With light hearts and skilled hands, the Sovereign Brass breathes fresh life into the otherwise serious world of brass and chamber music.  These six virtuoso performers have established a reputation for leaving their audiences both charmed and amazed.  Created in 1994, Sovereign Brass is an ensemble of six of the finest freelance musicians in the Central Florida area.  The goal of the Sovereign Brass is to bring the highest quality music to the widest possible audience and to present this music in a way that is both entertaining and fun.  With a repertoire of more than 300 titles spanning over 400 years of music, the Sovereign Brass has an appeal that bridges generations and cultures.  Instrumentation of five brass and one percussionist makes Sovereign Brass one of the most versatile ensembles available today.  These six virtuoso musicians find themselves at home in any situation from concert stages to recording studios.

Mike Avila was born and raised in Garden Grove, California.  After undergraduate studies at Long Beach State University and Southern California University, Mike moved to Florida in 1983 to become the lead trumpet player in the World Class Brass at Disney’s EPCOT Center, a position that he held for sixteen years.  Well known as a piccolo trumpet specialist, Mike’s abilities are in great demand in the Central Florida Region.  Mike is the proud father of four and is also the president of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 389, Central Florida Musicians Association.

A native of Southern California, Tom Macklin began his trumpet education at the age of seven under the instruction of Jimmy Cannon-a former member of the Count Basie Orchestra. While attending the California State University of Long Beach he continued his studies with Joan LaRue and Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Boyd Hood. Mr. Macklin has also studied with world-renowned trumpet soloist and composer Anthony Plog, jazz recording artist Charlie Shoemake, and saxophonist Don Rafael.

Hired in 1982 by the Disney Company to perform at EPCOT Center, Mr. Macklin worked there for seventeen years, performing in the groups The Make-Believe Brass, Future World Brass, and the Magic Kingdom’s World Band. In addition to his duties as a musician he also contributed greatly to those and other Disney groups as an arranger.

In 1994, Tom joined the Orlando Philharmonic’s trumpet section. As a featured soloist, Mr. Macklin has performed the Brandenburg Concerto #2 and the Telemann Concerto in D. He is currently serving his second term on the Philharmonic’s board of directors.

As a free-lance musician, Mr. Macklin performs with the brass quintet the Sovereign Brass, is a Warner Brothers recording artist for education materials, and maintains an active trumpet studio both at home and at Stetson University. His performance resume also includes working with The Woody Herman Orchestra, Maureen McGovern, Marvin Hamlisch, Joan Rivers, Rosemary Clooney, and playing numerous touring Broadway pit orchestras.

Kathy Thomas received her musical education from the University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana. Her teachers have included John Fairfield, Kazmierz Machala, Kent Laramee, and Sharon Corbin.  Ms. Thomas is a member of the Orlando Philharmonic and also holds the Principal Horn chair in the Walt Disney World Orchestra. Active as a teacher and in the recording studios as well as being a regular member of the pit orchestras for touring Broadway shows and name acts, Ms. Thomas is in demand around the region for her varied musical abilities.

Jeffrey Thomas, a native of Kirkland, Illinois, is an active performer and recording artist living in Davenport, Florida. After graduating from Florida State University, Mr. Thomas attended North Texas State University as a Graduate Teaching Fellow, playing in the famed 1:00 Jazz Lab Band.  Mr. Thomas is the former Principal Trombonist of the Florida West Coast Symphony Orchestra (Sarasota, FL) and has toured nationally, recording three albums with the Dallas Brass.  Jeff has twice performed the world premiers of new compositions for trombone:  Fantasia by Frigyes Hidas and T-Bone Concerto by Johan DeMeij.  As a Disney Featured Artist, he performs as a soloist and clinician with bands and orchestras from across the USA and the World. Currently performing with the Sovereign Brass, the Orlando Philharmonic, Orlando Opera and touring Broadway Shows as well as recording for TV, radio and motion pictures, Mr. Thomas also performs regularly with most of the Symphony Orchestras in the region.

A former faculty member at Valdosta State and the Lynn Conservatory of Music, Mr. Thomas is an enthusiastic teacher of aspiring professional trombonist.

Jeff has recorded an album with the “Nay Palm Bones” trombone quartet that was released nationally on the Summit Brass label.

Recent performances have seen Jeff performing with members of the Empire Brass and touring the with national brass sensation Proteus 7.

New to Sovereign Brass this year, Ed Firth began playing tuba at age 10 in Croydon, Pa. Ed joined the 392nd Army band at 18, then was accepted into the West Point Band, played the Hudson Valley Symphony and Chappaqa Chamber Orchestra, lessons with Herb Wekselblatt (N.Y.Met). Mr. Firth attended Illinois State University during which time he performed with Peoria Symphony, Bloomington/Normal Symphonines, and subsequently won the audition for the Chicago Civic Symphony.

Mr. Firth’s principle teachers include Mr. Arnold Jacobs (Chicago Symphony Orchestra) and Neal Tidwell (New Orleans Symphony) and Mr. Herb Wekselblatt (N.Y.MetOpera).
A two year tour with Clyde McCoy landed Ed in New Orleans, LA where he played with jazz luminaries Pete Fountain, Al Hirt , Crawford Fergusen Niteowls and The New Orleans Hot Jazz Orchestra.  Mr. Firth put his varied experinces to good use performing for 17 years with various Disney bands in Orlando including the World Dancers Band (I didn’t dance!!!), The World Band, the trio in Germany, and the Tubafours.

Currently a freelance musician, Ed’s talents are in great demand throughout the region both for his jazz and symphonic abilites. Ed shares his home with Laura, his wife of 22 years, their son, Eddie 16, and daughter Ellen, 21. (And two really smart dogs)

Mark Goldberg attended California State University at Northridge (Los Angeles, CA).  A former member of the Florida Symphony Orchestra, Mark currently performs with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, the Naples Philharmonic, the Jacksonville Symphony and the Savannah Symphony.  Mr. Goldberg has been a professional freelance percussionist for 14 years in Central Florida.  He also performs (percussion and drum set) at Walt Disney World.  He has recorded with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and is a member of numerous local groups.