WESTWOOD BRASS - Key Persons

Charles Brunson began studying piano at age 6 and picked up the trombone at age 12. In 2015, he was accepted to Cal State Northridge for Trombone Performance. In 2018, he won the CSUN Concerto Competition, and subsequently performed the Ralph Vaughan Williams Tuba Concerto on bass trombone with the CSUN Symphony. Charles continues his passion for piano and is active as an accompanist. As an instructor, he works with Harmony Project, Ventura as Brass Teaching Artist. He currently studies at UCLA with LA Phil Associate Principal Trombone, Jim Miller.

Everett Kelly is a trumpet player and composer based in Los Angeles, California. He plays in a variety of different ensembles ranging from orchestral to chamber groups, as well as multiple jazz bands. In 2019, Everett received a full scholarship to the inaugural Taipei Music Festival in which he toured Taiwan, performing with a top-tier youth orchestra. Everett obtained his Bachelor's in Music Performance from Cal State Northridge in 2015, and his Master's in Music Performance from UCLA in 2018. He has been teaching private trumpet lessons since 2011 and has his own private studio. In addition to playing the trumpet, Everett has transcribed and written multiple pieces for Westwood Brass and is working on more for future programs.

Ulises Cruz is a freelance musician and educator in the Los Angeles area. He earned both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Trumpet Performance from Cal State Northridge and UCLA, respectively. Ulises enjoys and is active in performing in a variety of ensembles which encompass many styles, from classical, jazz, latin, and other forms of commercial music. Such groups include the California Philharmonic, Night Owl Productions, and the No Vacancy Orchestra. Ulises has also had the privilege of being a regular performer with the Disneyland All-American College Band. Using the knowledge and experience he has learned on the stage, he works with several high school and middle schools in the San Gabriel Valley, coaching both classical and jazz genres. When he is not playing his trumpet or teaching music, Ulises enjoys his time off by cooking and trying new recipes.

William Nakamura is a current doctoral student at the University of Southern California, his past Tuba Performance study occurred at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and UCLA. As a freelancer with an orchestral focus, William has performed with a wide array of groups since moving to the LA area in 2017- including the San Luis Obispo Symphony, American Youth Symphony, Inaugural Colburn Brass Band, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic as part of a collaboration with the UCLA Wind Ensemble. William is also the director of Tuba Christmas San Diego.