About Us
Brass Musicians
Current brass musicians of Occasional Brass and Strings all hail from New England, and enjoy playing weddings and events in the Boston area. Get to know them here.
Ami Fields - French Horn
A native of Raleigh, North Carolina, Ami holds her Bachelor and Master Degrees in Horn Performance from the University of North Carolina Greensboro and the University of New Mexico, respectively. You may have heard her playing from behind the scenes in local productions such as 'A Little Night Music' at the Lyric Stage (Back Bay), or 'Into the Woods' at the New Repertory Theatre (Newton). She has also toured with the national tour of Monty Python's Spamalot and Shrek The Musical. Ami's life ambition is to be immortalized in print on the inside of a Nantucket Nectar's lid.
Andy Cormier - Trumpet(s), Flugelhorn
Andy Cormier grew up in Waltham, MA and studied trumpet with Charles Schlueter, former principal trumpet of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, while at the New England Conservatory of Music (NEC). While at NEC, he also studied improvisation with Jazz trumpeter John McNeil, and was selected as principal trumpet of the 1992 All-American College Orchestra at Disney World. Andy has also played trumpet for two North American tours of Broadway musicals, and has played professionally in the Boston area for over 20 years. He can be found in horn sections, jazz bands, church ensembles, and pit orchestras throughout New England.
Angel Subero - Bass Trombone
Venezuelan Trombonist Angel Subero started his musical studies at the age of 13. He attended the Conservatorio Itinerante, where he studied with the legendary Michel Becquet. In the U.S., he studied with Lawrence Isaacson, John Rojak, Claudio Roditi, and Jeff Galindo. Angel attended The Boston Conservatory and the New England Conservatory (NEC), where he received the NEC Merit Award, graduated with distinction in performance and studied with Douglas Yeo of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO). He has performed with the BSO, the Boston Pops, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP), and many others. Angel has worked with such conductors as James Levine, Seiji Ozawa, John Williams, Kurt Masur, Keith Lockhart, and Robert Spano. He currently serves as bass trombone faculty at The Boston Conservatory.
Brian Wallace - Trumpet(s), Flugelhorn
Brian Wallace attended the Berklee College of Music, earning a bachelor of music in music education. While in college he had the privilege of studying under such notable trumpet players as Wayne Naus, Lin Biviano, Tiger Okoshi and Jeff Stout. After college, Brian spent 4 years touring with original funk group, Rippopotamus, a group that has shared the stage with national acts such as Queen Latifah, Phish, Fishbone, De La Soul, and the Beastie Boys. Rippopotamus released five albums, wrote and performed the theme song for MTV's show, Singled Out, and were a featured act at the Montreal Jazz Festival. He has performed with the likes of Deana Martin, Bobby Rydell, Roger Ingram, Kayvan Vega, Don Sonero and Luisito Carrion. He regularly performs with Goza, Mikata, and the Rob Zappulla Orchestra.
Bryan Hilliard (aka Deeb) - Trumpet(s), Flugelhorn
Bryan Hilliard studied with Vincent Macrina (Brockton, MA), then with Jeff Holmes and the late Walter Chesnut at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. During College, he found the funk and joined Rippopotamus (Rippo), a Boston-based funk/rock band. During his tenure with Rippo, Bryan opened for a variety of national acts, including Queen Latifah, Phish, Fishbone, De La Soul, and the Beastie Boys. He can be heard around town playing weddings, musicals, funk, rock, big band, dixieland, salsa, merengue, and even a circus gig or two. Bryan earned a BA from UMass Amherst and an MBA from Boston University. After completing his MBA, Bryan founded Occasional Brass & Strings, which now employs over 200 musicians!
Chris Oberholtzer - Trombone
Dr. Chris Oberholtzer, Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Southern Maine, completed his Doctor of Arts degree in Trombone Performance/Pedagogy with a Secondary Emphasis in Jazz Pedagogy at the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley. He earned his Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies from Indiana University, Bloomington, and his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from the University of Southern Maine, Gorham. Chris maintains a busy schedule as a professional freelance trombonist. He has performed, toured, and recorded with many groups in various genres. His playing experience includes touring with the Artie Shaw Orchestra, the Guy Lombardo Orchestra, Ringling Brothers Circus, Toni Tenille, Capitol Center Jazz Orchestra, and Holland America Cruise Line.
Clayton DeWalt - Trombone
Clayton DeWalt began touring and recording professionally at age 15. He excels in many musical styles: from South African pop, blues, R&B, and classical chamber music, to salsa, Balkan brass, jazz, reggae, and folk. From Lincoln Center to the Monaco Opera House, Clayton has worked with many talented artists: Toshiko Akiyoshi, Nancy Wilson, John Brown's Body, Robin McKelle, Cecil McBee, The New York Voices, the Gene Krupa Orchestra, The Temptations, and Regis Philbin. He is an adjunct professor at Babson College, a resident artist at the Conservatory Lab Charter school, teaches music in the Lincoln public schools, and maintains a private studio. Clayton holds a B.S. in Music Ed. from Slippery Rock University, a M.M. in Jazz Studies from New England Conservatory (NEC), and is pursuing his D.M.A. in Jazz Studies at NEC.
Diantha Millott - French Horn
Diantha Millott, originally from Las Cruces, NM moved to the Boston area in 1998. Her horn professors include Jon Boen, whom she studied with at DePaul University where she graduated with a BM in horn performance; and Paul Ingraham, whom she studied with at the Yale School of Music where she graduated with a MM in horn performance. Upon graduating from Yale, Diantha auditioned for and won a position in the Air Force Band of Liberty (1998-2002), where she continued her musical studies with Eric Ruske. Making her home in Concord, MA she continues to enjoy freelancing in various ensembles in the greater Boston area.
Grant Randall - Trombone, Bass Trombone
Grant Randall performs in the Boston and New York area. He plays with many professional orchestras such as the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra, the Masterworks Chorale Orchestra, and the Männedorf Collegium Cantorum of Zurich, Switzerland. He also performs and records with many big band leaders and jazz composers such as Omar Thomas, Nick Grondin, Nick Urie, and the Beantown Swing Orchestra. Grant holds performance degrees from St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN, and the New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, MA, where he studied voice and piano in addition to low brass. He is currently the tenor vocal soloist at St. John the Evangelist Episcopal church on Beacon Hill in Boston.
Megan Riccio - French Horn
Megan Riccio is a passionate performer and educator. She holds Bachelor of Music degrees in Horn Performance and Music Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She also holds a Master of Music in Horn Performance from the Longy School of Music. Her principal teachers have included Laura Klock, Jean Rife, and Kevin Owen. Megan performs all over New England in a variety of settings, including: symphonic orchestra, theatre orchestra, jazz, chamber music, and solo recitals. She maintains a large private teaching studio with students from South Shore Conservatory, Derby Academy, and the Duxbury Public Schools. Megan is also a full time faculty member in the Lexington Public Schools, teaching instrumental and classroom music.
Neil Godwin - French Horn
Neil Godwin holds a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music in Conducting from the University of Mississippi. He also holds a Master of Horn Performance from Boston University, where he studied with Eric Ruske (Cleveland Symphony, Empire Brass Quintet). Neil has a wide range of experience as an orchestral, chamber, and solo performer, and has appeared with the Arlington Street Chamber Players, New World Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic, Mississippi Symphony, Meridian Symphony, and Monroe Symphony. He is an active teacher and performer in the New England area.
Rachel Daly - French Horn
Rachel Daly received her Bachelor of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music in horn performance and Masters of Arts degree from Columbia University in music education. She studied under David Jolley, William Brown, Laura Klock, and George Lessard. Rachel is a founding member of Hornithology Ensemble and the Lakeside Brass Quintet. She has performed with many area orchestras and chamber groups including the Civic Symphony Orchestra of Boston, Plymouth Philharmonic, New Bedford Symphony, Symphony by the Sea, Clafin Hill Symphony, and Charles River Sinfonietta. Along with a home studio, Rachel teaches at lessons programs at Hopkinton High School and King Philip High School. She is also a visiting lecturer at Bridgewater State University.
Russell Bogartz (aka Roof) - Trombone
Russell graduated Cum Laude from UMass Amherst with a B.A. in Music Education. He planned to audition for Orchestras but joined the Rock Band Rippopotamus instead, taking on the alter ego "Roof". Rippopotamus went on to win a Boston Music Award for Outstanding Funk Band, licensed a song as the theme song for MTV's Singled Out with Jenny McCarthy, won a WFNX award for Best Jam Band and has played around the country and the Montreal Jazz Festival in Canada. Russell has played with numerous ensembles from Orchestral to Jazz and from Dixieland to Funk.
Takatsugu Hagiwara - Tuba
A native of Japan, Takatsugu Hagiwara (Taka) received a Bachelor of Music degree from Showa College of Music in Japan, a Graduate Performance Diploma from Boston Conservatory, and a Master of Music degree from Boston University. His principal teachers include Chitate Kagawa (Sapporo Symphony Orchestra), Kensuke Yao (Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra), Andrew Miller (Alabama Symphony Orchestra), Charles Villarrubia (Rhythm and Brass), and Mike Roylance (Boston Symphony Orchestra). As an orchestral player, Taka has performed with the BSO, Boston Pops, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Albany Symphony Orchestra, and Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra. He is currently a member of the Majestic Brass Quintet, and the principal tuba for both the Vermont Symphony and the Symphony New Hampshire.
Thomas Gregory - Tuba
Thomas Gregory received a Bachelor of Music in tuba performance from the Boston Conservatory of Music and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Rhode Island College. He has performed with The Civic Orchestra of Chicago, The Bolshoi Ballet Orchestra, Harry Connick Jr., The Rhode Island Civic Choral and Orchestra as well recorded live performances in Boston, Chicago, and Norfolk, VA. He served for seven years as a tubist and electric bassist in the US Navy Bands in Norfolk and Chicago. He has performed in England, France, Iceland and 38 of the 50 United States.
Zack Grass - Tuba, Bass Trombone, Bass Guitar
Zack Grass is a low brass musician and teacher currently living in the Boston area. A native of Waynesboro, PA, Zack started his tuba career working at Hershey Park in the Chocolate Covered Band. Currently, Zack is pursuing his Doctorate of Musical Arts (DMA) at Boston University in tuba performance with Mike Roylance (Boston Symphony Orchestra), and freelancing in New England. Zack was the former teaching assistant for the BU athletic bands and is currently an arranger/composer for the groups. Other groups that Zack has performed with include the Hot Tamales Brass Band, Symphony New Hampshire, Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra, PRISMA Music Festival in Canada, the Eastern Music Festival, the Butler Symphony Orchestra, and the New England Brass Quintet.
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