New Hire: Michael Waddell, Longwood University

Michael Waddell has recently accepted the position of Assistant Professor of Music at Longwood University. He will begin serving in this role in Fall 2022. His duties include conducting the Longwood University Wind Symphony and teaching applied lessons on euphonium, tuba, and trombone. Prior to joining Longwood’s faculty, Michael served as Director of Bands at Hiram College since 2018, where he directed the Wind Ensemble, Pep Band, Jazz Ensemble, taught low brass lessons, and many other courses, such as music entrepreneurship. Active as a performer, he can be heard on several recordings, including Sweet Appalachia by the Keystone Quartet, Versatile Southern Rock and Roll by Rye, Chronicle by Zach Collins, and several recordings with the Keystone Wind Ensemble. Michael holds a DMA in Low Brass Performance from West Virginia University, MM in Euphonium Performance from Georgia State University, and BS in Music Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. His primary studies have been with Mark Mitchell, Zach Collins, Christian Dickinson, Carson McTeer, Hakeem Bilal, and Adam Frey.

New Hire: Mason Soria, Los Angeles Philharmonic

Mason Soria will be the new tubist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and he will begin performing with the orchestra in September 2022. Mason is originally from Burbank, CA but grew up in Frisco, TX where he began his tuba studies at the age of 10. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Music Performance from the University of North Texas and a Master’s degree in Music Performance from the University of Miami. His main teachers include Dr. Aaron Tindall, Donald Little, Matthew Good, and Warren Deck. Before winning the LA Phil tuba audition, Mason held the principal tuba position with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra and the Richmond Symphony.

New Hire: Alec Mawrence, West Point Brass Quintet

Alec Mawrence has recently won a position as tubist with the West Point Brass Quintet at the United States Military Academy. He will begin serving in this role in November 2022. The West Point Brass Quintet is the ceremonial brass quintet for the West Point Band. The quintet provides support for West Point ceremonies as well as other outreach events throughout the greater New York City area. Alec received a master’s degree from the University of Michigan in 2022 and a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University in 2020. He spent three summers at the Aspen Music Festival, where he studied with Warren Deck, and he toured Europe with the National Youth Orchestra of the USA in 2016. His past teachers include David Zerkel, Gene Pokorny, Matthew Gaunt, Rex Martin and Jared Bulmer.