Kate Amrine, Trumpet, Co-Leader
A passionate and creative performer, Kate Amrine is a prominent trumpet player balancing a multifaceted career from developing new repertoire and curating concerts to freelancing with many different groups in the New York City area. Kate frequently alternates between the musical theater world and the contemporary classical/new music worlds. Some favorite recent experiences include being the lead trumpet player in all-women bands New Heights Brass Band and TOP Queens and performing with classical groups including the Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass, Kings County Brass, eGALitarian, and Spark Duo. Kate is also very dedicated to commissioning and performing new music, premiering over 30 pieces both as a soloist and a chamber musician. In addition to performing, Kate maintains her own private trumpet studio and is an Adjunct Instructor at New York University. Find out more about Kate on social media @katetrumpet or on her website: www.kateamrine.com
Melissa Muñoz, Trumpet
Melissa Muñoz is a dedicated trumpeter, educator, and non-profit administrator based in New York City. She enjoys playing various genres of music and has performed with The Dallas Winds, Johnstown Symphony Orchestra, and New World Symphony. Melissa earned her Bachelor of Music degree at UT Austin and graduated with her Master of Music degree from Yale School of Music, where she was awarded the John Swallow Brass Prize. She also studied at the Colburn School under the tutelage of Jim Wilt.
Melissa has a passion for education and loves bringing out meaningful musicianship in her students. She has served as Adjunct Instructor of Brass at Cheshire Academy since 2019 and maintained a private lesson studio since 2017. Melissa is a co-founder of Brass Out Loud, an organization dedicated to uplifting the voices of musicians from underrepresented communities and has lectured on the topic of diversity in the brass world at universities across the U.S.
Blair Hamrick, French Horn
Blair Hamrick is passionate about horn performance and expanding its boundaries. She has performed and commissioned new solo works from composers Nirmali Fenn and Jason Mulligan, a trio from Samuel Beebe, and performed the late Donald Robb’s “Variations on a Chromatic Line” at a Composer Symposium in New Mexico. Blair is a part of Metropolitan Horn Authority (MHA), a horn quartet that has recorded several albums, performs regularly with Mozart for Munchkins, and has performed at Rockwood Music Hall. She recently received a grant from the Meir Commissioning Fund to have a piece by Jessica Meyer written for the group. In addition to new music, Blair is a studio musician in NYC, recording for films, operas, and independent projects in addition to chamber and orchestral ensembles. Blair runs a private lesson studio, gives masterclasses, and gives consultations for composers writing for horn. Blair is currently working on her DMA at Stony Brook University.
Julie Dombroski, Trombone
Julie is a New York City based trombonist performing commercial, musical theater, chamber music, new music and orchestral genres. Known for her innovative spirit and versatile performance, Julie can be heard on multiple video series with Producer and Audio Engineer S!lky Jones, performing with her brass quintet, subtle cheetah, by day and playing in the streets of NYC with New Heights Brass Band by night. As a chamber musician, Julie performs regularly with her NYC brass quintet subtle cheetah. subtle cheetah's mission is to promote all genres of music while providing a platform for underrepresented voices to be heard. After winning the Marin Alsop Family Foundation Grant in 2019, the ensemble performed their inaugural call for scores concert, premiering three new works for brass quintet written by female composers. You can find subtle cheetah performing throughout Manhattan, keeping music alive in NYC even through a pandemic. Also as a member of Project eGALitarian, she is one of the 2021 recipients of Chamber Music America's Ensemble Forward Grant. Julie has also notably performed with Ithaca Brass and the Clarmont Trombone Quartet.
Caitlin Jodoin, Tuba, Sousaphone, Co-Leader
Caitlin Jodoin is a tubist based in New York City. She also doubles on bass trombone, flugabone, and sousaphone. Caitlin holds her Bachelor’s degrees in Music and Education from the University of Toronto. She graduated this year from New York University earning her Master’s degree in Music with a focus on tuba performance under the instruction of Marcus Rojas and Kyle Turner. While in Toronto, Caitlin studied tuba with Jen Stephen and Sal Fratia as well as conducting with Jeff Reynolds and Uri Mayer. Caitlin has performed in her hometown of Toronto with groups such as Hannaford Youth and Silver Bands, Weston Silver Band, Pan Fantasy Steel Band, Toronto Community Orchestra, and Kingston Brass. In New York City, Caitlin is a member of eGALitarian, New Heights Brass Band, is the founder of Hot Bottom Brass, and freelances in the New York Area. She has been seen playing with groups such as: Canterbury Choral Society, Ensemble Mise-En, Extra Syrup Horns, Brass Queens NYC, ConSoul Big Band, The Game Brass, Bobby Spellman Nonet, LTrain Brass Band, and the Mannes Symphony Orchestra. One of Caitlin’s goals is to amplify voices from minority communities. She has commissioned works from different female artists including a tuba solo with piano, tuba and trombone duet, and a graphic score duet.
Shelby Blezinger-McCay, Drums
Shelby Blezinger-McCay is a New York City-based passionate soloist, chamber player, educator, and experimental percussionist who desires to explore the vast art of percussion and music within today’s communities and cultures. Shelby is a graduate from the University of North Texas with a Master’s in Percussion Performance with emphasis on Contemporary Performance Practice. She has also received a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Auburn University. She has been grateful to have recently performed and collaborated with the New York Virtuosi, Sō Percussion, Distinguished Concerts International Orchestra, the World Percussion Group, and more. She currently performs with her chamber trio, Troika and with Aladdin on Broadway. She has performed across the world including USA, Poland, and China as a soloist and chamber percussionist. She serves as Operations Director for Sō Percussion and Program Coordinator for the Sō Percussion Summer Institute.