Darryl Bayer: Artistic Director of The Woodlands Symphony Orchestra and founding director of The Woodlands Area Youth Symphony. (W.A.Y.S.) He is on faculty at Lone Star College Montgomery and leads the Texas Brass Ensemble and Herald Trumpets. Mr. Bayer has performed solos with the Boston Symphony and the Boston Pops placing first in their Young Artist Competition. Darryl studied at Boston University and at the Tanglewood Music Center with orchestral training from members of the Boston Symphony, intensive chamber music with Empire Brass and conducting with Thomas Dunn of the Haydn and Handel Society. He has been invited to perform as a section player for multiple orchestras including Houston, Austin, Corpus Christi, Savannah and Charleston Symphonies. Mr. Bayer was principal trumpet of the Woodlands Symphony for 15 years before his promotion to administrative level but keeps his baton and trumpet handy, always ready for a concert.
Colin Seig: Originally from Denver, CO, Colin began studying trumpet at age 11. He graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy and earned a Bachelors Degree in trumpet performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music. An exchange program between CIM and the Paris Conservatory allowed him to study abroad for a semester. After graduating from CIM with the Bernie Adelstein Prize in trumpet, Colin attended the Juilliard School and earned his Masters Degree in 2010. He briefly attended the Colburn School for special studies, after which he moved to Texas, where he teaches and plays with the Texas Brass Ensemble and the Woodlands Symphony. Colin was also recently appointed principal trumpet of the Orlando Philharmonic in Orlando, FL.
Steven Winter, horn, earned his Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory, where he studied with Boston Symphony Orchestra members Jason Snider and Norman Bolter. Steven is a founding member of the Redline Brass Quintet, an ensemble with whom he earned an Artist Diploma in Chamber Music from the Longy School of Music of Bard College. He is an active freelance musician having worked with such groups as the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, Boston Composer’s Coalition, Boston New Music Initiative, Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra and the Video Game Orchestra. Steven has toured internationally with ensembles throughout Europe and has given a solo performance in the People’s Republic of China. In addition to serving as principal horn of the Woodlands Symphony Orchestra and the Texas Brass Ensemble, Steven maintains an active studio, working with students throughout the greater Houston area. He is also the horn and trumpet teacher at Blinn College in Brenham, TX. Steven lives in Brenham with his wife, accomplished clarinetist Kerry Bird.
Joel Brown: trombonist, arranger, teacher, and performer, Joel splits his time between Orlando, FL and Houston, TX. When not performing as Second Trombone of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Joel is busy playing with the Texas Brass Ensemble throughout the Greater Houston area. In addition, he is an avid arranger of music for brass ensembles, having had his works regularly performed internationally. Joel graduated from the Shepherd School of Music, studying with David Waters, and from the University of Florida summa cum laude, studying with Arthur Jennings. In addition to his musical ventures, Joel works as a software engineer for OakTree Software, Inc.
Steve Curtis, a native Houstonian, holds the positions of principal tuba with the Woodlands Symphony, Austin Symphony and the Shreveport Symphony, and is a member of the Texas Brass, Paragon Brass Ensemble and the ROCO Brass Quintet. He has also performed with the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet, and is an active freelance musician. Steve has studied with Dave Kirk, and is a graduate of the University of Houston, where he studied with Mark Barton and William Rose. He also holds a Masters in Educational Leadership from Stephen F. Austin State University. He serves on faculty of the AFA Summer Music Festival, as well as maintaining an extensive private teaching studio.