The Players  
 



Marc Bolin

Tuba
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
Founding Member since: 2002

Marc has performed with some of the world's finest organizations such as the Guy Lombardo Orchestra, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey Orchestras, Carla Bley, Johnny Rivera, Herman Olivera, Pete Escovedo, Sheila E, Black Eyed Peas and the Ink Spots. He recently participated in a State Tour of China playing traditional Jazz, performed with the Ambassadors of New Orleans' Jazz at the Red Sea Jazz Festival in Israel, has performed in two of Philip Glass' Operas Akhenaton and La Belle et la Bete and has even played on the Mississippi Riverboats.

In 2007 Marc was commissioned to realize Duke Ellington's incomplete opera Queenie Pie for the Oakland Opera Theater. In addition to playing music, Marc is an experienced teacher and youth advocate who has worked with multicultural youth from diverse backgrounds at the elementary and high school levels in workshops and residencies stretching from one day to ten months. His work as an arts-educator has included appointments throughout the Bay Area, as well as teaching through UCLA's Music Outreach Program.

Before becoming a professional musician and educator, Marc served in the U.S. Marine Corps and fought in Operation Desert Storm for the liberation of Kuwait in Operation Desert Storm. Marc is currently studying music and African-American studies at UCLA.

Email Marc


Jonathan Bradley

Lead Trumpet
Hometown: ......, CA
Member since: 2010
Following High School, where he studied trumpet under seven-time Grammy Award-winning trumpet player and arranger Jerry Hey, Jonathan left to study with renowned Los Angeles studio trumpet player Charley Davis at the California State University, Long Beach where he completed is Bachelors Degree in Trumpet performance, having also studied under Christopher Still and Robert Frear. Although he is only twenty-three years old, Jonathan has played live, recorded, and toured with some of the biggest names in the world. Some of these artists include The Backstreet Boys, Prince, Queen Latifa, Enrique Iglesias, Michael Buble, Ruben Blades, Jose Feliciano, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Solomon Burke, Sheila E, Pete Escovedo, AJ McLean and Barbara Morrison. Also, while attending the world-renowned Henry Mancini Institute in 2005 and 2006, Jonathan Performed with such artists as Quincy Jones, Dave Koz, Bobby McFerrin, Patrick Williams, Allen Silvestri, Michael Giaccino, Alf Clausen, Doc Severinsen, Christian McBride, Ray Barretto Maria Schneider, Allen Vizzutti, Johnny Mandel, Bill Cunliffe, Vince Mendoza, and Abe Laboriel. He has also toured with musical groups all over Europe, Japan, China, Taiwan, South America, most of North America, and even Indonesia. In the past few years Jonathan has established himself as one of the top young freelance trumpet players in the music scene of Los Angeles, performing every style of music from orchestral music to Rock, Reggae, Salsa, Big Band, and Chamber music. Currently, Jonathan is completing his Masters degree in music performance at UCLA under the tutelage of Jens Lindeman.

Jon's MySpace



Alicia Mastromonaco

Horn
Hometown: Marin, CA
Member since: 2011
Alicia Mastromonaco was born in San Francisco, California, Alicia Mastromonaco began playing the horn at the age of twelve. She made her solo orchestral debut with the Marin Symphony Youth Orchestra in 2004 with Richard Strauss’s Horn Concerto Number One. Alicia studied at Boston University for her Undergraduate education, where she earned degrees in Horn Performance and Musicology and studied with Eric Ruske, Daniel Katzen, Jean Rife and Jason Snyder. After living in Boston, Alicia moved to Berlin, Germany, where she studied at the Universität der Künste Berlin under the tutelage of Christian-Friedrich Dallmann. While living in Germany, Alicia played with several orchestras such as the Kammerochester Hamburg and the Filmorchester Babelsberg, and was a member of the ENGAL woodwind quintet, recipients of the Yehudi Menuhin LIVE MUSIC NOW program, which performed outreach concerts around Berlin and the surrounding areas. Alicia currently lives in Los Angeles, where she is completing her Masters degree at UCLA under Chris Cooper. Alicia is an avid chamber musician, and is currently playing in Paradigm Brass and a woodwind quintet at UCLA, both members of the Gluck Foundation outreach program at UCLA. She also plays in several California Orchestras, including the Santa Rosa Symphony, Monterey Symphony, Napa Valley Symphony, Fresno Philharmonic, Culver City Chamber Orchestra, and the Bay Area’s Jazz Mafia Symphony. t



Courtney D. Jones

Trumpet
Hometown: Rochester, NY
Member since: 2008
Courtney D. Jones recently completed his Masters of Music degree in Trumpet Performance at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Va., and received his Bachelors of Arts degree from Columbus State University in Columbus, Ga., For three consecutive years, Jones has been a classical semi-finalist in the National Trumpet Competition held in Fairfax, Va. Jones has had the pleasure of studying trumpet with Vernon Gordon, Richard Rulli, Ray Vazquez, Moffat Williams and virtuoso trumpeters Jens Lindemann and Wynton Marsalis.
Now living in Los Angeles, Jones is continuing his post-graduate education at the University of California, while pursuing his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Trumpet Performance and Pedagogy at UCLA, where he is a Gluck Fellow. Jones also conducts the UCLA Symphonic Band and recently soloed with the UCLA Marching Band. He is part of the Music Outreach Program at UCLA, promoting music education throughout inner-city schools. Jones has played with the Golden States Pop Orchestra and Southeast Symphony Orchestra.

Courtney's myspace



Nick Daley

Trombone
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Member since: 2013



Forrest Mitchell


Drums
Hometown: ......, CA
Member since: 2009
Forrest Mitchell is a second year Ethnomusicology major with a concentration in jazz performance. He plays drums in many different styles of music including jazz, pop, r and b, funk, fusion, and rock. Forrest has won several awards such as the "outstanding soloist" award at the prestigious Monterey Jazz Festival. He has toured Europe with his high school jazz ensemble playing at several jazz festivals including the famous Montreux Jazz Festival. Currently at UCLA, Forrest plays in the jazz orchestra and the gluck outreach jazz ensemble, as well as the gluck outreach brass ensemble. He also enjoys playing in his up and coming pop group called the Thristbusters.

Thirstbusters' MySpace



Shaunte Palmer

Trombone/Keys
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Member since: 2011
In a world, where already great music needs that something extra, One Man stands between his love of melody and horn stabs. When it's needed with impeccable timing, Shaunte sees all that occurs and adds the appropriate melodic response. Formally trained in Voice and Trombone, He has lended his talents to artists such as Rihanna, Kayne West, Yoko Ono, Rza, Lady Gaga, Sublime, Raphael Saadiq, Talib Kweli, Kurt Elling, Bonnie Raitt, Eek-a-Mouse, Cuban Legend Francisco Aguabella and Jazz Legend Gerald Wilson. In town, you may see him perform with House of Vibe, Cava, Gumbo Bros., Zoux, and Critical Brass. Shaunte Palmer currently resides in Los Angeles.

Shaunte Palmer on YouTube



David Sedgwick

Trombone
Hometown: ......, CA
Member since: 2009
David Sedgwick is a trumpet performance major studying under Jens Lindemann at UCLA. He has been playing trumpet since the age of five, and piano from the age of four. Growing up in a musical family, he was always encouraged to participate in musical events, both large and small. He played in every ensemble offered during his schooling, ranging from jazz combos to community youth orchestras. He joined the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony at the age of nine, and sat principal of the same from the age of eleven, winning a concerto competition with the orchestra at the age of seventeen. He also performed in many music festivals on piano; upwards of four festivals per academic year, and completed the Certificate of Merit program through the highest level, earning what's known as the CM High School Artist's Diploma. He won Branch honors multiple times in piano festivals and earned multiple awards through the Piano Guild. Since arriving at UCLA, David has been playing in as many ensembles as possible, on both trumpet and piano. Playing in the Wind Ensemble, two Jazz Bands, two chamber ensemble classes, brass ensemble, Symphony Orchestra and the Philharmonia has kept him quite busy over the last three years, and he intends to continue on in music for at least a further two years after earning his undergraduate degree. David also has a great interest in the fields of conducting and composing, and intends to follow these passions alongside his performance career.

Mike Cottone

Trumpet
Hometown: Rochester, NY
Member since: 2012



Immanuel Shuford

Vocals/Trombone
Hometown: Montgomery, AL
Member since: 2010