Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra Player Bios

[Derek Reaban]

Jonathan Clarke



Appointed Principal Trumpet of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in September 2003, Jonathan Clarke has performed with many ensembles in Europe, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Netherlands Opera, London Pro Arte and the BBC Concert Orchestra. He has also played with many great conductors and composers, including Edo de Waart, Gennadi Rhozdestvensky, Hans Werner Henze and John Adams.

He was appointed Principal Trumpet of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of 23; he has also held the Principal Trumpet position with the Orquestra do Algarve. Guest Principal positions include with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, National Chamber Orchestra of Wales and the Orkest Van Het Oosten.

Born in 1977 in South Wales, Clarke trained with various orchestras and big bands in Mid Glamorgan County before earning a Bachelor of Music degree from Trinity College of Music, where he studied modern and natural trumpet with Robert Farley. He went on to receive a postgraduate diploma (performance) from the Royal Academy of Music, where he worked with Ian Balmain, James Watson and John Wallace.

Player bio taken from the HKPO web site from 2006.
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Derek Reaban
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe Winds / Symphony of the Southwest

[Derek Reaban]

Christopher Moyse



Chris was appointed as Assistant Principal Trumpet of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra by Maestro de Waart in September 2005. Prior to the appointment he gained a BMus (Hons) degree from The Royal College of Music in July 2004, which included an exchange year at The Manhattan School of Music. He graduated from The Royal Academy of Music Postgraduate Diploma programme in June 2005 and in the same academic year received the LRAM "Art of Teaching" diploma, the RAM Nicholas Blake Prize for chamber music, the RAM Nora Mary Turner Trust Fund Award, and the Dip RAM award "for an Outstanding Final Recital." His trumpet professors include Malcolm Smith, Andrew Crowley, Robert Sullivan, Paul Beniston, Paul Archibald, Howard Snell and James Watson.

In addition to playing in the conservatoire orchestras under such conductors as Sir Colin Davis, Andrew Litton, Lorin Maazel, Sir Roger Norrington and Sir Charles Mackerras, Chris has also performed and recorded with The Ulster Orchestra and The European Union Chamber Orchestra. He was a member of the London-based brass ensemble Brass10, appearing at numerous UK festivals, winning the Royal Overseas League ensemble prize, and recording the group's debut CD during his time with them. Chris also fulfilled a childhood ambition by becoming a member of The International Staff Band of The Salvation Army, touring the USA and Canada during his season with the band.

As a soloist with orchestra Chris has performed the concerti of Peter Copley, Joseph Haydn, Johann Nepomuk Hummel and Antonio Vivaldi as well as Aaron Copland's Quiet City. He has given world premieres of works by Luke Whitlock and Roddy Hawkins, performed Arthur Honegger's Intrada at The Wigmore Hall in a masterclass given by Hakan Hardenburger, and has appeared as soloist with brass bands and wind orchestras on numerous occasions.

Born in Brighton, UK in 1982, Chris learnt the cornet under his father at The Salvation Army, and began to play the trumpet in The Brighton Youth Orchestra and The Brighton & Hove Wind Orchestra. He is a Christian, enjoys films, eating out, books and jogging, and is a follower of Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club.


Player bio taken from the HKPO web site from 2006.
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Derek Reaban
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe Winds / Symphony of the Southwest

[Derek Reaban]

Douglas Watterson




Player photo taken from the HKPO web site from 2006.
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Derek Reaban
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe Winds / Symphony of the Southwest

[Derek Reaban]

Laurence Gargan



Laurence Gargan has been the Principal Trumpet with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) and an artist faculty member of the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music since 2003. Previously, he was a member of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HKPO), first as its Assistant Principal Trumpet in 1993, then Principal Trumpet in 1996. Prior to this, he was Sub-Principal Trumpet in the Orchestra Sinfonice da Sevilla in Spain.

Gargan has appeared as soloist with the SSO and HKPO on many occasions performing the concerti of Haydn, Hummel, Vivaldi, Arutiunian, Copland and Shostakovich. He has also performed as soloist with the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra in China, Darwin Symphony Orchestra in Australia, Bangkok Symphony Orchestra in Thailand, the Orquestra Camerata de Macao and the Glasgow Festival Strings in Scotland. He has played as Guest Principal Trumpet with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the Halle Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera.

Much sought after as a performer and teacher, Laurence Gargan has presented recitals and masterclasses in Spain, Thailand, the Philippines, Hong Kong, China and at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, Scotland. He was also a professor at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts from 1993 to 2003.

Recognised for his artistry and achievements, Laurence Gargan is a recipient of many awards including the Worshipful Company of Musicians Medal in London. He drew praise in a collaboration with pianist and conductor Howard Shelley, who wrote, “I have worked with and greatly admire the trumpeter Laurence Gargan. He has a fine technique and a wide range of sound, blending well into the orchestral texture when required but shining brightly and effortlessly in solo passages. He plays with an intelligent and characterful musicality and I would be very glad to have him in any orchestra I was conducting.”

Laurence Gargan recently recorded his first solo CD of trumpet and organ music with one of Scotland's finest organists, George McPhee.

Player bio taken from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music web site from 2006.
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Derek Reaban
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe Winds / Symphony of the Southwest

[Derek Reaban]

Brian Thomson



Brian began playing cornet in brass bands at the age of 10, taking up the trumpet later in high school. Further studies include a Bachelor of Music degree at Goldsmiths College, University of London, followed by a postgraduate Diploma at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. During this period he was a member of the European Union Youth Orchestra for two years. From 1993-6 Brian was principal trumpet of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, during which time he was professor of trumpet at the Hong Kong Institute of Arts. After returning, Brian was appointed co-principal trumpet with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1998. His solo performances include the Haydn, Hummel and Vivaldi double concertos and Shostakovich`s Concerto for Piano and Trumpet. He also freelances with all the orchestras of London and others such as the Orchestra L'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome. In early 2005, Brian was promoted to principal trumpet with the RPO. In his youth, Brian raced motorbikes.

Player bio taken from the Onyx Brass web site from 2006.
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Derek Reaban
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe Winds / Symphony of the Southwest

[Derek Reaban]

Judith Saxton



Judith Saxton, a native Pennsylvanian, is currently the Associate Professor of Trumpet at Wichita State University, Principal trumpet and frequent soloist with the Wichita Symphony and Wichita Brass Quintet, Principal and soloist with the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival, (VA), and she also performs as Principal with the Key West (FL) Orchestra. In addition, she is Third/Associate Principal with the Eastern Music Festival Orchestra in Greensboro, NC in the summers. She also teaches and coaches chamber groups, and has served as chamber music coordinator co-chair.

Her degrees include the Bachelor of Music Education from Mansfield University (PA) and Master of Music from Northwestern University. Saxton’s most influential teachers were Vincent Cichowicz, Arnold Jacobs, William Scarlett, Susan Slaughter and Dr. H. Michael Galloway. The legendary Adolph Herseth was her coach during her four years with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the training orchestra of the Chicago Symphony. Ms. Saxton was principal trumpet and soloist with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra from 1990-1993, and taught at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. While freelancing in Chicago for 10 years, she was principal with seven Midwest orchestras, principal and soloist with the Chicago Chamber orchestra, and performed with the Chicago Symphony and CSO Brass Quintet, the Grant Park Symphony, and Concertante di Chicago.

A dynamic chamber musician, she has performed with the Chicago Chamber Musicians, Sierra Brass (Japan tours), and is an enthusiastic contributor to Chamber Music at the Barn and Plymouth Chamber Music series in Wichita, KS. She has recorded as a member of the Millar and Monarch Brass Ensembles on Koss, Crystal, Proto, and Novitas labels.

Saxton is a Selmer-Bach artist/clinician and recitalist across the U.S., and has presented many concert/clinics in the Far East. Chosen for the Kansas Arts Commission Touring Roster, she presents solos and master classes across Kansas. Ms. Saxton taught previously at Illinois Wesleyan and Northeastern Illinois Universities. She is a charter member and is on the board for the International Women’s Brass Conference, and was a recent guest artist recitalist, panelist and presenter at their 2003 conference.

Active in the International Trumpet Guild, Ms. Saxton has been featured in and has written for the ITG Journal, served as Mock Orchestra audition chair, and was on the Teaching Panel for the 2004 Denver ITG conference. She has recently chartered the WSU-ITG chapter - recognized in its performing guise as the WSU trumpet ensemble - the flagship of the trumpet studio. They recently performed at the 2004 ITG conference.

Her students from WSU, Illinois and Hong Kong can be found working professionally in music as performers and teachers across the U.S. and in Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Norway.

Player bio taken from the Wichita State University College of Fine Arts School of Music web site from 2006.
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Derek Reaban
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe Winds / Symphony of the Southwest

[Derek Reaban]

Douglas Myers

Douglas Myers was Principal Trumpet with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra from 1988-1990. He is currently a member of the Myers-Whitaker Duo, one of the world's most sought-after ensembles on the early Hunting Horn. Both musicians are accomplished trumpet players. Gregory Whitaker is a regular member of the Boston Classical Orchestra and Douglas Myers has performed in orchestras from Hong Kong to Milwaukee.

As the Myers-Whitaker Duo they specialize in the rarely heard high horn parts of the Baroque and Pre-Classical periods and perform on the newly-developed piccolo French horn, also called the Corno da caccia. This new instrument has captivated audiences for its warm, rich sound and is performed in the authentic Baroque manner without putting a hand inside the bell. Whitaker and Myers follow in the footsteps of Baroque instrumentalists who usually played both trumpet and horn.

The Myers-Whitaker Duo has performed around the world to critical acclaim. In this country, the duo has appeared with the Bach Aria Group (New York City), the Berkshire Bach Society (Tanglewood), the Bethlehem Bach Orchestra (Pennsylvania), the Winter Park Bach Festival (Florida), the New England Bach Soloists (Connecticut), the Philharmonia Virtuosi (New York), Musica Sacra (New York), the Emmanuel Bach Orchestra (Boston), the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the New York Chamber Soloists, the Concerto Soloists (Philadelphia), the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival (California), as well as with just about every major Bach festival in the United States. Internationally, the duo has performed with the Gewandhaus Orchestra Summer Festival (Germany), the Canary Island Music Festival (Spain), the Bergen May Festival (Norway), the Hong Kong Philharmonic, the Orquesta Sinfonica de Galicia (Spain), the Caracas Philharmonic Orchestra (Venezuela), and the Munich Brass (Germany).

Additionally, Whitaker and Myers are experts and lecturers on the history of the horn. As scholars they own a large collection of original Baroque manuscripts, which they have discovered in the great libraries of Europe. They have been responsible for first editions of many pieces, including J. S. Bach-Chorale Preludes for Organ. Both Myers and Whitaker have studied with the best early horn authorities of our day, including Barry Tuckwell, Hermann Bauman, Peter Damm and Lowell Greer.

Player bio taken from Boston Classical Orchestra concert write up from October 2005.
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Derek Reaban
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe Winds / Symphony of the Southwest

[Derek Reaban]

Christopher Pigram

Christopher Pigram was Principal Trumpet with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra from 1987 to 1988. He was the co-winner of the ITG Mock Orchestra competition in 1986. He was a student of John Wallace, of the Royal College of Music, London. He a member of the Apollo brass quintet and is a freelance trumpet player with orchestras in London.

Player bio taken from the The Roads They’ve Taken: A Look at ITG’s Student Contest Winners (ITG Journal May 1996) by Anne Hardin.
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Derek Reaban
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe Winds / Symphony of the Southwest

[Derek Reaban]

David Washburn



M.M. New England Conservatory of Music

David Washburn presently holds the position of principal trumpet with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Pasadena Pops Orchestra and the California Philharmonic and is a member of the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra.

He is active in the recording studios, having numerous motion picture soundtracks to his credit. Some of the most recent recordings include principal trumpet on A Beautiful Mind, Windtalkers, The Grinch, The Perfect Storm, Titanic, Deep Impact, Ransom, Mighty Joe Young and Bicentennial Man.

Washburn is a member of the faculty at Chapman University, California State University Northridge, Biola University and Idyllwild School of Performing Arts. He has also served as principal trumpet and soloist with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and has held teaching positions at Redlands University and the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts.

Washburn received his Masters of Music, with distinction, from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and his Bachelor of Music from the University of Southern California School of Music. His trumpet instructors have included Rob Roy McGregor, Robert Nagel, John Clyman and Joan LaRue.

Washburn has been featured as soloist with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, San Diego Chamber Orchestra, SummerFest La Jolla, University of California Irvine Symphony, South Bay Chamber Orchestra, Glendale Symphony, Bach Camerata, California Philharmonic, Pasadena Pops Orchestra and the Burbank Symphony. This season Washburn will be featured with Jeff Kahane and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra performing Bach's Cantata #51 and the Brandenburg Concerto #2 with the San Diego Chamber Orchestra.

David has also performed Stravinsky's Histoire du Soldat and Bach's Brandenburg Concerto #2 with Esa-Pekka Salonen at SummerFest La Jolla.

Player bio taken from University of California, Irvine Department of Music from 2006.
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Derek Reaban
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe Winds / Symphony of the Southwest

[Derek Reaban]

Henry Nowak

Henry Nowak was Solo Principal Trumpet of The Kansas City Philharmonic Orchestra September 1957 throught 1962 April.

I resigned to go on tour to the Soviet Union as first trumpet with Robert Shaw Choral and Orchestra fall of 62. My first son was born in Kansas City October of 1958 my second October as Principal as I remember well her becoming pregnant in my first season as Principal.

After a four years of freelancing in New York City, where I played the last couple of concerts of the Symphony of the Air, Toscanni's former NBC Orchestra, I went to work for Pablo Casals in Puerto Rico as Solo Principal of Orchesta Sinfonica de Puerto Rico, Casals Festival and Conservatorio de Musica, all part of Festival Casals Inc.

Just prior to that time I also became Solo Principal Trumpet of the Mozart Festival Orchestra at Lincoln Center for the first three seasons of what was re-named the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra. I would perform at the Marlboro Music Festival in the earlier part of these three summers. 1965 66 67 I believe.

In 1966 having recorded as Solo First Trumpet the Bach Orchestral Suites with Casals conducting for Columbia records, I began performing the whole summers at Marlboro and recorded under Casals most of the Beethoven symphonies, and works of Brahms, Mendelssohn, etc.

In 1970-71 season I took a sabbatical and was Solo Principal Trumpet of the Zagrebacka Philharonic, Zagreb, Yugoslavia, after previously doing a European tour with it. While in Zagreb, I recorded the Brandenburg Concerto with Solisti di Zagreb.

After performing for Casal's funeral I flew to Europe with a lifetime contract with the RAI TV-Radio Orchestra Sinfonica, Rome, Italy on New Year's Day 1973 and stayed for four seasons playing under most of the most prestigious world class conductors of that era. Bernstein, Maazel, Gulinni, Muti, Bohm.

I will finish this tomorrow - have to stop now, but was also Solo Principal of the Hong Kong Philharmonic in 1984.
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Derek Reaban
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe Winds / Symphony of the Southwest

[Derek Reaban]

Stanley Friedman

Friedman enjoys a dual career as a composer and trumpeter. Formerly principal trumpet with the New Zealand Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, and Israel Philharmonic, Friedman is featured on the CD The Lyric Trumpet (Ode Records, New Zealand). His solo trumpet works include Solus, La Pittura, Trumpet Sonata, Laude, and Concerto in C. Friedman is a three-time winner of the ITG Composition Contest. He currently is working on a final draft of a companion/guide to the James Stamp trumpet method.


Player Bio taken from the International Trumpet Guild (ITG) web site, December 1998.
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Derek Reaban
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe Winds / Symphony of the Southwest

[Derek Reaban]

David Gauger II



David Gauger II, a native of Rolling Meadows, Illinois, is conductor of the Moody Symphonic Band and Coordinator of Instrumental Instruction at Moody Bible Institute. He holds a Bachelor of Music from Wheaton College and a Master of Music from Northwestern University. His major trumpet teachers have included Vincent Cichowicz, Charles Geyer, and William Scarlett, all of the Chicago Symphony.

Since late 1999, Mr. Gauger has played extra and substitute trumpet regularly with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra both at Symphony Center and Ravinia, the summer home of the Chicago Symphony. He has performed with the CSO under such conductors as Daniel Barenboim, Pierre Boulez, Christoph Eschenbach, David Robertson, William Eddins and Marvin Hamlisch. Recently he went on tour with the CSO performing in Carnegie Hall in New York.

From 1983 to 1994, he was Principal Trumpet of the Tulsa Philharmonic and from 1980 to 1983 Principal Trumpet of the Hong Kong Philharmonic, touring with that group to Singapore, Bangkok, and Osaka. He was a member of the Grand Teton Music Festival orchestra during the summers of 1983 to 1990, and has played extra trumpet with the Oklahoma Symphony and substitute Principal with the Saint Louis Symphony on several occasions. His solo and recording experiences have been quite varied and extensive with the above organizations as well. Mr. Gauger is currently Assistant Principal Trumpet of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra performing with this group about a dozen times a year.

He joined the Moody faculty in 1994, and is Artist/Professor of Sacred Music. In addition to his duties with the band, he teaches music technology, instrumental conducting, applied trumpet and coaches small ensembles.


Player bio taken from Moody Bible Institute – Sacred Music web site from 2006.
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Derek Reaban
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe Winds / Symphony of the Southwest

[Derek Reaban]

Kevin Rosenberry

Kevin Rosenberry studied trumpet at the Curtis Institute of Music. He performed with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra for 7 years playing in China, Japan, Thailand and Malaysia. Other recent concert appearances abroad include Germany, Scotland and England with live broadcasts for the BBC at Royal Albert Hall in London.

In the US Kevin has performed at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center NYC and Kennedy Center Washington DC. Currently, he performs with the Bethlehem Bach Festival Orchestra, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra and Symphony Orchestras of Allentown, Reading, and Pottstown. Recording credits include: Dorian, Gothic, and EMI Labels.

In addition, Kevin is director of Mirandola FanFare Trumpets, performing on long horn trumpets at various Renaissance Faires throughout the country. Mirandola has also appeared with the Philly Pops and was invited to perform for President Bush.

Furthermore, Kevin is a prolific composer ranging from chamber to large scale orchestra. Compositions are available.
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Derek Reaban
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe Winds / Symphony of the Southwest

[Derek Reaban]

Lorraine Cohen

Lorraine Cohen was the Principal Trumpet of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra from 1977-1979 and Co-Principal Trumpet of the Israel Philharmaonic from 1979-1980 under the direction of Zubin Mehta. She was a student of Gil Johnson at the Curtis Institute of Music from 1973-1976.

She is the founder and leader of The New York Brass Trio, Principal Trumpet of The Bronx Arts Ensemble, The Queens Symphony and The Philip Glass Ensemble, The Westchester Philharmonic, The American Symphony, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Long Island Philharmonic etc. and has played trumpet on thousands of Broadway shows, appeared as soloist on The Maury Povich Show, performed hundreds of sound tracks for movies and TV (Most recently, Nova Science Now and Secret Window).

Player bio taken from the article Gilbert Johnson – Artist and Teacher (ITG Journal May 1999) by David Champouillon and confirmed by Lorraine Cohen (Jan 2006).
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Derek Reaban
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe Winds / Symphony of the Southwest

[Derek Reaban]

Glenn Fischthal



Born in Shell Lake, Wisconsin, and raised in New York, Glenn Fischthal joined the San Francisco Symphony as Principal Trumpet in 1980. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music in 1970 studying with Bernard Adelstein, of the Cleveland Orchestra, and he continued with graduate work at the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia. His other teachers included Thomas Stevens of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Frank Kaderabek of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and Robert Nagel of the New York Brass Quintet.

Mr. Fischthal's orchestral career began in 1970 while he was still a student. He was called in to substitute for the Cleveland Orchestra, and he was promptly asked to join the musicians on a tour of the Far East where he performed under George Szell and Pierre Boulez. In subsequent years, he played with the San Antonio Symphony, the National Ballet of Canada Orchestra, the Hong Kong Philharmonic, and the Kansas City Philharmonic. In 1976, he became Principal Trumpet of the Israel Philharmonic, where he played extensively under Zubin Mehta and Leonard Bernstein and was featured on several occasions in the Haydn and Hummel Trumpet Concertos. During the summer of 1979, he traveled with the Israel Philharmonic throughout Europe. He left the orchestra at the end of the tour to assume the position of Principal Trumpet with the San Diego Symphony.

With the San Francisco Symphony, he was first featured in the Orchestra's 1981 and 1984 Mostly Mozart Festivals in solo works of Haydn and Torelli. Throughout his career with the Symphony, he has also been featured in works by J.S. Bach, Adams, Haydn, and Hummel. In 1984, he rejoined the Israel Philharmonic on an international tour to Israel, Australia, and California, and again in 1991 when the Philharmonic toured the United States. Mr. Fischthal has also performed at the summer music festivals at the Grand Tetons and the Santa Fe Opera. He has recorded for Deutche Grammophon, London, CBS Masterworks, Tel Arc, Nonesuch, and the Philips labels.

Mr. Fischthal currently resides in San Francisco and enjoys golf, billiards, alpine skiing, and spending time with his two wolf-huskies.


Player Bio taken from the San Francisco Symphony web site for the 2004-2005 season.
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Derek Reaban
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe Winds / Symphony of the Southwest

[Heim]