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Billy R. Hunter, Jr.
— Principal
A native of Austin, Texas, Billy Hunter is currently Principal trumpet with the Metropolitan Opera in New York and Assistant Principal trumpet with the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra in Chicago. Before this he was Principal with the New World Symphony and Spoleto Festival Italy orchestras, and has performed as guest principal with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony in Germany, Malaysian Philharmonic in Kuala Lumpur, and the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. Other orchestras he has performed with are the New York Philharmonic, Boston, Baltimore, and Dallas Symphonies. As a chamber musician and soloist Mr. Hunter has performed with several ensembles and music festivals including Grant Park Orchestra, New World Symphony, University of Texas Symphony and Wind Ensemble, Prometheus Chamber Orchestra, Eastern Music Festival Orchestra, American Brass Quintet, the Martha's Vineyard Chamber Music Festival and the MET Chamber Ensemble. His honors and awards include first prize in the Kingsville International Solo Competition Brass and Non-string divisions, second prize in the National Trumpet Competition, recipient of the Roger Voisin Trumpet award as a fellow of the prestigious Tanglewood Music Center in the Berkshires, and most recently, the University of Texas at Austin Outstanding Young Alumnus Award. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and the Juilliard School, his teachers are former Principal trumpet of the MET Mark Gould, Principal trumpet of the NYC Ballet and ABQ Raymond Mase, former trumpet of the MET and NBC Symphony Raymond Crisara, and former horn player of the Boston Symphony Harry Shapiro.
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James Ross
Trumpeter James Ross joined the Metropolitan Opera in 1994. Previously, he was principal trumpet of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra and a frequent performer with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the CBC Radio Orchestra. His freelance activities have included performances as principal trumpet at Tanglewood with the Orchestra of St. Luke's, and concerts with the New York-based chamber orchestra, Orpheus. He has been a guest of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, and was a member of the NY Philharmonic.
Mr. Ross attended the University of British Columbia, St. Louis Conservatory, and the Cleveland Institute of Music. His teachers have included Vincent Cichowicz of Northwestern University, Arnold Jacobs of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Parriott of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Michael Sachs of The Cleveland Orchestra, and Susan Slaughter of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.
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Peter Bond
Trumpeter Peter Bond is beginning his 19th season with the Metropolitan Opera orchestra. A native of Illinois, Mr. Bond earned a degree in Music Education from Western Illinois University with the intention of becoming a high school band director, but decided to instead to pursue a playing career. He was invited by a former professor to do graduate work at Georgia State University, where he began serious orchestral training with Atlanta Symphony principal trumpet John Head. For the next seven years, Mr. Bond enjoyed a busy career as a freelance musician in Atlanta. In 1987 he he took his first orchestra audition and was appointed principal trumpet in the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. Five years later, he won his position with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Mr. Bond enjoys private teaching, bicycling, DIY projects, and the occasional craft beer. He lives in Leonia, NJ with his wife, mezzo soprano Carla Reilly-Bond.
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