TRUMPET/FLUGELHORN: Tommy Vaughan, founder of LiveHorns.com, has been a trumpeter for over 25 years. His trumpet can be heard on projects for Integrity Music, Universal Pictures, Sparrow Records, Gotee Records, Fervent Records, and numerous independent releases throughout the world. He has recorded or performed with Big Daddy Weave, Mandisa, Ayiesha Woods, TRUTH, Veggie Tales, Aaja Nachle, Group 1 Crew, and the Guy Lombardo Orchestra. Tommy studied trumpet with Alan Cox at the University of Southern Mississippi and with Michael Caldwell at the University of South Alabama. Aside from his trumpet talents, Tommy is a notable arranger and producer. His horn arrangements and production skills have garnered several artists Dove and Grammy nominations. At home in Southern Mississippi, he is a jazz band instructor at a private college prep school and performs in several local bands along the Gulf Coast region.

SAX/FLUTE: Shane Philen is a participating member of the National Association for Music Education (www.menc.org), the International Association for Jazz Education (www.iaje.org), and the Alabama Music Educators Association (www.alabamamea.org). As a professional saxophonist since 1992, Shane has devoted his talent and experience as a performer, instructor, band leader, and arranger throughout the United States and in several countries. He has recorded numerous projects for Integrity Media and has performed and/or recorded with Louis Bellson, Big Daddy Weave, The Coasters, Darrell Evans, Ken Folberg Big Band, 4Him, Group 1 Crew, King Pelican, Mandisa, the Moscow Sax Quintet, Aaja Nachle, New Song, Bob Shultz Big Band, The Temptations, TRUTH, Veggie Tales, Ayiesha Woods and various local artists, ensembles, and local theater productions. Currently, Shane is a music educator in the Mobile County Public School System as Assistant Director of Bands at Theodore High School. He also plays lead tenor sax in the Mobile Carnival Association Big Band and the Celebration Big Band of First Baptist Tillman's Corner. You can find out more about Shane at his website.

TROMBONE: Rodney J. Mills is a nationally published arranger, producer and songwriter. He's been contracted by some of the biggest names in Nashville as an orchestrator and is especially noted for his hot brass charts. Rodney served as an intern in Nashville with Lari Goss, one of the most renowned arrangers and orchestrators in gospel music, which led to opportunities working with other top studio musicians and engineers. Rodney's been playing trombone for over 30 years and is also an accomplished studio musician on piano and Hammond B3 organ. Rodney has traveled nationwide leading orchestrating and arranging clinics. Visit rodneyjmills.com for more info on Rodney's other ventures.



SAX/FLUTE: Dr. Tracy Heavner, internationally known music educator and distinguished performance artist, performs from a variety of genres. His talents as a saxophonist, clarinetist and flutist are witnessed on stage as a soloist, chamber ensemble member and within the orchestra. His professional achievements off the stage are equally impressive in the areas of research, education, publishing and community service. Dr. Heavner serves on the faculty at the University of South Alabama as a professor of saxophone, clarinet, music education and director of jazz studies. Maintaining an active schedule as a soloist, ensemble member, adjudicator and clinician, Dr. Heavner’s performance styles include both classical and jazz. As a performing artist for Yamaha, Cannonball and Beechler music corporations, he regularly performs with the Mobile and Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestras. Recent classical performances include the World Saxophone Congress XIII, the 2002 Biennial Conference of the North American Saxophone Alliance and recitals at Carnegie Hall, Florida State University, Furman University, the Eastern Shore Concert Artist Series, and with the Goliard Ensemble of New York. In 2007, Dr. Heavner was the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society Artist of the Year. In the areas of jazz and commercial music, Dr. Heavner has performed as a soloist with many well-known celebrities such as Natalie Cole, Smokey Robinson, Vince Gill, Bob Hope, Don Rickles, Regis Philben, The Temptations, Lorna Luft, Crystal Gayle, Al Martino, Ed Shaunesshy, Jon Faddis and Bobby Watson. He can be heard as a tenor saxophone soloist on the CD Catt’s Sunday Jazz Brunch Big Band Project. Visit Tracy's website for more info.