Tim Andersen has combined a successful performing career along with a successful teaching career in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and throughout the country over the past 33 years. Tim is a Yamaha Performing Artist and has performed with the Grammy nominated, Dallas Winds for 28 years and has held the position of Co-Principal Trumpet since 2007. He is also a member of the Imperial Brass. Tim performs, records and tours frequently with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, joining them on their European tour in the spring of 2013 and at the BRAVO VAIL Festival in Vail, Colorado in 2011, 2013 and 2016. He is a faculty member at the Blast of Brass summer music camp and has performed numerous times at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention and Texas Bandmasters Association Convention. Mr. Andersen can be heard on over 20 recordings with the Imperial Brass, Dallas Brass, Dallas Wind Symphony and Dallas Symphony Orchestra as well as the video game, Banner Saga, with music written by Grammy Award winning composer, Austin Wintory. Tim is a member of the International Trumpet Guild, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Phi Beta Mu.
Tim began his teaching career in 1988. He has taught all levels of instrumental music from 5th grade general music through high school. This year marks his third year of retirement after 25 years of public school teaching. He is an active clinician in the North Texas area. Tim has presented clinics at the Texas Music Educators Association convention and the Texas Bandmasters Association convention as well as master classes at the University of North Texas and Louisiana State University.
Tim received his undergraduate degree (BME) from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. While attending the University of Nebraska, he won the International Trumpet Guild Student Solo Competition in 1981 and 1982. He also won the Music Teacher’s National Association National Brass Competition in 1981. Tim received his Master’s degree (MM in Trumpet Performance) from Indiana University as well as earning the coveted Performer’s Certificate from that institution. He was a featured soloist at the 2nd International Brass Congress in 1984. After relocating to Dallas in 1984, Tim began performing with the Dallas Brass. He toured with that group for three years and is featured on their first recording, Debut. He was a guest artist at the 1988 International Trumpet Guild conference as a member of the Dallas Brass. His primary mentors include Denny Schneider, Charles Gorham and Leonard Candelaria.
Joined BLAST OF BRASS in 2005
MICHAEL MORROW Horn
Michael Morrow is in his 39th year as Associate Professor of Horn at Texas A&M University-Commerce and his 24th season as 2nd horn of the Dallas Opera Orchestra and the Dallas Wind Symphony. A student of Philip Farkas at Indiana University, Mr. Morrow also studied at Indiana State University and Morehead State University. In 1994, Indiana State University honored him with the Music Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award. He has appeared as a soloist at the University of Arkansas, University of Kansas, University of North Texas, and at the 25th International horn Workshop.
As a member of the Dallas Wind Symphony he has performed on seven compact discs with conductors Fredrick Fennell and Jerry Junkin. As a member of the Dallas Opera Orchestra he recorded the World Premier of Tobias Picker's opera "Therese Raquin." Mr.Morrow has performed over seventy different operas with the Dallas Opera orchestra including Wagner's monumental four opera "Ring" cycle and Alban Berg's 20th century masterpiece Wozzeck.
For the past 25 summers, he has performed with the Breckenridge Music Festival Orchestra in Breckenridge, Colorado. Mr. Morrow's recording of "Contest solos for Horn" was released by Summit Records. Michael lives in Heath, Texas. His 14 year old daughter, Bailey Anne, is a fine cellos and an outstanding swimmer.
Founding member of BLAST OF BRASS in 1998
MEGAN BOUTIN Trombone
Dr. Megan Boutin is the Assistant Professor of Music in Trombone at Texas A&M University-Commerce. Dr. Boutin has performed, presented, and adjudicated at conferences and festivals including the International Trombone Festival, American Trombone Workshop, Midwest Clinic, International Women’s Brass Conference, Big 12 Trombone Conference, and the Music by Women Festival. She is the winner of the 2019 International Women's Brass Conference Tenor Trombone Category II solo division, and has been a guest soloist at the Midwest Clinic. Dr. Boutin has held the position of principal trombone with the Temple Symphony Orchestra, Austin Civic Orchestra, and the Tri-Cities Opera Company Orchestra (Binghamton, NY). An active freelancer, she has performed with orchestras including Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Austin Symphony Orchestra, Paducah Symphony Orchestra, Bangor Symphony Orchestra, as well as Austin Lyric Opera, Austin Symphony Brass Quintet, Stiletto Brass Quintet, Mirari Brass Quintet, and the Athena Brass Band. As an educator she has been a featured guest artist for conferences as well as performed and presented masterclasses at universities throughout the United States. She served as a coach to the International Trombone Association’s Quartet Competition 2021 winners, and was an assistant conductor for the TAMUK Trombone Choir’s performance at the 2021 Midwest Clinic. An advocate for diversity and inclusion in music, Dr. Boutin is a member of the International Women’s Brass Conference and serves as a mentor with the IWBC mentorship program. A native of Brunswick, Maine, Dr. Boutin holds degrees in Music Education from Ithaca College (B.M., Music Education), the Eastman School of Music (M.M.) and the University of Texas at Austin (D.M.A.). Principal teachers include Dr. Harold Reynolds, Mark Kellogg, Dr. John Marcellus, and Dr. Nathaniel Brickens. Dr. Boutin has held positions as the Assistant Professor of Music at Murray State University, and Adjunct Professor of Trombone at Texas A&M University-Kingsville.
DANIEL KELLY Trumpet
Daniel Kelly joined the Texas A&M University-Commerce faculty in 2010 after serving on the faculties of Indiana State University and the University of Southern Mississippi. He is the principal trumpet of the Colorado MahlerFest in Boulder, a member of The Dallas Winds, and has performed with the Charleston Symphony, Plano Symphony, Allen Philharmonic, Northeast Texas Symphony, Mobile Symphony and Opera Orchestras, Gulf Coast Symphony, Mississippi Symphony, Meridian Symphony, Sinfonia Gulf Coast, Terre Haute Symphony and Brass Quintet, Philharmonia à Vent, Columbus Brass, The Prairie Ensemble, Champaign-Urbana (IL) Symphony and Brass Quintet, Baroque Artists of Champaign-Urbana (BACH), Peoria Bach Festival Orchestra. He is also a founding member of The Ambassador Brass Quintet, which has presented concerts and workshops in the US, Thailand, Vietnam and China. More recently Dr. Kelly performed Joseph Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto with the Classical Music Festival Orchestra in Haydnsaal Schloss Esterhazy, Eisenstadt, Austria. Dr. Kelly holds degrees from Austin Peay State University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His principal teachers include Michael Ewald, Ronnie Romm, Ray Sasaki, and Richard Steffen. He has been designated a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM) by the Music Teachers National Association and is a Yamaha Performing Artist/Clinician
TIMOTHY STEVENS Horn
Tim is an active performer and educator throughout North Texas. He holds positions with the Dallas Winds (formerly the Dallas Wind Symphony), The Dallas Pops, the East Texas Symphony Orchestra, and the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra and teaches a studio of Horn players from ages 10-adult.
In his 28th year of teaching, Tim's students have consistently earned honors including selection to the All-State, Area and Region Bands, Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra, Civic Orchestra of Chicago and New World Symphony. Tim has contributed to a combined 18 Texas State Championships in Marching, Concert and Solo & Ensemble. In the summers he teaches Horn for the "Blast of Brass" Summer Music Conference. Tim has many students pursuing successful professional careers in music.
As a member of the Dallas Wind Symphony, Tim has performed on 19 Reference Recordings Compact Discs with Conductors Howard Dunn, Frederick Fennell, Austin Wintory and Jerry Junkin including the 1998 Grammy Nominated "Holidays and Epiphanies."
Mr. Stevens has also performed with the Dallas Opera Orchestra, New Mexico Symphony, Wichita Falls Symphony, Plano Symphony Orchestra, Irving Symphony and the Lewisville Lake Symphony.
As a freelance musician he has performed in the Bands and Orchestras of many popular performers such as Andrea Bocelli, Kenny G, Celtic Fire, The Three Irish Tenors, Schonberg and Boublil: Hear the People Sing World Tour, Diana Ross, The Legend of Zelda, Bette Midler, Brian Wilson, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Sandy Patty, The Spinners, The 5th Dimension, Alabama, The Oak Ridge Boys, and The Moody Blues.
Tim lives in Rockwall, Texas with his wife, Chrystal, their Black Lab Bandit and their three cats Mason, Matilda and Marvin.
Founding member of BLAST OF BRASS in 1998
KEITH MEEK Trombone BLAST OF BRASS, founder
Keith Meek is founder and owner of Metro Musical Productions, a musician contracting service. MMP has a musician list of over 800 high caliber performers, and assists the North Texas region with many of its musical needs from live performances to professional recordings. As an extension of MMP he created the BLAST OF BRASS Summer Music Conference. BOB is a weeklong music camp dedicated to the intense study of brass instrumental performance for young students and is hosted at Texas A&M University in Commerce, Texas. The BOB faculty is a list of internationally acclaimed performers and educators. BOB has featured numerous artists from such ensembles as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony Orchestra, "The President's Own" US Marine Band, Empire Brass Quintet, Canadian Brass Quintet…to name a few.
As a performer, Keith has toured, soloed, and recorded with EUROBRASS, touring Germany and Switzerland, along with soloing with various High School and College band programs. He was selected to participate in the Tanglewood Empire Brass Quintet seminar (1986) and Summit Brass Institute (1986-1988). Keith has performed with most all of the North Texas orchestras and bands over the years along with numerous performances through MMP.
As an educator, Keith is a popular clinician throughout the North Texas area. He has taught as adjunct trombone and low brass faculty at Howard Payne University and Eastfield College (DCCCD), along with building successful private studios in the Duncanville ISD (1989-2002) and Allen ISD (2009-2012). Keith’s studio has produced a large number of players who now hold major positions in the “President’s Own” Marine Band, The Washington National Opera / Kennedy Center Opera Orchestra, and various other ensembles around the country.
Keith returned to the classroom and completed a Master of Music in Trombone Performance at Baylor University, graduating in 2014, as the Graduate Assistant to Brent Phillips. Keith also has the unique pleasure of leading the church orchestra of Park Cities Baptist Church as the Music and Worship Associate. Keith is married to Darla Meek, who is the Lecture in Elementary Music Education at Texas A&M University-Commerce, and they have two children, Aubrey a budding artists and performer, and Gregory a sports freak and future coach.
JASON C. WALLACE Tuba & Euphonium
For the past decade, Jason Wallace has made his profession as a music educator and tuba player. He began his teaching career as an assistant director at Coyle Middle School in Rowlett, TX. In 2006, he moved to Rockwall ISD as an assistant director at Cain Middle School and for the past 3 years he has served as the director of bands there. Mr. Wallace has been blessed to work with remarkable music educators and students. His bands have consistently earned superior ratings at festivals and UIL Concert and Sight-reading Contests. He has also been on faculty at the Blast of Brass Summer Brass Conference since 2003.
As a tuba player, he performs with the Dallas Wind Symphony, the Lewisville Lake Symphony, and the Texas Star Brass Band. He has performed with the Dallas Opera Orchestra, the Plano Symphony and the East Texas Symphony. He has performed as a featured artist at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention, the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, Washington and the Music for All National Band Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Mr. Wallace resides in Fate Texas with his wife Kara, who is also a music educator, and their three children, Eric, Claire, and Grace.