Suzanne Lavalle Bothamley, daughter of Paul Lavalle

William (Bill) H. Rose -- One of our best friends is the legendary Bill Rose. Bill served as Principal Tuba of the Houston Symphony for almost 30 years and taught at the University of Houston even longer. Bill has retired from playing and teaching but is still very highly regarded by his many former students and orchestra colleagues. Bill is still an amazing player. Dr. Rose was also a member of the Navy School, LaValle's Cities Service Band of America and The Goldman Band.

Dr. Grady Hallman is chairman of the Summit Brass. He received his pre-medical degree with honors from the University of Texas at Austin where he was elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa Honorary Scholastic Society. While at U.T., he played trombone in the Longhorn Band and was elected to Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity. He played euphonium in the U.T. Symphonic Band and received the Outstanding Band Member Award. Dr. Hallman plays euphonium in the Gulf Coast Concert Band and trombone in the Houston Concert Band and Doctors Orchestra of Houston. He is a member of a brass quintet and a trombone quartet. Dr. Hallman is a member of the Board of Advisors of the Houston Symphony and is a Chair Sponsor. Each year he sponsors a brass ensemble concert as part of the Houston Friends of Music concert series at Rice University. Dr. Hallman is a member of the Board of Governors of the Shepherd (School of Music) Society at Rice University and is also a member of the Executive Board of Summit Brass. He has been euphonium soloist with the Houston Concert Band, the Pasadena (Texas) Municipal Band, the Space City (Houston) Band, the Gulf Coast Community Concert Band, the Irving (Texas) Community Concert Band, the Naperville (Illinois) Municipal Band, Chicago Staff Band of the Salvation Army, University of Texas Longhorn Bands, Virginia Grand Military Band, Dallas Wind Symphony, Austin Symphonic Band, Nixon High School (Laredo, Texas) Band, Houston Symphonic Band and Doctors Orchestra of Houston. He has performed as euphonium soloist at the Association of Concert Bands National Convention, the Irving, Texas Community Band Festival, the Texas Bandmasters Association and has toured as soloist with the American Winds/ACB Band in Europe each summer since 1993. He premiered a newly commissioned solo with the Naperville Municipal band in 1999. Dr. Hallman was elected to the Longhorn Band Hall of Honor in 2000.


Harvey G. Phillips, is described by Gunther Schuller as a "legend among brass players and other instrumentalists...the major progenitor in his field his efforts on behalf of other musicians never cease..." A world renowned artist, Phllips' performances include two dozen Carnegie Hall solo recitals, the first tuba recital at the library of Congress, over two hundred clinic/recitals at colleges and universities throughout the world, with international tours of Japan, Australia, Scandinavia and Europe. His music career began as a teenager with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Band. From 1950 –1971 he maintained an enviable freelance career in New York City, performing, recording and broadcasting with famous artists, conductors, bands and orchestras. In 1954, he was a founding member of the New York Brass Quintet. In 1960 he co-founded The Burke-Phillips All-Star Concert Band with Jimmy Burke. The band was comprised of every top soloist and first chair player in the country. The trumpet section included Jimmy Burke, Ray Crisara, Bob Nagel, Harry Glantz, Manny Weinstock, Ted Weis and Wilfred Roberts. Dr. Phillips was also a member of LaValle's Cities Service Band of America. Harvey Phillips has been referred to by the press as the "Paganini of the tuba", "TubaMiester","Iacocca of the Tuba", and "Mr.Tuba", a title conferred upon him by his teacher, the late William J. Bell.

Raymond Crisara, Professor Emeritus of Trumpet, attended the Ernest Williams School of Music and the University of Michigan. He has over 35 years of professional trumpet performance in all areas of musical expression: radio, television, recordings, films, jingles and concerts. He held principal positions in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, NBC Symphony under Toscanini. Among the many honors bestowed on Dr. Crisara are the Arts Teaching Excellence Award, the Edwin Franko Goldman Citation of the American Bandmasters Association, an Honorary Doctor of Music degree from the State University of New York-Courtland.  Dr. Crisara retired from the UT School of Music in 2001. He has been appointed to the Academy of Distinguished Teachers, at The University of Texas. Dr. Crisara was a member of The Goldman Band and Paul LaValle's Cities Service Band of America.