Scott Bailey
Scott Bailey is a native of Thomasville, NC. He received a Music Education degree from Appalachian State University in 2005, graduating with Summa Cum Laude honors. In May 2007 he completed a Master’s degree in Trombone performance from the University of Texas at Austin. While in Texas, Scott had extensive experience teaching individual trombone, tuba, and euphonium lessons at the middle and high school levels. As a performing musician, he has had much experience in the orchestral setting, as well as many jazz venues. He was a member of the UT Austin Trombone choir, winners of the 2007 International Trombone Choir Competition. His primary teachers include Dr. Michael Jarrett, Dr. Harold McKinney, Dr. Nathaniel Brickens, and Mr. Ron Westray. Scott has shared the stage with artists including: Wycliffe Gordon, Chris Vadala, Ed Shaughnessy, Rick Simerly, Jerry Junkin, Carl Lenthe, Alex Iles, Ron Westray, Todd Wright, The Legends of Beach, the Raleigh Civic Symphony, and the North Carolina Symphony.
Joe Brown
Joe Brown is a native of Gastonia, NC. He received a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education in 2001 and Master's Degrees in Trombone Performance and Music Education in 2004 from Appalachian State University. While a student at Appalachian, Joe studied with Dr. Harold McKinney. He was the winner of the ASU Concerto-Aria competition in 2003, and was featured as a soloist with the ASU Wind Ensemble. He currently is an adjunct faculty member of the Hayes School of Music at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC where he teaches applied trombone/euphonium and low brass methods. He is also the Bass Trombonist for the Symphony of the Mountains, Kingsport, TN. Joe is a former band director of Grier Middle School, Gastonia, NC where he taught from 2003-2007. He was also a North Carolina Teaching Fellow. Joe regularly performs with the Drei Bones trombone trio, the Piedmont Jazz Collective, and the Palmetto Posaunen. He has performed with the Dallas Brass, the Western Piedmont Symphony, the Salisbury Symphony, the Carolinas Wind Orchestra, the Cab Calloway Orchestra, and aboard the Regent Seven Seas Navigator on an Atlantic crossing. He has shared the stage with artists such as: Allen Vizutti, Eddie Daniels, Chris Vidala, Duffy Jackson, Rick Simerly, Todd Wright, and Wycliffe Gordon. He lives in Banner Elk, NC with his wife Laura, a certified music therapist.
Matt Talbert
Matt Talbert graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and again in 2005 with a Master’s Degree from Appalachian Sate University. While attending Appalachian, Matt studied with Joe Phelps. Matt was the recipient of the Fletcher Scholarship and won the Concerto-Aria competition in 2002, becoming the featured soloist with the Appalachian Symphony Orchestra. While at ASU, Matt played with the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra and the Honors Brass Quintet. He has performed with the Western Piedmont Symphony, Piedmont Wind Symphony, and numerous Brass Quintets/Brass Ensembles. In addition to being a member of the High Country Brass and the band director at Hanes Middle School, Matt teaches private trumpet lessons to students in the Winston-Salem area. Matt lives in Winston-Salem with his wife Jaclyn, a 2nd grade teacher.
David Toler
David Toler is from Rocky Mount, NC. He is currently a senior at Appalachian State University and is studying Music Performance with a concentration in trumpet. He is currently a member of the Wind Ensemble at Appalachian, and has been a member of the Honors Brass Quintet, the ASU Symphony Orchestra, and the ASU Chamber Orchestra. He has played with The Symphony of the Mountains, in Kingsport, TN. He has performed with other chamber ensembles both in the United States and across Europe. Mr. Toler has also performed with various theater departments as a pit musician for operas and musicals. David currently studies with Dr. Bill Jones at Appalachian and has studied with Mr. Joe Phelps, and Mr. Mike Miller. He currently lives in Boone, NC.