Musicians

Violin
· Brian Lewis, Concertmaster
· Brinna Brinkerhoff
· Aloysia Friedmann
· Jonathan Godfrey
· Andrés González
· Rachel Jordan
· Rasa Kalesnykaite
· Kana Kimura
· Maxine Kuo
· Tammy Linn
· Deborah Tien Price
· Oleg Sulyga
· Amy Thiaville

Viola
· Matt Dane
· Suzanne LeFevre
· Tawnya Popoff
· Lorento Golofeev

Cello
· Richard Belcher
· Julia Cleworth
· Erika Johnson
· Shino Hayashi

Bass
· Sandor Ostlund
· Erik Gronfor

Harp
· Mollie Marcuson

Flute/Piccolo
· Christina Jennings
· Jennifer Keeney

Oboe
· Alecia Lawyer

Clarinet
· Nathan Williams
· Maiko Sasaki

Bassoon
· Kristin Wolfe Jensen
· Daniel Chrisman

Horn
· Danielle Kuhlmann
· Gavin Reed

Trumpet
· Jens Lindemann
· Dan Shipman
· George Chase

Trombone
· Brian Logan

Percussion
· Matthew McClung

Piano
· Kimi Kawashima
· Rodney Waters

George Chase Instrument: Trumpet Originally from: Schenectady, NY Now reside in: The Woodland Heights of Houston, TX, close to downtown Age: 38

How did you get started? I started on violin in the 3rd grade. I'm from a family of string players, which goes back some time; my great-grandmother was Bertha Bucklin, a concert violinist. I started on trumpet in the 4th grade, and studied piano, as well. My greatest regret regarding my musical studies is my stopping piano lessons in high school. I really wish I'd continued... so much terrific music!

How long have you performed with ROCO? Since the beginning.

What do you do when you’re not playing with ROCO? I practice, teach at the University of Houston, roast coffee beans (I especially love Mexican and Guatemalan beans), chase after my 4½ year old, practice, serve on the advisory board for the Houston Youth Symphony, serve as vice-president of our musicians' union, serve on the board of the Alumni Council for the Curtis Institute of Music, read, drink coffee, teach in our home studio and practice!

What are you listening to on your iPod? With our 4½ year old, we listen to the Wiggles, and Laurie Berkner. When she's at school or not in the car with me, I've recently been listening to Bruckner's Symphony No. 7, Pagliacci, Elliott Smith, violinist Jennifer Koh playing Schumann sonatas, jazz saxophonist John Coltrane, and my all-time favorite jazz trumpeter, Clifford Brown! He was so inventive.

What did you do this summer? Worked, travelled, practiced and read! I finished a term as chair of the Alumni Annual Fund of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, PA, and traveled to Philly for a meeting and to hear the final Curtis Orchestra concert of the season. In May, my family went to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and to Vieques, Puerto Rico for a vacation. In May, June and July, I played with the Houston Grand Opera, the Houston Ballet and the Houston Symphony, and in July I played a ROCO event for Frost Bank, which I enjoyed. Frost Bank generously sponsors my chair in the orchestra. My family will soon leave for Maine and New Hampshire, and then will spend some time on the Bolivar Peninsula in August before I resume teaching at the University of Houston. We love getting to the water! Our daughter, Kai, is now 5 years old (going on 15), and has become a big fan of the beach. See my picture below with her on the Bolivar Peninsula (across from Galveston). I look forward to playing the 2010-2011 season with ROCO!! I really love playing in the group.

Personal info: Married for 11 years, one daughter (Kai) and one doggie, Louie. My wife Vanessa is a piano teacher, and teaches in our garage music studio.

Question you're asked most often: How long have you lived in Houston? Answer: I've been here for 16 years!

Interests outside music: Coffee roasting, drinking coffee/espresso, reading about politics, and spending time with my family.

Links: www.hs.facebook.com/people/George-Chase/685337823?ref=mf; www.houstontrumpet.com

Education: Bachelor of Music, Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia, PA; Master of Music, Rice University, Houston, TX

Bio: A native of upstate New York, George Chase attended the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While living in Philadelphia, he performed with the Philadelphia Opera, the Harrisburg Symphony, and the Philadelphia Brassworks. During the summers, he performed with the Berkshire Opera. Following his graduation, Mr. Chase moved to Houston to attend Rice University. After his graduation from Rice, he joined the Symphony Orchestra of the State of Mexico in Toluca, Mexico as associate principal trumpet. Upon his return to the U.S., he began performing with area groups such as the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, Opera in the Heights, Houston Bach Society, Houston Chamber Orchestra, Theater Under The Stars, and the Houston Ballet. Mr. Chase serves as an Affiliate Artist at the University of Houston Moores School of Music, where he teaches and performs in the Moores Brass Quintet. Mr. Chase performs with the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, and with Opera in the Heights.