Olympic Brass
OLYMPIC BRASS was founded to provide audiences with the best of brass chamber music. Composed of five of the most accomplished musicians in
Northeast Ohio, OLYMPIC BRASS is Brass at its Peak!
The ensemble is a traditional brass quintet with two trumpets, horn, trombone and tuba, with a repertoire spanning five centuries and a wide variety of styles. In addition, OLYMPIC BRASS is a flexible ensemble with a wide palette of instruments and colors available. Email me for bookings, brochures and sound samples!
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Amanda Bekeny (trumpet) is trumpet instructor at Cleveland State University and Kent State University, and former and brass quintet coach at The College of Wooster. She previously taught at Ashland University, where she was the trumpet instructor, brass ensemble director, and lectured a course on musical styles. From 2010 through 2012 Dr. Bekeny oversaw the trumpet studio at The Ohio State University. While at Ohio State, Dr. Bekeny maintained a busy schedule of teaching, conducting, and performing. She led the Ohio State Trumpet Ensemble in performances at the International Trumpet Guild 36th Annual Conference and world premier performances at the OSU Contemporary Music Festival. Dr. Bekeny is a frequent guest performer and lecturer at Ohio high schools and universities, and was a guest recitalist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During her summers, she is a regular clinician and featured performer at the University of Wisconsin Summer Music Clinic and the Wooster Music Camp.
A busy performer, Dr. Bekeny plays in ensembles throughout Northeastern Ohio, including as a member of the Firelands Symphony Orchestra and City Music. Before, she performed with the Ashland Symphony Orchestra (where she was also the Personnel Manager), and the Mansfield Symphony, where she was 3rd trumpet, as well as Olympic Brass, Diamond Brass, and the Firelands Symphony Brass. She is a former member of the Wisconsin Brass Quintet, RED {an orchestra}, and the Ohio Light Opera Orchestra. Dr. Bekeny regularly performs with symphonies throughout Northeast Ohio, including those of Akron and Canton. She has also performed with the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra, Madison Symphony, Madison Opera Orchestra, Wheeling Symphony, Wooster Symphony, Kent-Blossom Chamber Orchestra, Mansfield Symphony, Metropolitan Brass Quintet, and Columbus Bach Ensemble. A frequent soloist and recitalist, Dr. Bekeny has been featured with The Ohio State University Collegiate Wind Ensemble, Ashland Symphony Orchestra, Ashland University Band, Chagrin Valley Chamber Orchestra, Wooster Symphony, Scot Symphonic Band, Alliance High School Band, Westlake Jazz Ensemble, and Southwest Jazz Festival Ensemble.
Dr. Bekeny graduated with a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Trumpet Performance from The Ohio State University, where, as a student of Timothy Leasure, she was awarded the A. Peter Costanza Award for the most Distinguished DMA Document. Following her doctoral studies, she attended the San Francisco Conservatory of Music as a student of David Burkhart. She also holds a Master’s degree in Trumpet Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she was a student of John Aley and Alan Campbell. Dr. Bekeny began her career in music at The College of Wooster under the instruction of her longtime mentor and friend, Dr. Jack Gallagher.
Eric Dina (trumpet) holds Bachelor degrees in Music Education and Trumpet Performance from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music. He is the Divisional Music Director for The Salvation Army Northeast Ohio Division and lives in Shaker Heights. Eric has been the conductor of the NEOSA Brass & Chorus since 1999. Prior to his role with The Salvation Army, Eric taught for a year in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and for eleven years at University School, a private school for boys. Eric has been active as a freelance musician, clinician, composer and conductor throughout the United States. He is co-Principal Trumpet player of the Suburban Symphony Orchestra and has played with the Dayton Philharmonic, Richmond Symphony and Mansfield Symphony Orchestras along with the Blossom Festival Band and Brass Band of the Western Reserve. Eric is also a member of the Olympic Brass Quintet. He has been featured as trumpet or piano soloist in the U.S., Portugal, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, and Canada
Greg Hillis (horn) is currently the Executive Director and Founder of the Snowbelt Musical Arts Association, and conductor of the Snowbelt Symphony Orchestra, Lake Effect Concert Band and the Blizzard Youth Winds.
Mr. Hillis holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Music degree in Music Education and Horn Performance from Kent State University. Since 1995, he has been teaching music in some capacity at levels ranging from elementary school to college, currently maintaining a large studio of brass students. His students can be found in many select groups in Northeast Ohio including the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony, Contemporary Youth Orchestra and Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra.
As a performer, Greg is the Principal Horn of the Firelands Symphony Orchestra, and Fourth Horn with the Lima Symphony. He has performed as a soloist with the Suburban Symphony, Mansfield University Wind Ensemble, the Kent State University Wind Ensemble and the Lakeland Civic Band. Mr. Hillis is a member of Olympic Brass, Diamond Brass and the Firelands Symphony Brass. He has also performed with Opera Per Tutti, Cleveland POPS Orchestra, Ashland Symphony, Ashtabula Orchestra, Elmira Symphony, Williamsport Symphony and Rabbit Run Theater Orchestra. In addition to his free-lance performing throughout northeast Ohio, he is a published composer and serves as the Director of the Great Geauga County Fair Band and Junior Fair Band. He and his wife also raise chickens and vegetables using organic practices on their mini-farm.
Devin Roark (trombone) studied at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and serves as Bass Trombonist of the Firelands Symphony Orchestra. He is an accomplished performer, playing with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, Mansfield Symphony Orchestra, Akron SYmphonic Winds, and the Cleveland Winds.
Called the "Jack of all Brass," J.c. Sherman (tuba) is a versatile performer, educator and soloist. He may be heard playing the tuba, euphonium, trombone, bass trombone, horn, trumpet, flute, saxophones, ophicleide, serpent, and many other instruments around Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania. As a soloist, he's performed both nationally and internationally, and as an orchestral musician, he has performed with every major ensemble in the region.
J.c. is the low brass instructor at Cleveland State University, and is a member of the NEOTuba Quartet, founded by Ronald Bishop. He is also tubist with the Firelands Symphony, Blossom Festival Band, Olympic Brass, Diamond Brass, Firelands Symphony Brass, and is a frequent performer with the Cleveland POPS. He also serves as interim bass trombone with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra. J.c. enjoys making and repairing brass instruments, and is a clinician and educator throughout the region.
J.c. received he Bachelors of Music in Tuba Performance and Music Education at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and his Masters of Music in Trombone Performance from the University of Akron.
