New Hire: Irving Ray

Irving Ray has won a euphonium position with the "Pershing's Own" U.S. Army Ceremonial Band in Washington, D.C. He will begin playing with the band in April 2016. Stationed in Fort Meyer, the U.S. Army Ceremonial Band’s primary mission is to support over 2,000 military funerals each year in Arlington National Cemetery, wreath laying ceremonies by heads of state and other foreign dignitaries at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, monthly retirement parades, special reviews, and arrival and departure honors for foreign dignitaries at the White House and Pentagon. Recent major events include 2009 Presidential Inaugural festivities, the State Funerals of Presidents Ronald Reagan and Gerald R. Ford, ceremonies honoring Her Majesty the Queen of England Elizabeth II during her visit to the United States in May 2007, and nationally televised PBS broadcasts of the National Memorial Day and A Capitol Fourth! concert events with the National Symphony Orchestra. Ray is from from Houston, TX and received all of his musical degrees in Texas. Irving completed his Bachelor of Music Education at Sam Houston State University and his Master of Music in Euphonium Performance at the University of North Texas. He will be completing his Doctorate in Euphonium Performance at the University of North Texas in the Spring of 2016. In addition to having performed across the United States as a former member of the North Texas Euphonium Quartet, Ray is an internationally known soloist and teacher, having been invited each year to Singapore since 2013 with the Wind Bands Association of Singapore, performing as a guest soloist with the Monterrey Symphony Orchestra, and serving as a guest soloist and brass lecturer in South Africa. Some of his greatest musical influences include Frank Troyka, Matthew McInturf, Rex Martin, Demondrae Thurman, and Dr. Brian Bowman.