Ben is a graduate of the Mason Gross School of the Arts (Rutgers) having received his MM in Jazz Performance in 2011. Ben has been a freelance trumpeter in the NYC area since the late 90’s. Having grown up in North Jersey, he had the opportunity to perform in such iconic jazz clubs as the Village Vanguard, Birdland, and the Blue Note while still a teenager. His career has included Broadway, jazz, and orchestral performances, as he currently subs in the orchestra of the hit Broadway show Chicago, leads his own jazz quintet, and performs with many of the best bands around including, the Joe Elefante Big Band, the Cecil’s Big Band, and the George Gee Big Band. He has traveled the world as lead trumpet for P&O, Celebrity, and Royal Caribbean Cruises and throughout his career he has had the opportunity to perform and/ or record with such artists as Milt Hinton, Arturo Sandoval, Louie Bellson, Barry Manilow, Gladys Knight, The Osmonds, Phil Smith, John Hendricks, Tierney Sutton, Bob Mintzer, Charles McPherson, Rufus Reid, Slide Hampton, Wynton Marsalis, Boyz II Men, Roger Webster, Christian McBride, and Buddy DeFranco.

Worked at the Musika office since 2007. 

Donald's eclectic approach to music is one best described as unique. Raised in an environment where music was as much a part of life as breathing, Donald developed his musical identity like a child goes through his adolescent years. Growing up in the Ifa tradition, Donald’s first musical experience was with traditional “African Praise Music” playing the drums and singing. Later he learned to play the trumpet through the Cleveland Hts. School system and quickly gravitated toward jazz. By the age of 18 Donald had performed with Terence Blanchard, John Clayton, Jeff Clayton, Bobby Watson, and Winard Harper. After graduating Cleveland Hts. High and Cuyahoga Community College simultaneously, Donald was awarded a scholarship at the esteemed Oberlin Conservatory. There he studied with jazz greats like Marcus Belgrave, Billy Hart, and Gary Bartz. While pursuing his studies Donald continued to demonstrate his musical talents. He performed with such greats such as, Gerald Wilson, Billy Hart, Marcus Belgrave, Jimmy Heath, Eric Lewis, Frank Foster, Roscoe Mitchell, Donald Byrd and the Jazz Heritage Orchestra to name a few. It was at this time that Donald became aware of his gift for composition. He was commissioned to compose the piece Stark Winters for the independent film Man Cry. He also composed a four movement suite for the Jazz Heritage Orchestra entitled Spirit of New Orleans. Upon graduating from Oberlin, Donald furthered his education as a graduate student at Rutgers University. There he was mentored by, the legendary William Fielder. Since his move to New York City, Donald has had the honor of performing with such greats as Geri Allen, Victor Lewis, Frank Lacey, Michele Rosewoman, Cecil Brooks III, Mike Mossman, The Drifters, Eddie Palmieri, Conrad Herwig, and Frank Sinatra Jr. Donald, also will be in the new film by producer Michael Hausman (The Firm, Broke Back Mountain, Amadeus) called Downtown Express where his song Juanita from his new album The Mothers will be heard. In March of 2009, Donald released his debut album "Spiritualtiy" with his cutting edge band SIGHT. Here, he has revisited his spiritual roots, combining the music for the Orisha (African deities of the Yoruba people) and jazz. Each song on the album embodies different aspects of the Spirit, be it love, femininity, masculinity, aggression, destiny or wisdom. These energies represent different aspects of God, and through this music, the creator is praised. SIGHT has now recorded their second album that will be released in March 2011 called, "The Mothers".

Jamie is a teacher, guitarist, singer/songwriter, saxophonist, and composing pianist.  His teaching career began at the age of fourteen, as a volunteer in the Songcatchers, Inc. program, teaching saxophone and piano to underprivileged children in New Rochelle, NY.  While completing his undergraduate education, Jamie continued to participate in Wind Symphony and Spacecataz, his own rock band, while teaching privately in Rochester, NY and Westchester County, NY.  In 2007 he completed an eight month internship in Artist Media and Marketing at Island Def Jam Music Group/Universal in Manhattan.  During the second half of his senior year at Rochester, he single handedly designed, produced, and taught the General Music Program for K-10 at Cornerstone Academy in Brockport, NY.  Following this, he completed an independent study on the modern music industry, and was awarded the first ever Bachelor of Arts Degree in Popular Music and Jazz from the University of Rochester, and its sister conservatory, the Eastman School of Music. In the last several years, Jamie has built a formidable private studio of students on guitar, saxophone, piano, trumpet, clarinet, composition, theory, and performance.  Jamie has produced and hosted a plethora of student recitals, and begun his Master of Arts Degree in Music Education at Hunter College, inclusive of the AVID tutoring program and Teacher Education Program.  His musical influences are varied, and include Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Mahler, Brahms, Reich, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderley, John Coltrane, Hank Mobley, Charlie ‘Bird’ Parker, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, BB King, Bob Dylan, The Cars, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Alice in Chains, Tool, R.E.M., The Red Hot Chili Peppers, No Doubt, The Police, Say Anything, Journey, Rush, Jimmy Eat World, Motion City Soundtrack, Billy Joel, Goo Goo Dolls, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Alanis Morissette, John Mayer, Stone Temple Pilots, and many more.

Praised for her lyricism and rich, vibrant sound, Lily is a versatile trumpeter in New York City.  An accomplished orchestral player, chamber musician, and soloist, she has been a featured artist at venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the United Nations.  In November, Lily will travel to Brazil to perform as a soloist and guest clinician at the Universidade Metodista de São Paulo.  Interested in expanding into new genres, she recently performed at Joe's Pub with Grammy Award-winning cabaret artist Lady Rizo and at KlezKanada, Canada’s largest annual festival of Yiddish culture and the arts. A seasoned orchestral player, Lily has appeared with ensembles including the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, American Symphony Orchestra, Brooklyn Philharmonic, and Long Island Philharmonic.  During the summer months, she has performed at the Aspen Music Festival, National Orchestral Institute, and Atlantic Music Festival as an orchestral fellow.  Some of Lily’s favorite orchestral moments include accompanying soloist Gil Shaham in his performance of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto and playing Gustav Mahler’s Sixth Symphony under the baton of James Conlon. Equally devoted to chamber music, Lily was a winner of the Lillian Fuchs Chamber Music Competition (2006) and performed with the Brooklyn Philharmonic Brass Quintet in their annual educational concert tour.  She has appeared with the Manhattan Brass Quintet and the DC Chamber Brass and has presented chamber music concerts at the Apollo Theater and the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in New York City.  She can be heard on a recording with the Imperial Brass Band that features legendary jazz trumpeter Warren Vaché. Lily holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Music degree from Manhattan School of Music, where she was awarded the Carmine Caruso Scholarship for brass as well as the President’s Award Merit Scholarship.