2019 Guest Artists

Thomas Hultén, Principal Trombone of the Houston Grand Opera and Ballet Orchestras

Thomas Hultén, Principal trombone with the Houston Grand Opera/Houston Ballet and Affiliate Artist with the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston, started playing at the age of ten in the local Salvation Army Band in his hometown of Katrineholm, Sweden. After completing his military service with the Swedish Army Band, he studied trombone performance at the Gothenburg Conservatory. In 1988, he won a position with the Bohus Big Band, one of Sweden's two professional full-time big bands. Also a sought-after free-lance player, he has performed with the Gothenburg Symphony and the Royal Swedish Opera Stockholm.


Since moving to Houston, Texas in 1997, he has performed with the Houston Symphony, Theater Under The Stars, Ray Charles, Tony Bennett, Dave Brubeck, Natalie Cole, Barry Manilow, Patti Austin, Johnny Mathis and Michael Bolton.
Hulten has played in the orchestra for several touring Broadway musicals, most recently "A Chorus Line" and "Wicked" at the Hobby Center in Houston.


An accomplished composer and arranger, he's been involved in several recording projects, most recently on the movie "Foam" featuring jazz singer Bob Dorough.


Hulten has been featured at the International Trombone Festival and has toured Europe, Japan, Germany, Holland Australia, New Zealand and the USA. His album "Slide Side" was released by Tierra Studios in 2009 and is available on iTunes and Amazon. "Slide Side" was nominated for five Grammys in 2010.

Gram Lee, Second Trombone of the Bangor Symphony Orchestra

Gram Lee is a performer and educator pursuing his Master’s in trombone performance at Yale University.  He hails from Houston, Texas where he was a three time all state trombonist and drum major of Mayde Creek High School in Katy ISD. He attended the University of Michigan and received a double major in Music Education and Trombone Performance with High Honors and studied under David Jackson. During his undergraduate studies he was a finalist for the Eastern Trombone Workshop solo competition and the winner of the Wright State brass solo competition. He also performed with many orchestras and summer festivals such as Brevard Music Festival and the local Texas Music Festival (hosted in Houston), the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra and the Adrian Symphony Orchestra. 


After completing his undergraduate degrees he received an acceptance to Yale University where he currently studies with Scott Hartman. During his time at Yale, Gram has taught the undergraduate trombone students, been a teaching fellow for New Haven public schools, worked as a facility’s operations manager, made finals for the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, was selected as a finalist for the New World Symphony Orchestra in Miami Florida and won the 2nd trombone job of the Bangor Symphony Orchestra in Maine. 


He currently lives in East Haven, CT and very much enjoys spending time with his loving English Cream Golden Retriever (Finley) and his close friends. 

Previous Guest Artists

2018

Noel Wallace, Visiting Assistant Professor of Low Brass, Tarleton State University

Dr. Noel Wallace is the Visiting Assistant Professor of Low Brass at Tarleton State University. Previous college teaching positions include adjunct positions at the University of North Texas, Brookhaven College, and Texas Woman's University. Dr. Wallace holds a bachelor degree in music from the Eastman School of Music, a masters degree in music from Penn State University, and a doctorate of musical arts degree from the University of North Texas. Additionally, Dr. Wallace holds a performance certificate from the Rotterdam Conservatory, in The Netherlands and a high school diploma in performance from the Interlochen Arts Academy. His primary teachers include Jan and Vern Kagarice, John Marcellus, Mark Lusk, and Ben van Dijk.


Dr. Wallace’s teaching duties at Tarleton include the teaching of all low brass (trombone, euphonium, and tuba), director/coach of low brass ensembles, teaching the low brass methods course, and director of the symphonic band. In addition to his Tarleton teaching duties Dr. Wallace also maintains a large private studio in the Hebron cluster of the Lewisville Independent School District. 

As a performer Dr. Wallace has had a diverse career playing in variety of large ensembles, chamber groups, and as a soloist. He is currently an active member as a bass trombonist in the San Angelo Symphony, Keith Karns Big Band, Tarnished Brass Quintet, and Session Brass. His solo residency titled “All My Friends Are Trombone Players” is also in demand with collegiate studios throughout the US.  

Dr. Wallace’s current scholastic/research interests include; health and wellness for brass players with an emphasis on the prevention and eradication of FTSD (focal task specific dystonia) and improving the methodological approaches to beginner instruction of brass players.  

Currently living in Denton, Texas Dr. Wallace also has a passion for healthy living and athletics. Dr. Wallace shares his passions with his wife and favorite soprano, Dr. Alicia Wallace and their three crazy cats!

2017

Bobby Guess, Shires Artist, Bass Trombone

​Bobby Guess is an honor graduate of the University of Houston, and he is currently the Band Director at WoodCreek Junior High School in the Katy ISD and is a free-lance Bass Trombonist in the Gulf Coast Area.  He performs in many venues and styles ranging from orchestral and Sacred to big band and R & B funk.
 
Bobby has completed his twenty-third year as a music educator in the State of Texas.  He has taught in the Cypress-Fairbanks, Houston, Lamar Consolidated, Katy Independent School Districts and under his direction, his bands have received numerous local, state, and national awards.  In 2004, Bobby was the recipient of Houston’s KPRC Channel 2 Sunshine Award, an award for educators nominated by their students and community.  Bobby was featured as a presenter at the Texas Music Educators’ Association and the Texas Bandmasters’ Association Conventions in San Antonio, as an expert in trombone pedagogy.  Bobby Guess is also an active brass clinician; engineering clinics for brass performers of all ages and disciplines. In 2008, Bobby joined the SE Shires Instrument Co as a performing artist.