THE UNM graduate brass quintet

The UNM Graduate Brass Quintet receives regular coaching with members of the UNM brass faculty and principal brass players in the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. The quintet members also assist the Department of Music in the recruitment of undergraduate students through performances and clinics in area high schools.

The Quintet's members are selected by audition. Current members include Laura Saylor and Tony Sadlon, trumpets, Micah Hood, trombone, Robbie Buss, horn, and Winston Hind, tuba.

robbie buss, horn Robbie Buss is the Graduate Assistant for the horn studio at the University of New Mexico and is a student of Professor J.D. Shaw. He was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona and earned his Bachelor of Music degree from Arizona State University, where he studied with Dr. John Q. Ericson. His playing experience includes playing Principal Horn with the ASU Wind Symphony and Symphony Orchestra as well as being a substitute horn for the Phoenix Symphony from 2008-2010. Robbie hopes to finish his master's degee in horn performance in 2012.

winston hind, tuba Winston is the newest member of the Sandia Brass, hailing from Toronto, Canada. He completed he undergraduate degree at Wilfrid Laurier University with Jane Maness and is currently studying with Richard White at The University of New Mexico. Winston was the first brass musician to win the yearly concerto competition at Wilfrid Laurier University and has appeared as soloist with various Canadian orchestras, including performing the Canadian premiere of Arild Plau's Concerto for Tuba and Strings with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony. Winston is also a serving member of the Canadian Forces, having performed with military bands across Canada, and being one of only 10 musicians ever to have been deployed overseas.

micah hood, trombone Micah Hood is a trombonist, private lesson instructor, recording engineer, and electronic music composer.  He holds a bachelor’s degree in music performance from Texas Tech University under the tutelage of his professor, James Decker.   Prior to his undergraduate experience at Texas Tech, he studied with Don Lucas, the former professor of trombone at Texas Tech, and Clayton Lehman, a graduate of the University of North Texas. He has performed in ensembles such as the Texas Tech University Symphony Orchestra, acting second trombone for the Midland-Odessa Symphony and Chorale, the Texas Tech University Symphonic Wind Ensemble, the Shinerbach Trombone Quartet, the Texas Tech Gold Trombone Choir, and the Texas Tech Jazz Trombones Ensemble.  He has performed with various artists and performers such as Jim Pugh, Bill Reichenbach, Harold van Schaik, Christ Seiter, Adonis Rose, Kevin Wass, and Don Caldwell. Micah is currently a graduate student at the University of New Mexico and teacher’s assistant for the UNM Brass Quintet.  He is continuing his education in the performance field in Debra Taylor’s trombone studio.

tony sadlon, trumpet Tony Sadlon is pursuing his master's in trumpet performance at the University of New Mexico.  Tony received his bachelor's degree in Trumpet Performance & Music Education from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in 2008.  Since graduation, Tony has performed with Royal Caribbean, The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, Scottsdale Symphony Orchestra, The Phantom Regiment, along with numerous other ensembles. Tony has studied under Daniel Zehringer, Brian VanKley, Michael Ewald, Stephen Burns, Joey Tartell, Edmund Cord, John Rommel, and Barbara Butler.  Tony now studies with Professor John Marchiando as a graduate teaching assistant at UNM. He performs with the UNM Wind Symphony, UNM Orchestras, Opera Southwest, and the UNM Graduate Brass Quintet. When not performing, Tony spends his time teaching music in Albuquerque's public schools.

laura saylor, trumpet Laura Saylor hails from south-central Pennsylvania.  At UNM she is a graduate assistant in the music history department and the UNM Graduate Brass Quintet.  She also performs with the UNM Symphony Orchestra and Wind Symphony. Laura earned the degree Master of Music in Performance from Boston University (2010) and Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Messiah College, Grantham, PA (2008).  Her primary trumpet teachers include Terry Everson, Bill Stowman, and Jeffrey Piper.  She has also studied chamber music with Everson, Don Lucas, Eric Ruske (formerly of the Empire Brass Quintet), and Ken Amis (Empire Brass Quintet).  Laura is a member of the International Trumpet Guild.