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.

As early as I can remember, music has been a passionate focal point in my life. As a child I remember rushing home to study scores and spending all my time learning everything I could about as much music as possible. I started studying jazz trumpet at the San Antonio School of Jazz before being accepted at the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy to study classical composition.  I have been blessed to have had incredibly generous teachers throughout my development as a professional musician and as a result I have gained a great passion for teaching. Teaching is something that is a core part of my life and the joy that I get from sharing music cannot be measured.

I am a 20 year musician with 11 years teaching experience. Born and raised in New York City, I attended Laguardia high school for music and art and afterward Queens College majoring in music. My main instruments are Clarinet, Drums, and Saxophone, but i also have a strong background in Piano, Trumpet, and Flute. I enjoy writing music, writing books, and dancing.

Mike C, both with vocals and instrumental performance fuses together a combination of classical training, old school jazz, and funk, altogether bringing a creative, and soulful interpretation to music.  Mike's heart and soul penetrates each notehe play in a fashion that is characteristic of performers double his age. At the same time he has brought the advancements of electronic music technology into his performance and composition expanding his sonic palette beyond "one horn, one sound." Mike's recording credits include the independant films "A Cup of Coffee" and "The Masterpiece." He has also performed live with The Crests, Melvin Sparks, in the Bahamas with Barry Newman, and appeared at such festivals as Woodstock, Riverhead Blues Festival, movie premier party for "The Prince of Central Park", The Bayou Music Festival, The Blues 2000 Festival, Lead vocals and saxophone for Pulse Productions, as a frequent performer both in lead vocals and sax at the Trump Casino's in Atlantic City as well as Empire City Casino.  Mike currently holds a Masters degree in Music Education from William Paterson University and is a New Jersey Certified music Teacher with 16 years experience  teaching, K-6 band, general music, and chorus, music and movment for Autistic and special service students, as well as High School dance club.

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.