Julian Bliss is one of the world's finest solo clarinetists excelling as concerto soloist, chamber musician, jazz artist, master class leader and tireless musical explorer. He has inspired a generation of young players, as guest lecturer and creator of the Leblanc Bliss range of affordable clarinets, and introduced a large new audience to his instrument. The breadth and depth of Julian's artistry are reflected in the diversity and distinction of his work. He has appeared with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, and performed chamber music with Joshua Bell, Hélène Grimaud, Steven Isserlis, Steven Kovacevich and other great interpreters.

Born in St Albans (UK), Julian began playing at the age of four. He moved to the United States in 2000 to study at Indiana University and subsequently received lessons from Sabine Meyer in Germany. Julian's prodigious early career included performances at the prestigious Gstaad, Mecklenburg Vorpommern, Rheingau and Verbier festivals, and critically acclaimed debuts at London's Wigmore Hall and New York's Lincoln Center. His first album for EMI Classics' Debut series was greeted by five-star reviews and public praise following its release in 2003. Released on Signum Classics in September 2014, Julian's live recording of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto with the Royal Northern Sinfonia was Classic FM disc of the week upon release. The release was accompanied by a performance at Classic FM Live at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

Julian stands today among the finest musicians of his generation. He launched the Julian Bliss Septet in 2012 at Wigmore Hall and Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London and fronted their debut disc, Benny Goodman -The King of Swing. This programme has gone on to be performed across the world, including a sell-out performance at the Concertgebouw. The Julian Bliss Septet will tour the US twice in 2015-2016.

Julian's 2015 engagements see him travel across the world, including performances with the Chamber Orchestra of Paris, the Sao Paulo Symphony Orchestra and the Auckland Symphony Orchestra as well as returning to The Sage Gateshead with the Royal Northern Sinfonia.

Colonel John R. Bourgeois, USMC (Ret), was the twenty-fifth director of "The President's Own" United States Marine Band. His acclaimed career spanned nine presidential administrations -- from Presidents Eisenhower to Clinton.

A native of Louisiana, Colonel Bourgeois is a graduate of Loyola University in New Orleans. He joined the Marine Corps in 1956 and entered "The President's Own" in 1958 as a french horn player and arranger. Named director in 1979, Colonel Bourgeois was promoted to his present rank in 1983. He retired from active duty on 11 July 1996.

As director of "The President's Own," Colonel Bourgeois was music advisor to the White House. He selected the musical program and directed the band in its traditional place of honor at the US Capitol for four presidential inaugurations, a Marine Band tradition dating to 1801. He regularly conducted the Marine Band and the Marine Chamber Orchestra at the White House, appearing there more frequently than any other musician in the nation.

Under Colonel Bourgeois' leadership the Marine Band presented its first overseas performances in history, traveling to the Netherlands in 1985 where "The President's Own" performed with the Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy. In February 1990, Colonel Bourgeois led the Marine Band on an historic eighteen-day concert tour of the Soviet Union as part of the first US-USSR Armed Forces Band Exchange. He also directed the Marine Band on nineteen nationwide tours, bringing the music of "The President's Own" to the American people.

Colonel Bourgeois served as president and CEO of the John Philip Sousa Foundation for over twenty years, president of the American Bandmasters Association (1991), president of the National Band Association (1994-96), and the American vice president of the International Military Music Society. He served on the board of directors of the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles and the Association of Concert Bands. As director of the Marine Band, Colonel Bourgeois was the music director of Washington D.C.'s prestigious Gridiron Club. He is a member of the Military Order of the Carabao, The Alfalfa Club and the College Band Directors National Association.

Among the many honors and awards Colonel Bourgeois has received are the 1986 Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Bandmaster Award and the 1987 Kappa Kappa Psi Distinguished Service to Music Award for "contributions to the growth and developments of modern college and university bands." In 1993, he was awarded the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic Medal of Honor. Colonel Bourgeois was elected to the Academy of Wind and Percussion Artists of the National Band Association in 1988 and received the 1991 Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia National Citation "for service and dedication to music and country." In 1994 he was awarded the Grainger Medallion of the International Percy Grainger society and in 1996 the A. A. Harding Award of the American School Band Directors Association.

Colonel Bourgeois conducted his final concert as director of "The President's Own" on 11 July 1996 (the band's 198th birthday), at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, DC. More than 3,500 people, including prominent musicians and government dignitaries, attended the gala event. Presidents Clinton, Bush, Ford and Carter and Mrs. Reagan sent letters of gratitude and praise which were read at the concert. Secretary of the Navy John H. Dalton hailed Bourgeois as "a national treasure" and presented him with the Distinguished Service Medal from President Clinton. Marine Corps Commandant General Charles C. Krulak compared Colonel Bourgeois to the band's seventeenth director, John Philip Sousa, saying, "Our Corps has not only had John Philip Sousa, we have also had a John Bourgeois. His legacy will never be forgotten by the Marine Corps or our nation." The concert was covered by media giants CNN, ABC, CBS, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. James Brady featured Bourgeois' profile in his "Brady's Bits" in the 7 July edition of Parade magazine. ABC's Peter Jennings selected Colonel Bourgeois as the Evening News "Person of the Week." The newscast was viewed in the Clinton's private quarters in the White House by the colonel and his family and five-year old granddaughter, Sophie. After the change of command concert, The Washington Post's chief music critic, Tim Page wrote, "Bourgeois leaves his ensemble in terrific shape; indeed, it would be hard to imagine any band playing with greater vigor, precision, and timbrel variety...Washington is very generous with its standing ovations. But Bourgeois deserved each and every one he received last night."

In August 2000 Colonel Bourgeois was named "American Man of Music" for the triennium 2000-3 by Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia National Music Fraternity. In December 2000 he was elected to the National Band Association's Hall of Fame of Distinguished Band Conductors with induction ceremonies held at Troy State University in February 2001. In March 2005 he was installed as a Lowell Mason Fellow of the Music Educators National Conference and in May he was awarded a Doctor of Music "Honoraris Causa" from Loyola University, New Orleans.

In his retirement Colonel Bourgeois stays busy as guest conductor/clinician, visiting professor at Loyola University, New Orleans, in a chair endowed in his name, and continues to produce wind band arrangements and editions for Wingert-Jones in a series known as "The Bourgeois Editions." He is also published by Ludwig Masters. He is active in his local community of Washington, Virginia, where he has served as president of the Rappahannock Historical Society and president of the board of the Child Care and Learning Center. n. In December 2011, he served as Grand Marshall of the town of Washington's Christmas Parade. Also he has authored a chapter on the history of the United States Marine Band titled, "The President's Own" in the book, The Marines.

Colonel Bourgeois was privileged to be a colleague of the late Lorin Maazel and he conducted his setting of Bach's Goldberg Variatios for the Maestro's memorial service at Castleton in November, 2014. He is director of The Castleton Festival Winds and serves on the advisory board of The Castleton Foundation.

A product of the rich cultural life of Chicago, composer-conductor Mark Camphouse was born in Oak Park, Illinois in 1954. He received undergraduate and graduate degrees in music from Northwestern University where he studied composition with Alan Stout, conducting with John P. Paynter, and trumpet with Vincent Cichowicz. A scholarship from the Civic Orchestra of Chicago enabled Camphouse to study trumpet privately for two years with the late, legendary Chicago Symphony Principal Trumpet Emeritus, Adolph Herseth.

Camphouse began composing at an early age, with the Colorado Philharmonic premiering his First Symphony when he was 17. His 30 published works for wind band have received widespread critical acclaim and are performed frequently in the US and abroad, in such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Orchestra Hall-Chicago, Royal Albert Hall-London, and conferences of the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, College Band Directors National Association, National Association for Music Education, American Bandmasters Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. Principal commissions include those by the William D. Revelli Foundation, The US Army Band, The US Marine Band, Northshore Concert Band, and some of America's finest high school, college-university, and community bands.

Mr. Camphouse has served as guest conductor, lecturer, and clinician in 43 states, Canada, Europe, and China. He was elected to membership in the American Bandmasters Association in 1999 and has served as founding coordinator of the National Band Association Young Composer Mentor Project since 2000. He conceived and edited the unique 4-volume book series for GIA Publications, Composers on Composing for Band. His 5th book with GIA Publications (Whatsoever Things . The Life and Teachings of John P. Paynter) was published in 2014.

The 2015-16 academic year marks his 38th year of full-time teaching in higher education. In 2006, Professor Camphouse joined the faculty of George Mason University (Fairfax, Virginia) where he serves as conductor of the wind symphony and teaches courses in composition and conducting. Other principal artistic, teaching, and administrative positions have included serving as Music Director and Conductor of the New Mexico Music Festival at Taos Symphony Orchestra, Associate Director and Music Division Head of the Virginia Governor's School for the Arts, Acting Dean of Music of New World School for the Arts, and Interim Director of the George Mason University School of Music.

Professor Camphouse attained regional finalist status in the prestigious White House Fellowship Competition in 1992. In 2002, he received an Outstanding Faculty Award sponsored by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, the Commonwealth's highest honor for faculty at Virginia's college and universities for demonstrated excellence in teaching, research, and public service. In 2011, Camphouse received the Kappa Kappa Psi Distinguished Service to Music Award in recognition of, and appreciation for valuable contributions to the growth and development of the modern college/university band in the field of composition. This December, Camphouse and Mason School of Music Professor Anthony Maiello will receive awards for their achievements in composition and conducting from Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity during the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. Mark Camphouse has been married to Elizabeth Ann Curtis (Director of GMU's Potomac Arts Academy) since 1982. They have twin daughters, Beth and Briton.

Dennis J. Zeisler has been on the faculty of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia for almost four decades, serving as Director of Bands, Professor of Clarinet and Saxophone, and Chairman of the Music Department. Under his direction, The Old Dominion University Wind Ensemble has developed into a premiere performing ensemble. They have recorded for TRN Music Publishers and Frank Erickson Publications and recently been featured in concerts at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. As former Chair for fifteen years, he led the steady growth of the Old Dominion University Music Department at the under- graduate and graduate levels. Professor Zeisler has a B.M., B.M.E., and M.M. from the University of Michigan, where he was solo clarinetist of the Symphony Band under the direction of Dr. William D. Revelli. He was solo clarinetist of the Detroit Concert Band under the direction of Dr. Leonard Smith and clarinet soloist with the United States Military Academy Band at West Point. Mr. Zeisler had his New York debut in Carnegie Recital Hall in May 1974 and has performed at three International Clarinet Society Conferences. He has been on the faculty of Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan where he was principal clarinetist of the faculty orchestra and conductor of faculty and staff ensembles. In 1998, Professor Zeisler was awarded membership in the prestigious American Bandmasters Association. In 1999, he received the Orpheus Award from Phi Mu Alpha for "significant and lasting contributions to the cause of Music in America", and the Virginia Music Educator of the Year Award from the Virginia Music Educators Association. In 2004 he received the National Band Association Mentor Award and in 2009 he was awarded a University Professorship at Old Dominion University for excellence in teaching. He is founder and conductor of the Virginia Wind Symphony, a professional wind group made up of primarily music educators from throughout the southeastern Virginia area. The Virginia Wind Symphony has recorded seven commercial compact discs, has been featured in concert at two American Bandmasters Association Conventions, at two Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinics and was awarded the John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Silver Scroll for Adult and Community Bands in North America. Professor Zeisler is on the Board of Directors for the National Band Association, John Philip Sousa Foundation, American Bandmasters Association and the Midwest Clinic. He is currently the immediate Past President of the American Bandmasters Association.

Christopher Bill is a musician based outside of New Yok City. He has been playing piano since he was six years old, trombone since he was ten, and composing/arranging since he was twelve.

Mr. Bill has a Bachelor of Music for classical trombone performance from the State University of New York Purchase Conservatory of Music in New York. While at the conservatory he studied with critically acclaimed trombonists Weston Sprott (Metropolitan Opera), Denson Paul-Pollard (Metropolitan Opera), John Fedchock (Grammy Nominated Jazz Trombonist), and Timothy Albright.

Mr. Bill is best known for his all-trombone arrangements of popular songs. His YouTube Channel has been gaining popularity since the summer of 2012 when he posted his version of Owl City's Fireflies for six trombones. More recently, a cover of Pharrell Williams' Happy, where Christopher uses a looping station to compose the song on the spot went viral in the spring of 2014. His videos have amassed over 16 million views and a following of over 100,000 subscribers. In April, 2014, Christopher independently released his first cover album, Breakthrough, which was followed by his Christmas album, Smiling's My Favorite.

Since graduating from Purchase Conservatory, Mr. Bill enjoys a busy schedule of performances, clinics, and master classes. In addition to producing a new video every Saturday for his YouTube Channel, he often performs at festivals such as the American Trombone Workshop, MidWest Clinic, Texas Bandmasters Association, Con Brio Festivals, Conn-Selmer Institute, Western International Band Clinic, and the International Trombone Festival.

Christopher Bill is a Conn-Selmer, Inc. Performing Artist and Clinician.

Virginia Allen has conducted ensembles on stages around the United States and in Europe, South America, and Asia. As a pioneer for women in military bands, she was the first woman conductor of The U. S. Army Field Band and The Soldiers' Chorus in Washington, D. C., The U. S. Military Academy Band at West Point, The U. S. Army Forces Command Band in Atlanta, and the West Point Glee Club. She is Artistic Director Emerita of the Philadelphia Wind Symphony which she founded.

A faculty member at The Julliard School, Dr. Allen previously served there as Associate Dean for Orchestral Studies, and Artistic Director of the Conducting Workshop for Music Educators.

She also taught at The Curtis Institute of Music, University of the Arts, and Teachers College, Columbia University. Dr. Allen earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree and a Master of Music degree in Performance (French horn) from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D. C.; a Diploma in Wind Conducting from the University of Calgary; and a Doctor of Education in the College of Teaching Music at Columbia University.

Amy McCabe joined "The President's Own" United States Marine Band as a trumpeter/cornetist in July, 2006. Gunnery Sgt. McCabe began her musical instruction on piano at age 6 and trumpet at age 10. After graduating from Herscher High School in Herscher, Illinois she earned her Bachelor's Degree in music and elementary education from Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington in 2001. She earned her Master's Degree in trumpet performance in 2006 from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Her instructors included Charles Geyer and Barbara Butler of Northwestern University, and Steve Eggleston and Judith Saxon of Illinois Wesleyan University.

Prior to joining "The President's Own", Gunnery Sgt. McCabe was a featured soloist in the Tony/Emmy award winning show Blast! and a member of MusiCorps, a music education and advocacy program designed to promote music awareness, appreciation, and training in the Chicago Public Schools. She has performed with the Chicago Civic Orchestra, the Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra in Charleston, S. C. and the Walt Disney World All-Star Collegiate Jazz Band and Christmas Brass in Orlando, FL. She also received the Roger Voisin Trumpet Award while a fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center in Lenox, Mass.

Gunnery Sgt. McCabe performs with the Marine Band and Marine Chamber Orchestra at the White House, in the Washington, D. C. area, and across the country during the band's annual concert tour. She was featured as cornet soloist in William Balcom's First Symphony for Band on the U. S. Marine Band's 2011 educational recording, "Flourishes and Meditations on a Renaissance Theme". In addition, she performed Tom Davoren's "Ascension" with euphonium player Staff Sgt. Hiram Diaz as featured soloists on the 2016 national concert tour.

Adam Frey travels the globe sharing his talents as a performer and advocate for live music. He has soloed with orchestras and bands the world over, including the world famous Boston Pops, Cheju Symphony Orchestra (South Korea), US Army Orchestra (Washington DC), Harvard Pops (MA), Fort Collins (CO), Indian Hill (MA), the Vaasa Symphony Orchestra (Finland), Atlanta Philharmonic (GA), Camerata Eleutheria (Argentina), Cascade (WA), Greensboro (NC), Clemson (SC), LaGrange (GA), Minot (ND), Bellevue Philharmonic (WA), and Northeastern (MA) Symphony Orchestras. He also performs regularly with wind bands and brass bands that have included Soli Brass in Holland, Point of Ayr in Wales, the National Youth Brass Band of Switzerland and wind bands from Singapore, Thailand, Brazil, South Korea, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Peru, Australia, Russia, Finland, China, Germany, Hong Kong, and the United States.

Adam has been guest soloist at festivals around the globe, including four times at the Midwest Clinic (USA), the WASBE Convention (Singapore), Melbourne International Festival of Brass (Australia), Trombonanza (Argentina), Carlos Gomez Festival (Brazil), Jeju International Wind Festival (South Korea), Asia Pacific Band Directors Conference (South Korea), Westby Low Brass Workshop (Norway), Peru Low Brass Festival (Peru), Colombia Festubal (Colombia), Tubmania (Thailand), and Orquesta Latinoamericana de Vientos (Colombia) to name a few.

A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Adam Frey received his musical training at the University of Georgia, the Royal Northern College of Music, and the University of Salford. As a major ambassador of the euphonium, Adam has more than one hundred and twenty works that have been composed or specifically arranged for him.

For 20 years, Adam has hosted the International Euphonium Tuba (IET) Festival at Emory University. This event each June hosts more than 125 students and teachers from around the world in a week of playing, learning, and inspiration. Participants range from high school and college students to adult amateurs. More details at: www.IETFestival.com

Adam Frey is Associate Professor at the University of North Georgia. His website, www.euphonium.com, contains sound files, performance schedules, photos from his world travels, and his recordings and publications.

Adam Frey is a Yamaha Performing Artist and Guest Clinician