Gail Williams

Gail Williams is an internationally recognized hornist and brass pedagogue. She has presented concerts, master classes, recitals and lectures throughout North America, as well as in Europe and Asia. Ms. Williams joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in December 1978, and was appointed Associate Principal Horn in 1984, a position she held until her retirement from the orchestra in 1998. She has been a member of the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra, and is currently principal horn of the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra. As featured horn soloist, Ms. Williams has performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, San Antonio Symphony, Sinfonia da Camera, New World Symphony Orchestra, the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra, Syracuse Symphony, Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra, Green Bay Symphony Orchestra and a number of regional orchestras. Ms. Williams has also performed in 2004 as Principal Horn with the Saito Kinen Orchestra with Maestro Ozawa in Matsumoto, Japan. And in 2005 and 2007–2011 Gail has performed as Principal horn with the World Orchestra for Peace with Maestro Gergiev with concerts in London, Berlin, Moscow, Beijing, Budapest, Rotterdam, Brussels, Jerusalem, Krakow, Stockholm, Salzburg and Abu Dhabi.

Ms. Williams is also dedicated to performing and promoting chamber music. She has performed with the Vermeer Quartet, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in New York City, the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, the Skaneateles Music Festival, Sante Fe Chamber Music Festival and the Olympic Peninsula Chamber Festival and was the featured artist on a chamber music series in Ottawa, Canada with the National Arts Orchestra of Canada. She is a founding member of the Chicago Chamber Musicians, a critically acclaimed chamber music ensemble which has commissioned and performed works for their Millennium concert series and the CCM’s concert series. A CD of all Mozart works, including the Horn quintet, was nominated for a Grammy in 2006. Gail is also an original member of the Summit Brass, an ensemble with whom she has made eight recordings. In addition to her recordings with Summit Brass, Ms. Williams can be heard on her solo recordings, 20th Century Settings and Deep Remembering, Mozart Wind and String chamber music and Brahms Horn Trio with CCM, which are available on Summit Records. An additional solo CD has been released by Northwestern University, Goddess Triology, featuring compositions by John McCabe and two works for horn and percussion by Charles Taylor and Alec Wilder. Her newest CD, Horn Muse, has four commissioned works for various chamber ensembles.

Ms. Williams has played an active role in commissioning projects and performing contemporary solo works for the horn. In 1995, she premiered Deep Remembering by Dana Wilson, and Anthony Plog’s Postcards at the International Horn Society Workshop in Yamagata, Japan. In 1997, she premiered Dana Wilson’s Horn Concerto with the Syracuse Symphony. A year later, Ms. Williams performed the Knussen Horn Concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Knussen. She helped commission Yehudi Wyner’s Horn Trio, and was involved in the orchestration of Dragons in the Sky by Mark Schultz. Ms. Williams premiered another horn and piano work by Dana Wilson, Musings, in 2003 and performed both this work and his concerto at the 2005 International Horn Society Workshop. Gail performed the US premier of a Concerto for Horn and Orchestra by Colin Matthews at Northwestern University in June of 2005.

Ms. Williams has given master classes and recitals around the world, working with musicians at Juilliard School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, New England Conservatory, San Francisco Conservatory, the New World Symphony, Eastman School of Music, Boston Conservatory, Rice University, University of Houston, University of Illinois, Sam Houston University, University of Wisconsin–Madison and the NAC Orchestra (Ottawa), Music Hochschule of Frankfurt, Germany. In 1998, Ms. Williams was invited to be on the faculty of Swiss Brass Week in Leukerbad, Switzerland where she returned in 1999 and 2000. Ms. Williams conducted brass classes and performed a recital in Malmo, Sweden for one week in March of 1999. As a member of Summit Brass, she has been coaching young brass musicians since 1986. And since 1980, Ms. Williams has been a featured recitalist and lecturer at the International Horn Society Workshops in the United States, Canada, Japan and Germany. In 2001,2005 and 2009, Gail has served as one of the judges for the Horn Solo Competition in Porcia, Italy.

Gail Williams is the horn professor at Northwestern University, where she has been on the faculty since 1989. In May of 2005, Ms. Williams received the Charles Deering McCormick Teaching Professor of Teaching Excellence. With the award, she has commissioned and performed three new chamber works for horn and mixed instruments by Douglas Hill, Dana Wilson and Augusta Read Thomas. Ms. Williams studied with John Covert at Ithaca College, and received a master’s degree from Northwestern University. Her awards from Ithaca College include the Ithaca College’s Young Distinguished Alumni Award and an honorary doctorate of music.

Adam Unsworth

Soloist and recording artist Adam Unsworth is Associate Professor of Horn at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. As a performer he is dedicated to commissioning and performing works of living composers, with the goal of expanding modern repertoire and redefining the boundaries of the horn. Adam’s new release, Balance, on Acoustical Concepts Records, is a jazz recording for horn, jazz sextet and chamber orchestra. It features arrangements of Unsworth’s original compositions by master orchestral arranger Byron Olson.

In 2006 Adam released his first jazz CD, Excerpt This!, which received critical acclaim from jazz and classical horn reviewers alike. Soon afterward he completed a second jazz CD, Next Step, and a contemporary jazz/classical crossover CD, Just Follow Instructions, featuring the chamber music of saxophonist/composer Daniel Schnyder. In April 2010 the University of Michigan Symphony Band featured Adam as a soloist on the premiere recording of Dana Wilson’s Concerto for Horn and Wind Ensemble. He later appeared as soloist on this work with the Aurora Wind Orchestra in Funabashi City, Japan. In 2013 he released Snapshots on Equilibrium Records, a compilation of new and previously unrecorded music for horn, inspired by his collaboration with composer/pianist Catherine Likhuta.

Adam is a member of the Grammy-nominated Gil Evans Centennial Project Big Band in New York City. He regularly performs with the Slee Sinfonietta, a new music group out of the University of Buffalo, and has performed as a guest with the Meridian Arts Ensemble. Prior to his appointment at the University of Michigan, he was Fourth Horn of The Philadelphia Orchestra (1998–2007) and Second Horn of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (1995–1998). He has performed as a guest with the St. Louis, San Francisco, Pittsburgh and Chicago symphonies.

A former faculty member at Temple University, Adam has appeared as a recitalist and clinician at many universities throughout the United States, and has made several solo and chamber appearances at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall. Unsworth received his formal training at Northwestern University, where he studied with former Chicago Symphony Orchestra members Gail Williams and Norman Schweikert. He received a Masters of Music degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he studied with Douglas Hill. Adam later recorded Jazz Set for Solo Horn as part of ‘Thoughtful Wanderings,’ a compilation of Douglas Hill’s works for horn.

In 2000 The University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Music named him their Distinguished Alumnus of the Year.

Jessica Privler

Jessica Privler began her musical career in 1995 as a member of the United States Army Field Band in Washington, DC. In 2000, she left the Army to return to school, attending Louisiana State University and completing a Bachelor of Music degree she had begun previously at Boston University. She also earned a Master of Music degree at LSU.

After a six-year stint as a civilian, Jessica returned to the military in 2006, joining the United States Naval Academy Band in Annapolis, Maryland. She has also been a member of the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra in Virginia and the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, Colorado, and has performed with orchestras throughout the east coast and southern states. Her teachers include Seth Orgel, Eric Ruske, Edwin Thayer, and Sylvia Alimena.

Jessica lives near Baltimore, Maryland with her husband and two children.

Brooke Eberly

Brooke Eberly is a native of South Louisiana. She has been a member of the United States Army Band, “Pershing’s Own.” since 2002, performing with the Ceremonial Band and the Concert Band.

In 2000, Brooke graduated magna cum laude from Louisiana State University with a bachelor’s degree in music education and music performance. She earned a master’s degree in music performance at LSU in 2002. She was a student of D. Bruce Heim and Seth Orgel.

Brooke has been an active free-lance musician, performing in orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region and the Southern U.S., including the Baton Rouge Symphony and the Baltimore Symphony. From 2003–2010, she served as Assistant Principal Horn with the Harrisburg Symphony.

Brooke resides in Springfield, Virginia with her husband, a tuba player in the U.S. Army Band.

Kelly Satterwhite

Originally from Baytown, Texas, SSG Satterwhite attended Louisiana State University where, in 2003, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in music performance under the tutelage of Seth Orgel. Upon completion of his studies, SSG Satterwhite was offered a position with the United States Army Band, “Pershing’s Own.” SSG Satterwhite was appointed to the position of Principal Horn of the United States Army Band, “Pershing’s Own” in 2014. An avid freelance musician, SSG Satterwhite has performed with orchestras throughout the mid-Atlantic region including the National Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and Richmond Symphony. SSG Satterwhite has performed guest artist recitals and master classes at numerous academic institutions, including his alma mater LSU and James Madison University. In addition to his work as a member of the “Pershing’s Own,” SSG Satterwhite is currently in his third year of studies pursuing a Juris Doctor degree at The Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law.

Benjamin Cadle

SFC Benjamin Cadle joined “Pershing’s Own” in 2003 as a member of the Ceremonial Band. SFC Cadle earned his bachelor’s degree in music education and a master’s degree in music performance from Louisiana State University. His primary teachers were Bruce Heim and Seth Orgel. As a member of the band his primary duties include ceremonies in Arlington National Cemetery, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and performances for numerous events in the National Capitol Region. SFC Cadle has performed with the Baton Rouge Symphony, Boston Civic Symphony, Maryland Symphony and the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra. SFC Cadle resides in Bristow, Virginia with his wife Carrie and his son Matthew.

Gregory Edwards

Gregory Edwards is currently a member of the United States Army, serving since January 2007.

As member of the U.S. Army Europe Band & Chorus he has performed in over 20 countries throughout Europe as well as Israel and Russia.

Gregory received his Bachelor’s of Music Performance from Louisiana State University and a Master’s of Music Performance from The Ohio State University. His teachers include Robert Pruzin, Bruce Heim, Seth Orgel, and Charles Waddell.

Mollie Pate

Mollie Pate has served as the principal hornist of the Louisiana Philharmonic since 1996. 

She received her Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance in 1993 from Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas and her Master’s and Graduate Diploma degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music in 1995, 1996, where she studied with Jay Wadenpfuhl, third horn, Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Mollie’s musical career has taken her all over the country and much of Europe. She has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Houston Grand Opera, Phoenix Symphony, Nashville Symphony, and Pacific Symphony, where she joined them on their European Tour to Germany, Austria and Switzerland. She has been the lead studio horn player in Nashville, and has also done some recording in the Los Angeles area. Ms. Pate frequently tours with the Burning River Brass based out of Cleveland, Ohio. This group is one of the premier brass ensembles in the country and has been featured on many concert series, including one at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The past eleven summers she has held the principal horn position with the Pageant of the Masters Festival of the Arts Orchestra in Laguna Beach, California and has participated in numerous other festivals including the Tanglewood Institute, National Repertory Orchestra, and the Spoleto Music Festivals in both Charleston, South Carolina and Spoleto, Italy.

Mollie’s hobbies include CrossFit and Triathlons. In September 2009, Ms. Pate placed 12th at the Sprint Triathlon World Championships in Australia. Most recently, she placed 6th overall at the South Central Texas CrossFit Games in March and in May 2010, she and a partner opened their own CrossFit facility, CrossFit NOLA, which is the very first affiliate in New Orleans.

Matthew Eckenhoff

Matthew Eckenhoff joined the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra as second horn in 2013. A native of Philadelphia, he earned his bachelor’s degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music where he studied with Cleveland Orchestra hornists Eli Epstein and Richard King. He went on to earn his master’s degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder under the instruction of Colorado Symphony Orchestra principal horn Michael Thornton. After graduating, Matt moved to Houston, Texas and studied for two years with the principal horn of the Houston Symphony, William VerMeulen.

Prior to joining the LPO, Matt was a member of the New World Symphony, under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas. He has also held positions with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra and the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he has appeared with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the Houston Grand Opera, the Santa Fe Symphony and the Sarasota Orchestra, among others.

Matt enjoys leading an active lifestyle including skiing, golf, SCUBA diving and riding his bike. He also loves food (both making and eating it) and is currently relishing the search for the perfect po’ boy.

Joshua Paulus

Joshua Paulus currently serves as third horn of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. Prior to his appointment in New Orleans, Joshua performed with orchestras across the country such as the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the New World Symphony, and the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also been involved with summer music festivals both in the United States and Europe including the Lucerne Music Festival Academy, the Aspen Music Festival, and the Roundtop Festival Institute. 

Joshua received his M.M. from Northwestern University where his principal teachers were Gail Williams and Bill Barnewitz. He received his B.M. from the University of Dayton after finishing his studies with Dr. Richard Chenoweth. Mr. Paulus’ thesis on the use of the off-stage horn was featured in a presentation at the International Horn Symposium and was published as a full-length article in the journal of the International Horn Society. 

Active as a chamber musician and a teacher in his former places of residence, he hopes to join the incredible fabric of musicians and music-making in New Orleans.

A former Division I soccer player, Joshua also participates in area soccer leagues as well as devotes much of his free time to CrossFit.

Amy Krueger

Newly appointed fourth horn of the Louisiana Philharmonic, Amy Krueger recently finished a two-year appointment with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. She served as a fellow in the Civic Orchestra and Yo-Yo Ma’s Citizen Musician Initiative, and has worked with conductors such as Cliff Colnot, Harry Bickett, Alastair Willis, Carlos Miguel Prieto, Michael Christie, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. She has also performed with the Chicago Symphony under the batons of maestros Charles Dutoit, Pablo Heras-Casado, and Riccardo Muti.

An active chamber musician, Ms. Krueger was inspired by Civic’s workshop with the Silk Road Ensemble to think outside the box, act on a dream, and start New Chicago Brass, an 11-piece group that performs around the Chicagoland area. Outside of NCB, she has participated in a brass quintet for Musicorps, and spent three years as the horn player in the brass and organ ensemble, the Gargoyle Brass.

Leading to her appointment as a Citizen Musician Fellow, Ms. Krueger has had a lifelong passion for community service. She has traveled to Guatemala six times with a church group to work with orphans, and began an annual concert series at her church, Horns for Humanity, to support the mission and other charities. As part of the Musicorps brass quintet, she helped develop educational programming to perform at Chicago Public Schools and various Chicago Park District sites to children and community members who otherwise would not hear classical music. A recent project saw her collaborating with Storycatchers Theatre, where she played in a pit band for an original musical theater production written, produced, and performed by incarcerated teenage girls at the Illinois Youth Center in Warrenville, Illinois.

Ms. Krueger attended Ball State University, where she studied meteorology and Spanish, and horn under the tutelage of the late Dr. Fred Ehnes. She went on to get her Master of Music degree from Rutgers University, studying with Dr. Douglas Lundeen, and where she can be heard on the Rutgers Wind Ensemble’s 2013 release, “Remembering the Beach,” as the soloist on Maslanka’s Symphony No. 4. Upon her return to Chicago, she studied with Dale Clevenger at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. She has had further studies with Michael Mulcahy, David Griffin, James Smelser, William VerMeulen, and Daniel Gingrich.

In her spare time, Amy can be found nose-deep in the latest urban fantasy novel, watching various vampire TV shows, getting her hands dirty in the garden, or cooking up experimental vegetarian dishes.