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Ceremonial Brass welcomes two top-notch musicians

  • Published
  • By Technical Sgt. Brandon Chaney
Washington, D.C. --  During the month of May, the Ceremonial Brass welcomed two top-notch musicians to the group: Technical Sgt. Christine Mounger and Technical Sgt. Brandon Jones.

Mounger is originally from West Lafayette, Ind., and received her Bachelor of Music degree from Stetson University in 2007. She was then awarded a Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School in 2009 followed by a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Miami in 2012. Prior to joining the Air Force, Mounger was second/assistant principal trombone with Florida Grand Opera and Palm Beach Symphony. She has also performed with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, New World Symphony and Palm Beach Opera, among others.

Jones, a Kentucky native, received his Bachelor of Music degree from Western Kentucky University. He was the youngest to ever make the finals at the International Tuba Euphonium Conference artist solo competition in Lahti, Finland at the age of 19. He would repeat as a finalist the next year in Greensboro, N.C., something that, at that time, had never been accomplished. Additionally, he was featured several times as a soloist with the wind ensemble, including a trip to Russia with solo appearances throughout Moscow and St. Petersburg and at the Great Tchaikovsky Hall. For the past seven years, Jones has been a freelance teacher and clinician in the Murfreesboro, Tenn. area, most notably at Oakland High School and the Northside Academy of Performing Arts.

When asked what it was like to be a part of The U.S. Air Force Band team, Mounger stated, "Being in a military band has always something that has piqued my interest, even in the early days practicing for a career as an orchestral musician. Every moment I've been here so far has further solidified the fact that I made the right decision in joining the Band."

Jones, when asked the same question, stated, "As a euphonium player, it honestly doesn't get any more prestigious than this. As an added bonus, I get to serve my country with some of the finest musicians on the planet.