Principal Horn of the National Symphony Orchestra since 2000, Martin Hackleman began playing the horn at the age of sixteen, studying with Caesar LaMonaca in Houston. Other teachers have included Barry Tuckwell and Roland Berger (Vienna Philharmonic). He studied at the University of Houston and at age 19 he won the Principal Horn Chair in the Calgary Philharmonic where he played for two seasons. Mr. Hackleman then joined the Vancouver Symphony as Solo Horn under Maestro Kazuyoshi Akiyama in 1974 where he played for the next nine years. In 1983 Mr Hackleman left Vancouver to join the world-renowned Canadian Brass. His three years with the group saw many outstanding achievements, among them: seven recordings for CBS Masterworks, including Brass in Berlin (with the brass section of the Berlin Philharmonic); extensive tours of the U.S., Canada, Europe and the Far East; a Canadian JUNO award for "best classical record"; the group's Hollywood Bowl premiere; and the release of their first video. In 1990, Mr. Hackleman helped launch a nationally broadcast chamber music series on the CBC Radio called "CURIO", featuring chamber music of rare combinations and forgotten composers. As well, Mr Hackleman has played Principal Horn in the Chautauqua Orchestra at The Chautauqua Institute and at the Waterloo Festival in Princeton, New York. In addition to his duties as Principal Horn in the National Symphony, Mr. Hackleman also plays Solo Horn in the Washington Symphonic Brass and has recorded four CD's with them. In 1996 he recorded two solo CD's; one entirely of his own arrangements for solo horn with piano and string accompaniment, and one of five lost Romantic concertos with the CBC Vancouver Orchestra. In addition, he has three new solo cd's poised to come out in the near future. For many years he was a French horn design consultant with Yamaha. No stranger to the field of music education, Martin Hackleman has published etude books (now in their third printing) for the horn that are required repertoire at such institutions as the Royal Conservatory in London, England and the University of Michigan. He is a frequent juror for the Canada Council. He has been on the faculty at the University of Maryland, Boston University, and the University of British Columbia.
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Andrew Hitz has been the tuba player in Boston Brass since 2000. During that time, they have performed in over 30 states and 15 countries including Italy, France, Singapore, Japan, and China. Prof. Hitz has also performed solos around the world including such places as Japan, Germany, and Mexico, where he was a soloist with the Marine Band of Mexico. He studied with Rex Martin at Northwestern University where he earned his bachelor's degree and was the graduate teaching assistant for world renowned tubist Sam Pilafian at Arizona State University. Prof. Hitz has performed with a wide range of ensembles including the New World Symphony, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. He is also a founding member of the klezmer quartet Balagan based out of New York City with former Boston Brass member Rich Kelley. His appearances on television and radio include the CBS Early Show, NPR, and Asia This Morning. As an Educational Ambassador for Jupiter Band Instruments, Prof. Hitz has conducted master classes in such places as Thailand, China, Germany, and England. He currently teaches at both George Mason University and Gettysburg College and was formerly on the faculty's of the Banff Center and Virginia Commonwealth University.
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Phil Snedecor, the arranger for the Washington Symphonic Brass, is also the co-founder, manager, and trumpet player for this professional ensemble. Phil attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he received the prestigious Performers Certificate. While earning his degrees in trumpet performance and literature, he also studied arranging and composition with Professor Rayburn Wright, formerly arranger for Radio City Music Hall. In 2007, Marin Alsop appointed Mr. Snedecor to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra trumpet section. Before that appointment he had toured with both the National Symphony and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestras, and he often performed with the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra. As a musical show player, he has performed in the touring productions of Cabaret, Guys & Dolls, Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast, Peter Pan, and Evita. He has recorded for the RCA, CBS, Gothic, and Koss labels, and he can be heard most recently on a recording entitled ""The Lyrical Trumpet"II" with organist Paul Skevington on the Summit Label. His CDs, along with the entire WSB collection of recordings, can be found on iTunes. In addition to his trumpet teaching and performing activities, he writes and arranges regularly for many brass groups. He has also written a series of brass etude books, which are required studies at many college and university music schools.
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