Trent Austin: Principal
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Celebrated trumpet artist, educator/clinician and entrepreneur Trent Austin is a trumpeting Renaissance Man. His brilliant performances and recordings in both the jazz and classical music worlds, as well as packed-house master classes have garnered him rave reviews, awards and international acclaim
A prodigy, in high school Austin performed at the opening of Euro-Disney and also was a featured performer at the 1992 Montreux Jazz Festival. He was selected first trumpet of the Maine All-State Music Festival and was awarded a full music scholarship to the University of New Hampshire to study classical trumpet. Austin’s other early career awards include being named to the prestigious Berklee Grammy® High School Jazz Band in 1993 and designated lead trumpet of the 1995 Disney All-American Show Band. He was also a featured soloist at the 1996 Harmony Ridge Brass Festival and at the 1997 Lake Placid Institute of the Arts Seminar.
As an in-demand pro, Trent has performed with a lengthy list of music’s Who’s Who, including Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole, Joe Williams, Clark Terry, Jack Jones, Bob Brookmeyer, Maria Schneider, Peter Erskine, Arturo Sandoval, Hal Galper, Dick Oatts, Marvin Stamm, Red Holloway, Jesse Davis, Dick Johnson, Kenny Werner, and Bob Wilber. For eleven years, Austin was a featured trumpet soloist with the famed Artie Shaw Orchestra. He is currently a first-call performer in the Boston Metro and Southern New England areas as well as throughout the Midwest.
Austin has recorded four albums: Trumpet 101 (2001), Two-Toned (2006), Meditations for Solo Trumpet (2009), and Trumpet 102 (2012). Each of these efforts demonstrates Austin’s impeccable command of his instrument and marvelous artistic approach.
Trent has studied jazz improvisation privately with greats Jerry Bergonzi, Kenny Werner, Chuck Findley and engaged in extensive studies with Hal Crook and Charlie Banacos. His primary classical instructors include studies with Robert Stibler of the University of New Hampshire, Benjamin Wright of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and with Edward Carroll, formerly musical director of the New York Trumpet Ensemble.
Fiercely dedicated to the cause and development of music and jazz education, Trent was a trumpet professor at the University of Southern Maine for nine years and regularly provides clinics and Master Classes nationwide at various trumpet and brass conferences, including at the International Trumpet Guild Conference and other trumpet/brass conferences. Austin also maintains an active teaching studio in Kansas City, MO and worldwide online via Skype, providing trumpet and jazz improvisation lessons.
For booking information and rates please send Trent a note here.
Eric Chapman: Low Brass Specialist and Store manager
Eric Chapman is a trombonist, teacher, composer, and arranger in Kansas City. Born in St. Louis, he came to Kansas City to attend UMKC, eat BBQ, and revel in the great jazz history of KC. He has performed and recorded locally with Clint Ashlock’s New Jazz Order, Bobby Watson and The UMKC Conservatory Jazz Orchestra, Son Venezuela, and his own ensembles, including J.E. Chapman Presents The Music Circus. He also recorded and released an album of original works for large ensemble titled 364 Days which received awards from The Global Music Awards and was honored to participate in the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop. His original score can be heard in the social documentary by Quintin LaReau The Neighborhood. Chapman currently teaches private lessons and volunteers with The A-Flat Music Studio in Kansas City. He is very excited to have joined the Austin Custom Brass team and looks forward to working with you.
Kayla Wood: Sales
Horn player, and adjudicator Kayla Wood first moved to Kansas City in 2013 with her euphonium playing husband, Danny. Since then, she has performed throughout the metro with various groups ranging from quintets to orchestras. Kayla performs most actively with the Kansas City Wind Symphony, and is often heard performing in pit orchestras with several theatres including Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park, Culture House, The Barn Players and with several local colleges. Mrs. Wood has also travelled and competed as a member with the American Legion Band of Greater Kansas City, and American Legion Band Wind Ensemble. Most notably, Kayla had the privilege to perform as principal horn accompanying the band KANSAS in concert. As an educator, Kayla has previous experience teaching at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and as a marching band tech with dozens of high schools in the Johnson County area along with a small private studio. She enjoys not only maintaining active playing roles, but helping her daughter foster a love of music and all things brass playing as well.
Chacko Finn: Sales Jedi and Low Brass Specialist
Chacko Finn was born and raised in Kansas City. He received a Bachelor's in Music Education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance in 2018.
Since starting college in 2014, Chacko has performed across the region, having played with artists such as Tito Puente Jr, Christopher Bill, Marcus Lewis, Victor Trevino, Dominique Scott. Chacko has played in numerous pit orchestras, around the city including MTKC, MET-KC, Jewish Community Center, and in 2021 he had the opportunity to perform in The King in Concert at the New Theatre & Restaurant. He currently performs with a local prog-rock band Gekko, Back Alley Brass Band, and Crossroads Sound. Chacko was also a featured soloist with the Mason (OH) Wind Symphony in 2022 at the Kauffman Center of the Performing Arts.
In 2018, he recorded with Marcus Lewis Big Band album "Brass and Boujee" and has spent time in the studio with Kansas City musicians/bands including David Geroge Orchestra, Vela, Kansas City Latin Jazz Orchestra, Composer Nick Maluf, and Drew Williams, and more. Along with the performing career, Chacko is an educator. He has worked in a variety of settings spanning middle & high school band programs as a solo competition coach, marching band technician with notable schools from Liberty, Blue Valley, Olathe, Shawnee Mission, and Park Hill School Districts.
Roman G: Sales and shop photography
Roman Gonzales also known as Roman G. is a trumpeter, composer, arranger, producer, and teacher. Born in Waukegan, Illinois and raised in Los Lunas, New Mexico. Music has always been an important and integral part to Roman's life. He began playing the trumpet at the age of 11 and took to it instantly, after some diligent practice, he began participating in district solo/ensemble competitions the following year. This would culminate at the end of high school where he would amass over 70 individual awards including a spot in the nationally acclaimed Honor Band of America. In an effort to take his education further, he would audition and be accepted into Berklee College of Music. While there he had the opportunity to study from masters such as Tanya Darby, Marshal Gilkes, Phil Grenadier, Leon Dorsey, Bill Banfield, Livingston Taylor, Marcus Rojas, and countless others. Roman would later form his large group, Roman G & The Odyssey (RGO). Beginning with a string of successful shows at the college, he wasted no time in making The Odyssey's presence felt, releasing their debut EP “Sketches” in 2019. Roman remains an active performer, composer, and educator in Kansas City.
Website: www.roman-g.com
Aidan Hamer: Low Brass Sales and logistics
Aidan Hamer is a trombone player in the Kansas City area, and is currently studying both classical and jazz performance at the University of Kansas. He has performed with the NaFme National Symphony Orchestra, and has been active with the Fountain City Brass Academy since 2016. As a jazz player, Aidan has been recognized as a featured soloist at several competitions and performs in big bands around the Kansas City and Lawrence areas.
Caden Smith: Trumpet sales and logistics
Hello! My name is Caden smith. I am a Kansas City based trumpeter who graduated from the UMKC conservatory with a bachelor’s in Jazz studies spring of 2023. I have been playing throughout the Midwest with the Kansas City Latin jazz orchestra since 2019.