Lee Harrelson is the artistic director of the Fountain City Brass Band and a doctoral candidate at the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri in Kansas City, and a recent graduate, double major in music education and performance, from the University of Southern Mississippi. Some of Lee's more notable accomplishments include: Winner, 2001 National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors Solo Brass Competition; Second Place, 2001 Music Teachers National Association Collegiate Artist Brass Competition; Semi-finalist, 2001 Fischoff International Chamber Music Festival as a member of the Fountain City Brass Quintet; Semi-Finalist 2001 William C. Byrd Young Artist Competition; Semi-Finalist 1999, Leonard Falcone International Euphonium Festival; Prize Winner, 1997 Southeastern Tuba and Euphonium Conference Solo Euphonium Competition. Harrelson  is very active as a soloist, including four solo performances with the USM Bands and  Orchestras. Lee is a founding member of Twisted Steel.  LeeHarrelson.com

William Hess is a senior music performance major at the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Hess began his studies at the University of Southern Mississippi, and has recently transferred to UMKC to complete his degree, as well as become a founding member of the Fountain City Brass Band.  As a freshman, he was a prize winner in the USM Bands Concerto Competition, soloist with the USM Concert Band, winner of the Mississippi Music Teachers Association Freshman and Sophomore Solo Competition and Winner of the MMTA Concerto Competition. As a sophomore, he was again a winner of the USM Bands Concerto Competition, First Place Winner of the USM Orchestra Concerto Competition and Winner of the 2000 International Tuba and Euphonium Conference Artist Euphonium Competition. Most recently William was named winner of the 2001 Music Teachers National Association Collegiate Artist Brass Competition, and a finalist for the 2002 Falcone Competition. Hess is an active soloist, and was invited to perform a solo recital at the 2001 I.T.E.C in Lahti, Finland.

                                     James Mitchell holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the University of Alabama where he studied with Michael Dunn and a Masters of the Musical Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he studied with composer and performer, John Stevens. During his tenure at the University of Alabama Mr. Mitchell was a member of the award winning University of Alabama Tuba Quartet, a recipient of the I.T.E.A. Solo Tuba Artist Award at the International Tuba and Euphonium Conference in Minneapolis, MN, and a guest performer and soloist with the Jack Daniel’s Silver Cornet Band.  While at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Mr. Mitchell assisted in studio instruction and enjoyed an active freelance career in the upper midwestern region. Most recently Mr. Mitchell was the Principal Tubist with La Orquesta Sinfonica de Salta in Salta, Argentina.  He is currently a tubist with the Twisted Steel Tuba Quartet, a member of the Fountain City Brass Band, and Director of Orchestras and Assistant Director of Bands at Blue Springs South High School in Blue Springs, MO.   

Thomas G. Stein, tuba, is Assistant Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at The University of Missouri - Kansas City. A native of Michigan, he received the Bachelor of Music (with high distinction) and the Master of Music degrees in Tuba Performance from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Prior to coming to Missouri, Stein taught at Central Michigan University, The University of Colorado at Boulder, and The University of Southern Mississippi. He has performed with numerous orchestras, wind ensembles, and chamber ensembles: Mississippi Symphony, principal tuba; Colorado Mahler Festival Orchestra, principal tuba; Colorado Festival Orchestra; Aspen Festival and Chamber Orchestras; Detroit Symphony; American Tuba Euphonium Quartet; Missouri Brass; Capital Brass; and the Colorado Brass Quintet to name a few.