Otto Sauter (Cologne, Germany) is well-known as the world‘s leading
soloist on the piccolo trumpet and has appeared in all major concert halls. In December 1995 he played with the Philharmonia Orchestra
London in the presence of HRH Prince Charles at St. James‘s Palace. 1998 and 2000 saw him giving a guest performance in St. Peter‘s Square
for Pope John Paul II. In 2001 he played with the China National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Muhai Tang in the Forbidden City in Beijing.
From 1988 until 1998 he was appointed principal trumpet in the Bremen State Philharmonic Orchestra. Since 1991 he has been artistic director of
the annual Bremen International Trumpet Festival, the world‘s leading brass festival of this time with guest musicians like Ray Charles, Maynard
Ferguson Maurice André and many more. In 1994 Otto Sauter founded the Bremen Trumpet Academy, which offered the most gifted young trumpet players
from all over the world a unique training programme. In 2014 he founded the World Brass Association, an international cooperation of festivals,
orchestras, universities and cultural institutions to support brass music in masterclasses, concerts and professional exchange worldwide.
When UNICEF-Germany celebrated its 50th anniversary, Otto Sauter decided to initiate and give a series of concerts. Each year he invites renowned
artists like Montserrat Caballé or Bobby McFerrin, to give a joint concert for the „Otto Sauter Foundation“.
In 2007/8 he initiated the „Little Amadeus Live“ concert series in cooperation with Volkswagen, based on the worldwide succesful children’s TV series
and played 80 concerts in 40 cities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Sauter is teaching and giving masterclasses at international Universities like the Royal Academy of Music London, the Toho Gakuen School of Music Tokyo,
in Houston USA, Bremen Germany, Santiago de Chile, San José Costa Rica, Manaus Brazil, Dnipropetrowsk Ukraine, St. Petersburg Russia.
He is artistic director of the annual „Wartburg-Festival“ on the legendary Wartburg, where Martin Luther translated the bible and the international choir-
and music festival „Musica Sacra a Roma“ in Rome and at the Vatican under the patronage of Cardinal Paul Poupard, Vatican. Highlight 2006 under his Artistic
Direction was the „Playtime Live City Concert Tour“ during the Football World Championship supported by the Organising Committee FIFA World Cup 2006.
Otto Sauter worked with artists and orchestras like e.g.: RSO Prague, RSO MDR, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Malmö Symphony Orchestra, Beethoven Orchestra Bonn,
Bachcollegium Leipzig, Sinfonia Varsovia, Munich Chamberorchestra, Cappella Istropolitana, Edita Gruberova, José Carreras, Gösta Winberg, Ivo Porgorelich, Elena
Bashkirova, Michael Mendl, Mario Adorf, Zubin Mehta, Daniel Barenboim, Christoph Poppen, Marcello Viotti, Mikis Theodorakis.
Alfred Gaal (Vienna, Austria) studied at the Vienna Music Academy. From 1985 until 1987, while he was still studying, he played in the Kurorchester Baden. Since 1987 he is engaged in the Orchestra of the Vereinigte Bühnen Vienna. He plays with the Vienna Philharmonic and the Vienna Symphony and as Soloist regularly with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra and the Vienna Mozart Orchestra. Since 1988 he is trumpeter of the Vienna State Opera.
Bryan Davis (New York, USA) studied at the Leeds College of Music in Great Britannien and is one of the most outstanding American lead trumpet players. In the 90th, he toured with Latin-American Bands such as Cubanismo or Isaac Delgado and from 1999 on with Theatre & Musical Company productions such as the offi cial Tribute to the Blues Brothers, Cabaret and The Rad Pack. In addition, he plays with the legendary Glenn-Miller Orchestra, the BBC-Bigband, The Supremes, the Three Degrees, Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Gloria Gaynor and many more.
Bengt Danielsson (Gothenburg, Schweden) studied at the Conservatory Gothenburg. After the Military Orchestra he studied at the NCDS Orchestra School in London. From 1986-1989 he was principal trumpet of the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra and today of the National Swedish Symphony Orchestra in Gothenburg. In 2000 he performed with the World Orchestra New York and as soloist with e.g. the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra.
Naoki Inoue (Yamagata, Japan) is principal trumpet player of the Yamagata Symphony Orchestra. He studied with Isao Fukui (ex. NHK Symphony Orchestra) at the Japan University of fine arts, with Charles Schlueter (ex. Boston Symphony Orchestra) at the New England Conservatory of Music Boston and with Hannes Laubin (Barvarian Radio Symphony Orchestra) in Munich. He performed e.g. on the Affinis Music Festival, Miyazaki International Music Festival and won the freshmusician competition held by the Tokyo Culture Centre as a soloist. Naoki Inoue is not only active in the Yamagata Symphony Orchestra but also as soloist, chamber musician and instructor, especially in the Yamagata University.
Aneel Soomary (London, Great Britain) started his musical life at Colchester Institute, studying with ex. London Symphony Orchestra trumpeter George Reynolds, later with Denis Wick and Eric Crees. On his musical circuit he lived in Australia, Hong Kong and Austria. As lead trumpet player he is working with artists like Joe Zawinul, Ray Charles, Klangforum Wien and Bob Brookmeyer to name a few. His work covers a large spectrum of styles from Big Band and Jazz to Brass Ensembles and Orchestral work.
Sebastian Gíl (Las Palmas/Spain) studied at the Conservatory of Music in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and at the Conservatory and University „Jose Iturbi“ and „Joaquin Rodrigo“ of Valencia. He is Artistic Director of the Big Band Gran Canaria, the Atlantic Art Ensemble and the International Trumpet Festival “Maspalomas International Trumpet Festival”. As soloist and with various formations such as the Gran Canaria Philharmonic Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra Tenerife, Philharmonic Orchestra of the Nations (Berlin), Big Band Gran Canaria, Atlantic Art Ensemble, CSMC Trumpet Ensemble, he has toured extensively in Japan, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Australia, USA, Mexico, Denmark, Italy. As Professor he teaches at the Conservatorio Superior de Música de Canarias.
Franz Wagnermeyer (Vienna, Austria) studied trumpet at the Bruckner Conservatory in Linz and at the Musikhochschule Vienna. He plays with Orchestras like the Vienna Radio Symphonie Orchestra and the Bruckner Orchestra Linz. As soloist he performs on renowned festivals like the Beethovenfest Bonn. He is giving lectures at international seminares, e.g. the Illinois State University and produces numerous CD- and radiorecordings as soloist and with different ensembles.
Mike Lindup (London, GB) studied piano, drums and composition at the Chethams School of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. His career began in 1980 as co-founder and keyboarder of Platinum Pop Band Level 42. In 15 years he sold with the band worldwide more than 15 million albums and 10 top singles. Mike Lindup is one of the most sought-after pianists of our time, playing with artists like Elton John, Phil Collins, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Bryan Adams. Today he is active as a soloist crossing Jazz, Cuban, Classical and Pop Styles.
Michael Weiss (Ratingen, Germany) studied classical piano at the Robert-Schumann-Hochschule Düsseldorf and at the same time jazz piano at the Musikhochschule Cologne. He graduated in 1990 and 1991. He completed his studies at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester/ New York and fi nished as Master of Music Degree in 1992. He was fi rst pianist at the famous musical „Starlight Express“ and participates in countless cabaret- and musical productions like „Miss Saigon“, „Les Miserables“, „Tommy“ and „Kiss me Kate“. Furthermore, he performes with jazz stars like John Faddis and Gary Bartz, as well as renowned artists like Johnny Logan, Jennifer Rush, Harald Schmidt and Caterina Valente.
Robert Walla (Bremen, Germany) is a regular guest at the NDR Radio-Philharmonic Orchestra and at Radio Bremen for radio-, TV concerts and CD-productions as well as at the Bad Hersfeld Festival. He performed in musicalproductions like West-Side-Story, Kiss Me Kate, La Cage, Victor/Victoria, Jekyll & Hyde, Evita.... and has recorded more than 50 albums.
Bodo Klingelhöfer (Dortmund, Germany) studied doublebass at the Musikhochschule Dortmund. He worked at the Deutsche Theater München, the Hersfelder Festspiele, the Philharmonic Orchestras in Dortmund, Essen and Gelsenkirchen and with artists like Johnny Logan, Howard Carpendale, Pepe Lienhard, The Weather Girls, Götz Alsmann and the RTL-Bigband.