Robert Farrar has earned degrees from Appalachian State University (B. M.), and the University of Virginia (M.D.). He has studied trombone with Harold McKinney, and John Drew. His chamber music coaches have included Gunther Schuller and Harvey Phillips. He has performed with The Greenville, (S. Car.) Symphony, The Spokane (Wash.) Symphony and with various jazz artists including Buddy Baker, Bobby Shew, Herbie Mann, and Bill Watrous. Dr. Farrar is in his second year of Pathology residency at the University of Virginia.

Robert Graham received his Bachelors and Masters Degree in Trombone from Indiana University with High Honors. He has served as Instructor of Trombone at Pittsburgh State University, Louisiana State University and the University of Virginia. Mr. Graham has performed with the symphony orchestras of Baton Rouge, Richmond, West Virginia, and Charlottesville. In addition, he has performed with the Broadway touring production of “Annie Get Your Gun” and with the Cab Calloway orchestra.

Linda Hanson, Minister of Music at Westminster Presbyterian Church since 1983, is Music Director of the Organ Concert Series. She earned Bachelor of Music and Master of Sacred Music degrees from Boston University, where she studied with Max Miller and John Ferris. She is a Colleague of the American Guild of Organists and past dean of its Charlottesville/Albemarle chapter. She studied Alexander technique with Sandra Bain Cushman and composition with Alice Parker. She is delighted to be joined by these many fine playmates for this performance.

Nick Harvey is a 2003 graduate of James Madison University. Although his degree, and strong passion, are in music, he also has a large interest in the field of media. He is currently employed at WHSV-TV3 in Harrisonburg, where he is a production assistant/director. Nick is highly interested in early brass instruments, and is considering further studies at the graduate level in music, not only to improve his modern trumpet playing but also to study its early relatives. His hobbies include tennis, astronomy, and reading about the newest cars.

James Kluesner is Professor of Trumpet at James Madison University. He has degrees from the University of Iowa and Northwestern University. Professor Kluesner is the 1999-2000 recipient of the Carl Harder Distinguished Teaching Award at James Madison University. He is currently a member of the Madison Brass Quintet and the Skyline Brass Ensemble. His principal teachers include John Beer, Vincent Cichowicz, and Adolph Herseth. Mr. Kluesner has served as Principal Trumpet with the Orchestra of the State Theater of Hessen in Wiesbaden, Germany, the Symphony Orchestra of Schleswig-Holstein in Flensburg, Germany, and the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony, and the Frankfurt Radio Orchestra. Professor Kluesner formerly taught at Bemidji State University, the Akademie für onkunst, in Darmstadt, Germany, and the Wiesbaden Conservatory, and has performed at numerous national and international conferences. He has also performed with the “Legends in Concert” show in Las Vegas, Nevada, and with such well known artists as Ray Charles and the Moody Blues.

Robert Mott studied trombone at the University of Arizona. Since moving to the Charlottesville area in 1998, Robert has served as the first call bass trombonist for all of the local orchestras. Robert is an ASCAP composer and arranger and is currently the music director for “The Incredible Journey”, a contemporary praise band based at the First United Methodist Church in Charlottesville. He is a founding member of “Mr. Jefferson's Bones” and is the owner of Robert Mott and Associates, a nationally award winning graphic design firm.

Abigail Pack, a native of Roanoke, Virginia received her Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from East Carolina University in Greenville, N. Car., in 1994 before earning a Master of Arts degree in Horn Performance and Pedagogy in 1996 from The University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, where she was a teaching assistant and toured with the faculty brass quintet. Ms. Pack most recently received her doctoral degree from The University of Wisconsin–Madison in December, 2004. She completed her doctoral course work there in May, 2001 before moving back to Virginia to begin her present teaching position at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. She has held teaching positions at Knox College in Galesburg, Ill., Western State College in Gunnison, Col., and in the Gunnison Watershed School District in Gunnison, and was awarded the Bolz Teaching Fellowship while in residence at UW–Madison. Ms. Pack has held playing positions with the Barton Symphony Orchestra, Quad Cities Symphony Orchestra, Des Moines Symphony Orchestra, Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra, Green Bay Symphony Orchestra, and the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. She currently performs regionally as a member of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, Opera Roanoke, Southwest Chamber Orchestra, and with the Wintergreen Summer Music Festival. JMU performing ensembles include the Madison Brass and the Montpelier Winds. Her teachers include Mary Burroughs, Kristin Thelander, and Douglas Hill.

Bruce Penner, percussionist, received college degrees in music as a performer, educator, and composer in Kansas and Buffalo, N. Y. Since coming to Charlottesville, he has studied the music of West African and Caribbean cultures.

Robert Harrold is currently employed as an Ophthalmic Technician and Retinal/Angiogram Photographer with Augusta Eye Associates. He holds degrees in Music from Florida State University, East Carolina University, and is ABD/DMA at the University of Kentucky. His Master of Multiple Brass Degree included study and performance on all brass instruments. Teaching positions have included Pitt Community College, Olympic College, Pacific Lutheran University, University of Kentucky, Fort Hays State University, as well as Graduate Teaching Fellowships at East Carolina University and Louisiana State University. Robert is currently the Brass Instructor at Valley Music Academy and a clinician for Yamaha Musical Instruments, and has performed professionally with such artists as Roy Clark, Pearl Bailey, Barry Gibb, Frank Mantooth, Dave Brubeck, Ray Charles, and The Temptations.