brass quintet focused on expanding the repertoire for the medium. The ensemble commissions new works, collaborates directly with composers, and develops programs that move beyond standard brass quintet literature.

Zephyr treats the collective as a flexible ensemble. Their mission centers on commissioning new music and creating arrangements of contemporary and popular repertoire, exploring a wide range of textures and genres.Recent appearances include a performance at Colorado State University and a residency at the University of Wyoming, where the ensemble presented programs focused on new and emerging works for brass quintet.

Through commissioning, performance, and sustained repertoire development, Zephyr Brass Collective is building a body of work that reflects the range and adaptability of the modern brass quintet.

Schedule (subject to change):

8:00 a.m.: Vendor Load In, Boomer A and B
8:30-9:15 a.m.: Check-in/register (receive t-shirt, group placement, etc.), Griffin Lobby. Vendor exhibits open.
Please email the media release form and liability waiver to Stanley.Curtis@colostate.edu or bring a printed copy to check-in.

9 a.m.: Dr. Stanley Curtis Welcome and MS Clinic (warmup)with Adam Smith, Runyan Hall
9:25 a.m.: Vendor down time. Raffle for private lesson! Boomer A and B
9:45 a.m.: (MS) Side-by-side clinic: Corry Peterson and Ian Sawyer, Runyan Hall
10:30 a.m.: MS student trumpet ensembles rehearse, Rm 202, Rm 204, Griffin Concert Hall
11-11:30 a.m.: MS clinic: Stanley Curtis, Runyan Hall
11:35 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: Middle School Participant Trumpet Ensembles, Griffin Concert Hall
12:15-1 p.m.: Lunch (pizza, soda, and snacks provided), break: CSU jazz combo performance, Runyan Hall
1-1:30 p.m.: Vendor down time. Raffle for private lesson! Boomer A and B
1:30 p.m.: Justin Bartels Clinic, Runyan Hall
2-2:30 p.m.: HS Clinic: Zephyr Brass and Stellar Brass, Organ Recital Hall
2:30-3 p.m.: HS student Trumpet ensemble practice, Rm 202, Rm 204, Griffin Concert Hall
3-3:45 p.m.: Clinic: Stanley Curtis and Dayvison Costa "What Do College Trumpet Programs Want to Hear in Your Audition? *HS students are encouraged to do a mock audition, Runyan Hall
3:45-4 p.m.: Vendor break, Boomer A and B
4 p.m.: High School Participant Trumpet Ensembles, Organ Recital Hall

• UNC Trumpet Ensemble
• CSU Trumpet Ensemble
• Final Ensemble Piece, *World premiere by CSU student composer,Bryce Wicks

4:30-5 p.m.: Vendor Break, Boomer A and B
5 p.m.: Featured performance: Stanley Curtis, Dayvison Costa, Zephyr Brass Collective, Stellar Brass, Organ Recital Hall

André Bonnici

For more than 23 years, André Bonnici has served as professor of trumpet at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Départemental de Montluçon, France. He is a founding member of the internationally successful trumpet ensemble “Les Trompettes de Lyon” (established in 1989). In addition, he has served as a member of the International Trumpet Guild Board of Directors from 2017 to 2021 and as Chair of the International Trumpet Guild trumpet competitions. He has collaborated with orchestras such as the Orchestre de l'Opéra National de Lyon, Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic and Munich Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra of Camerata de France, Grand Ensemble de Cuivres Guy Touvron, and as principal trumpet of the Montluçon’s Orchestra.

Ashley Hall

Ashley’s work as a soloist has taken her around the world. From the Sydney Opera House to the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing, China, she radiates an “energetic joy” (Rochester Post Bulletin) through her “warm tone, stunning technique and expressive artistry.” (Cincinnati Enquirer) Performing as a soloist with ensembles and as a recitalist, 2024 highlights include solo performances with the Roanoke Symphony and Rock Hill Symphony and recitals in Hong Kong, Australia, and throughout the United States. From August 2023 to May 2024, Ashley was a touring member of Canadian Brass, performing concerts worldwide and entertaining audiences in the iconic and light-hearted style for which the group is known.

Dr. Michael Hengst

Michael T. Hengst teaches trumpet, serves as brass area coordinator, and directs the Roadrunner Pride Pep Band at Metropolitan State University Denver. Before his appointment, he served on the music faculty at the University of Texas at Austin and Southwestern University. Dr. Hengst holds degrees from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and the University of Texas at Austin. He has been a finalist at the National Trumpet Competition, the Crawford Trumpet Competition, and the Brass Quintet Competition of the Americas. He is an active soloist and clinician throughout the country and teaches at the InterHarmony International Music Festival each summer in Italy.  He is a Bach trumpet performing artist.

Justin Bartels

Justin Bartels has held the position of Principal Trumpet in the Colorado Symphony since 2008 and has served on the brass faculty at the University of Colorado in Boulder. In 2025, he will join the trumpet faculty at Colorado State University. Before arriving in Denver, Justin had an established professional career. He held the Principal Trumpet positions with the Columbus Symphony in Columbus, Ohio, from 2007-2008 and was a fellow with the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida, from 2003-2006.

Justin played 5 seasons with the Central City Opera as Principal Trumpet from 2006–2012. Justin has played Guest Principal Trumpet with the San Francisco Symphony, New York City Ballet, and St. Louis Symphony. He has also enjoyed performing with many of the country’s top orchestras, including The New York Philharmonic, Dallas Symphony, Alabama Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Virginia Symphony, and the Houston Symphony.

Chloe Swindler

Hailed by the International Trumpet Guild for her “sweet, singing sound” and “shimmering vibrato,” Dr. Chloe Swindler (b. 1995) thrives on finding the sweet spots of blurred genre lines. Her career includes engagements as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician, jazz musician, and studio musician. She recently performed with pop singer Harry Styles at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Lizzo at the BET Awards, and Vanessa Williams with the Colour of Music Festival.  

In September 2023, Dr. Swindler launched Trumpet Fundamentals, an innovative online trumpet studio. Rooted in her passion for education and mastery of the instrument, this digital space is crafted to empower trumpet players of all levels to elevate their technique and create personalized practice routines based on their goals.

Dr. Swindler currently serves as a Trumpet Faculty at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts and as an Assistant Professor in the Africana Studies Department at both Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory at Berklee. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from UCLA, a Master of Music degree from the Yale School of Music, and a Bachelor of Music degree from Boston University.

Gabriel Mervine

At a time in music where history and originality never seem to go hand in hand, Gabriel Mervine takes steps every time he picks up his trumpet to bring these two closer together. With a musical upbringing, Gabriel has deeply rooted himself in the traditions of Jazz and Classical music while at the same time contributing to the modern music scene. He wishes to leave no stone unturned and no genre unexplored because in his mind, all music has the power to make the artist who he/she is.

Born in Princeton, New Jersey, Gabriel began his professional playing career at the age of thirteen. By the time he graduated high school he was already looking at making a career out of playing the trumpet. He then went to the Colorado University at Boulder for Jazz Studies, but after one year decided to dedicate his time to becoming a working trumpet player, which would include continuing his studies privately with people such as Bobby Shew, Roger Ingram, and Greg Gisbert, just to name a few.

Gabriel quickly gained recognition and began performing with people such as Natalie Cole, Christian McBride, The Clayton/Hamilton Orchestra, The Colorado Symphony, The Temptations, Terence Blanchard, Lettuce, Karl Denson, John Scofield, Hugh Jackman, Lonnie Smith, Russell Malone, The Who, Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Wycliff Gordon, Sean Jones, Roberta Gambarini, the Motet, and Houston Person while also building a strong freelance career playing everything from Mariachi to Mahler. Gabriel now resides in Denver, Colorado and keeps a rigorous schedule of local and national performances. He is currently seeking to broaden his musical repertoire with his own groups stretching into more modern original works while simultaneously trying to keep the music that inspired him at such a young age alive and well.

Peter Bond was a member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra from 1992-2020. Prior to his appointment to the “Met,” he was principal trumpet of the New Mexico Symphony, and before that, a busy freelance musician in Atlanta where he played a wide variety of engagements. Mr. Bond has appeared with the New York Philharmonic, the NYC Ballet, NYC Opera, Atlanta Symphony, Atlanta Ballet, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, and is in demand as a soloist and clinician. These days, Mr. Bond is back in New Mexico where he teaches and is once again freelancing. He is the author of a unique and acclaimed method book, The Singing Trumpet published by Carl Fischer. 

Bill Pfund received his Bachelor of Music from the Dana School of Music of Youngstown University and his Master of Music from the New England Conservatory of Music. He has studied trumpet with Esotto Pellegrini, principal trumpet with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra and Roger Voisin, former principal trumpet with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.