Paragon Brass Quintet

 The Paragon Brass Quintet is a resident ensemble at The University of Akron where it performs three recitals a year - including their well known annual April Fool's Day concert. In addition, the group often presents master classes and performs in area high schools. Paragon has been featured  three times at the Ohio Music Educator's Conferences and has played numerous times at other universities. On a more international scope, the quintet has performed in a variety of interesting places - including three separate tours to China - most recently in the summer of 2000. Paragon also toured Austria and Germany in 1996, and was a featured group at the 1993 International Trumpet Guild Conference in Akron.

 Scott Johnston is Professor of trumpet at The University of Akron and also performs as Principal Trumpet with the Akron Symphony Orchestra and the Canton Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Johnston has performed with the Madison Symphony, the Columbus Symphony, the Grand Teton Festival, and as an extra with the Cleveland Orchestra. In May 1993 he organized and hosted the 1993 International Trumpet Guild Conference in Akron. For twelve summers he has served as Principal Trumpet and Brass Coordinator for the American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS) in Graz, Austria.

 Jack Brndiar is Instructor of trumpet and Director of the Brass Choir at The Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory. He has received degrees from The Cleveland Institute of Music and The Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory. In addition to his duties as a teacher, Mr. Brndiar is Principal Trumpet of the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, a member of the Ohio Chamber Orchestra, and has performed and recorded with the Cleveland Orchestra, the Akron Symphony Orchestra, and the Canton Symphony Orchestra.

 William Hoyt is Professor of Horn at The University of Akron. He performs regularly with the Paragon Brass Quintet, the Solaris Quintet, and the Jazz Unit.  He has also performed with the Akron Symphony, the Canton Symphony, and the Cleveland Orchestra. His primary teachers have been John Barrows, Barry Tuckwell, and Paul Ingraham.  Mr. Hoyt was the 1977 winner of the coveted Concert Artists Guild award and as a result performed a debut recital in Carnegie Recital Hall in New York City in December of that year.  Mr. Joseph Horowitz of the New York Times reviewed the recital and declared Mr. Hoyt, “clearly a poised, sensitive horn player.” Mr. Hoyt can be heard with the NFB Horn Quartet on Crystal Records and GM Recordings, with the Solaris Quintet on Capstone Records, and with the Jazz Unit on the Go Bop label.

 Edward Zadrozny is Professor of trombone at The University of Akron and Principal Trombone of the Akron Symphony Orchestra. He has studied at The Ohio State University, The University of Illinois, and received additional training at the Berkshire Music Center (Tanglewood). A former member of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Mr. Zadrozny has also performed and recorded with the Cleveland Symphonic Winds, the New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Detroit Concert Band, and the Naples-Marco Philharmonic. Currently he is performing as Assistant Principal Trombone with the Cleveland Orchestra.

 Russell Tinkham received his Bachelor of Music in education from East Carolina University under the direction of Dr. Jeffery Jarvis, his Master of Music from The University of Akron under the direction of Tucker Jolly, and his Master of Library and Information Science from Kent State University.  He has won several awards and honors for both academics and performance including first place in the University of Akron concerto competition, first place in the North Carolina MTNA Collegiate Brass Competition, first place in the Tuesday Musical Club competition, second place in the Leonard Falcone International Euphonium and Tuba Artist competition, membership into Phi Kappa Phi and Pi Kappa Lambda , and outstanding senior and graduate awards from East Carolina University and the University of Akron. Russell currently works for the University of Akron libraries, and lives in Akron with his newlywed wife, Jennifer.