Gábor Tarkövi

Trumpet
Born in Esztergom in 1969, Gábor Tarkövi is from a family of musicians. Was principal trumpet player of the Berlin Philharmonic 2004–19. From 2018, professor at University of the Arts Berlin. Besides orchestral work and teaching, he regularly plays chamber music and in the Wien Berlin Brass Quintett. Produced three CDs under an exclusive contract with the Swiss Tudor Classics label since 2008: Italian Trumpet Concertos, Classical Trumpet Concertos, and Arioso & Brillante with organ. The productions collected acclamation from critics and the trade.

Karl Sodl

Trumpet
Karl Sodl was born in 1980 in Fürstenfeld, Austria and studied trumpet under Hans-Peter Schuh at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz. He participated in the Eurovision Young Musicians contest in 1998 and has performed with the Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien and Vienna Philharmonic. In 2002, he passed the audition for the European Union Youth Orchestra, and in January 2006, was appointed principal trumpet of the Graz Philharmonic Orchestra. He is also guest lecturer at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, Oberschützen and Vienna.

Osamu Takahashi

Trumpet
Born in Toyama, Osamu Takahashi graduated from Senzoku Gakuen College. Studied under N. Tsuken, Y. Sekiyama, and S. Hotokezaka; won the 65th Music Competition of Japan and 13th Japan Wind and Percussion Competition. Formerly with the Japan Shinsei Symphony (now Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra), now principal trumpet of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra since 1999. He has released solo and chamber music albums. Jury at the 67th ARD International Music Competition. Visiting professor at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music; faculty at Tokyo College of Music.

Takaya Hattori

Trumpet
Nagoya native Takaya Hattori graduated from Aichi University of the Arts in 1993, winning the Kuwahara and Yomiuri Rookie Music Awards. Also in 1993, joined the New Japan Philharmonic (NJP) and named principal in 1998. Performed as soloist with NJP and Aichi Chamber Orchestra. Left NJP in 2019; now associate professor at Showa Academia Musicae. Studied with Y. Takemoto, N. Tsuken, C. Gekker, V. Penzarella. Nagisa Brass Solisten member; Shobi College of Music Conservatoire Diploma Department part-time faculty; Aichi Chamber Orchestra principal guest.

Andrej Žust

Horn
Andrej Žust was born in Slovenia and went to the Ljubljana Music Academy. Won 1st prize at many competitions, including Povoletto (Italy) in 2001 and the Young Musicians Competition (Slovenia) in 2002. In 2004, became principal horn in the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra. Has played in G. Mahler Youth and PMF Orchestras. Now member of Ariart Wind Quintet, the Young Soloists of Ljubljana chamber orchestra, and the Trio Triumvirat. He was a scholar of the Berliner Philharmoniker Orchestra Academy 2009–11 and joined its horn section from the 2011/12 season.

Yasushi Katsumata

Horn
Tokyo native Yasushi Katsumata is a BA and MA holder from Tokyo University of the Arts. He has participated in the SKO since 1998 and joined the New Japan Philharmonic in 1999. From 2001, he attended the R. Schumann Hochschule in Düsseldorf under the Agency for Cultural Affairs overseas training program, graduating with highest honors. He is a member of the NHK Symphony Orchestra since 2006 and Japan Horn Quintet, visiting professor at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music and part-time instructor at the Tokyo College of Music and Tokyo University of the Arts.

Maro Abe

Horn
Maro Abe took top place at the 17th Japan Wind and Percussion Competition and at the 71st Music Competition of Japan. He performs actively as soloist with orchestras including the Tokyo Symphony, New Japan Phil, and Chiba Symphony Orchestra, in recitals and chamber concerts in many cities, NHK-FM radio, and much more. In 2010, he performed in the Mozart Society’s October subscription complete Mozart concerto concert. He has released CDs including the Brandenburg Concerto as a member of the Saito Kinen Chamber Players and a Toppan Hall live recording.

Walter Voglmayr

Trombone
Born in 1973 in Austria, Walter Voglmayr is solo trombonist of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra since 2000. During 1988–97, he studied in Vienna with Horst Küblböck, Rudolf Josel and Freiburg im Breisgau with Branimir Slokar. He was solo trombonist of Bayerische Staatsoper Munich in 1996 and of Berlin Radio Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra 1997–2000. In 2012, he took guest professorship at the University of Arts Graz/Oberschützen. He is member of the Ensemble Pro Brass, the Vienna Symphony Jazz Project, and the Vienna Trombone Quartet.

Mikio Nitta

Trombone
Osaka College of Music alumnus and visiting professor. Studied trombone with S. Go and N. Haroz, chamber music with D. Doyon. Formerly of Sendai Phil and Yomiuri Nippon Symphony, now NHK Symphony principal. Frequent guest of Mito Chamber and Japan Virtuoso Symphony Orchestras. Invited as J. Alessi’s assistant for Alessi Seminar in Asia 2019. Collaborated with top players e.g., Baborak and Nakariakov; performs solo and in ensembles worldwide. Member of Hybrid Trombone Quartet, Trio Diesel, Brass Code 12. Tokyo College of Music specially-appointed professor.

Johann Ströcker

Bass Trombone
Before joining the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera in 1984, he was with the Bruckner Orchestra Linz 1983–84. His commitment to education has always accompanied his musical career, teaching at the Universities of Vienna and Graz 1993–2000 and the Kunstuniversität Graz from 2003. He has given masterclasses at many institutions globally. He has collaborated with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, World Orchestra for Peace, Orchestra dell’ Accademia Nationale di Santa Cecilia and others.

Peter Link

Tuba
Pete Link’s career started with the US Army Band from 1995–99. He has performed, recorded and toured with the Chicago Symphony, Boston Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Seattle Symphony, and the Saito Kinen Orchestra. From 2008–23 he was the principal tuba with the Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra and since 2023 tuba with the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra. He is also a Yamaha Music Japan and Brass Lab MOMO Mouthpieces performing artist.

Satoshi Takeshima

Timpani, Percussion, & Piano
Tokyo University of the Arts alumni Satoshi Takeshima is a percussionist at NHK Symphony Orchestra. He won 2nd for percussion at the 13th Japan Wind and Percussion Competition. He was a soloist in the Tokyo Opera City 136th “B to C Series” recital and NHK Symphony’s 1756th subscription concert for the Japan premiere of Tan Dun’s The Tears of Nature. Also an accomplished pianist and composer/arranger, he is a spirited musician who consistently creates sounds full of soul. He and Osamu Takahashi jointly arrange most music performed by the SKO Brass Ensemble.