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Mike Avila (Trumpets)
was born and raised in Garden Grove, California. After
undergraduate studies at Long Beach State University
and Southern California University, Mike moved to Florida
in 1983 to become the lead trumpet player in the World
Class Brass at Disney’s EPCOT center, a position
that he held for sixteen years. Well known as a piccolo
trumpet specialist, Mike’s abilities are in great
demand in the Central Florida Region. Mike is the proud
father of four and is also the president of the American
Federation of Musicians, Local 389, Central Florida
Musicians Association.
Robert Carpenter (Tuba)
has been Principal Tubist with the Orlando Philharmonic
Orchestra since its inception. Mr. Carpenter is also
a founding member of the Sovereign Brass ensemble and
is on the Rollins College music faculty. He received
a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University
in Music Performance and Electrical Engineering. While
at Northwestern University, Mr. Carpenter studied with
Mr. Arnold Jacobs, and performed as a member of the
Chicago Civic Orchestra, Evanston Symphony Orchestra,
and Lake Forest Symphony Orchestra. He has since combined
careers in musical performance, recording, and teaching,
and performs with symphony orchestras throughout the
southeast.
Mark Goldberg (Percussion)
attended California State University at Northridge (Los
Angeles, CA). A former member of the Florida Symphony
Orchestra, Mark currently performs with the Orlando
Philharmonic Orchestra, the Naples Philharmonic, the
Jacksonville Symphony, and the Savannah Symphony. Mr.
Goldberg has been a professional freelance percussionist
for 13 years in Central Florida. He also performs (percussion
and drum set) at Walt Disney World. He has recorded
with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and is a member
of numerous local groups.
Kathy Gabriel, (French Horn)
received her musical education from the University of
Illinois, Champaign/Urbana. Her teachers have included
John Fairfield, Kazmierz Machala, Kent Laramee, and
Sharon Corbin. Ms. Gabriel is 3rd horn of the Orlando
Philharmonic. She has been a member of the Brevard Symphony
Orchestra since 1994 and the Florida West Coast Symphony
(Sarasota, Fl). In addition, Kathy is the principal
horn with the Walt Disney World Orchestra. Active in
the recording studio as well as being a regular member
of the pit orchestras for touring Broadway shows and
name acts, Ms. Gabriel is in demand around the region
for her varied musical abilities. This is Kathy’s
first season with Sovereign Brass and we welcome her
and her family, (husband John and four children), to
the Sovereign Brass family.
Thomas Macklin (Trumpets)
is currently a member of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra.
Mr. Macklin began his musical career at an early age
performing in his father’s band, the Imperial
Valley Music Mixers. A native of El Centro, California,
Tom attended California State University, Long Beach,
with a major in music performance. After college, he
moved to Florida to perform with the Maple Leaf Brass
at EPCOT Center (Disney World, FL). Tom’s resume
includes a tour with the Woody Herman Orchestra, Broadway
touring shows and name acts. Mr. Macklin is an active
recording artist and professional arranger, with writing
credits ranging from chamber music to symphony orchestras.
Tom has also been a soloist with bands and orchestras
from across the United States as a featured soloist
in the Disney Featured Performer program.
Jeffrey Thomas (Trombones) a
native of Kirkland, Illinois, is an active performer
and recording artist living in Apopka, Florida. After
graduating from Florida State University, Mr. Thomas
attended North Texas State University as a Graduate
Teaching Fellow, playing in the famed 1:00 Jazz Lab
Band. Mr. Thomas is the former principal trombonist
of the Florida West Coast Symphony Orchestra (Sarasota,
Fl) and has toured nationally, recording three albums,
with the Dallas Brass. Jeff has twice performed the
world premiers of new compositions for trombone: Fantasia
by Frigyes Hidas and T-Bone Concerto by Johan DeMeij.
As a Disney Featured Artist, he performs as a soloist
and clinician with bands and orchestras from across
the USA and the World. Currently performing with the
Sovereign Brass, the Orlando Philharmonic, Orlando Opera,
and touring Broadway Shows as well as recording for
TV, Radio and Motion Pictures, Mr. Thomas also performs
regularly with most of the Symphony Orchestras in the
region.
It was in 1994 that Jeff, Bob, and Mark gathered as
the original members of the Sovereign Brass. It has
been their passion ever since to bring high quality
brass music to audiences in a way that is both substantial
and entertaining.
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SOVEREIGN
BRASS 
