Lawrence is the music director of the IHS World Orchestra, a transplanted Canadian who has spent over twenty years in Europe. Lawrence has many years experience as a conductor, composer, arranger, educator and choir director. In addition, he has worked in television and recording production with such artists as Celine Dion, Reba McEntire and The Chieftains.
Kristi is the main orchestra vocalist and daughter of IHS musical director Lawrence Daher. By the time she was 19 she had seen most of Europe, graduated with honours, and finished a college business course. Singing has always been a part of her life. She has sung behind Reba McIntyre and recorded background vocals for various Christian artists. She currently lives in Germany with her husband and two sons.
John Harbaugh is the Professor of trumpet at Central Washington University with over 30 years of college teaching experience. His students consistently place high in regional and national competitions. His professional experiences include world tours with Tom Jones, Paul Anka, and Buddy Rich. He appears on three Grammy nominated albums, and has recorded as a jazz soloist with the London Symphony. He is principal trumpet in the Yakima Symphony and has been a member of regional orchestras in Iowa, Washington, and Alaska. In the last several years he performed in groups behind Charo, Bob Newhart, Manheim Steamroller, and the Disney touring company of "High School Musical". He is a sought after soloist/clinician with the C.G.Conn/Selmer Corporation. He has a big heart to touch people and leads our trumpet section.
Dr. Charles 'Chuck' Tumlinson has served on the jazz faculty at the University of North Texas, Cal State Fullerton and Washburn University. Students under his direction have won many prestigious awards and have performed with Maynard Ferguson, Count Basie and the Airmen of Note.
Chuck has performed with the Count Basie Orchestra, Dizzy Gillespie, Terence Blanchard, Mark Murphy, Al Jarreau, Ray Charles and the University of North Texas One O’clock Lab Band along with the Fort Worth, Kansas City and other symphony orchestras. He is an active soloist, clinician and adjudicator. His
compositions/arrangements have been recorded by leading bands and performers throughout the country including Eric Marienthal and Pete Christlieb.
Chuck received his degrees from the University of North Texas and Wichita State University. He is a Yamaha Artist/Clinician.
Dr. Tom Morgan holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in music education, music theory and composition from the University of Northern Colorado, and a Doctoral degree in percussion performance from the University of Oklahoma. He has authored a number of percussion instructional methods published by C. Alan Publications.
Tom has performed and recorded with numerous groups including the Trilogy Big Band, Kansas City’s Boulevard Big Band and the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra. In addition, he has performed with the Topeka Symphony Orchestra, the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra, and the Topeka Jazz Workshop big band. He also teaches at Live Music Institute, made up of elementary and high school percussion students from the surrounding community. He is a regional endorser for Vic Firth drumsticks, Sabian Cymbals, and performs regularly on Tree House Drums. He is in demand as a clinician at festivals and music camps. Tom is our heartbeat and drives the Big Band.
He offers free online tutorials on his YouTube channel
The Tom Morgan Drum Studio
Kris Berg is an international best-selling composer and arranger. He has written arrangements for many famous artists as well as professional, college and public school bands around the globe. Kris is also the author of the popular bass method book, BASS LINES IN MINUTES, and his big band arrangements are available through top publishers in the USA.
Mr. Berg has released three highly acclaimed CD’s as leader of the Metroplexity Big Band: “Time Management”, winner of two Global Music Awards, “This Time/Last Year” and “Perspectives”, winner of eight Global Music Awards. These recordings reflect his unique writing and arranging styles and feature the best musicians in Texas, as well as internationally renowned guests like Wayne Bergeron and Phil Woods.
An award winning bassist, director and educator, Kris has appeared or recorded with the likes of Kurt Elling, John Pizzarelli, Randy Brecker, Peter Erskine, Wayne Bergeron, Phil Woods, Delfeayo Marsalis, Bob Mintzer, Bobby Shew, Tom “Bones” Malone, Jimmy Heath, Doc Severinsen, Clark Terry, John Fedchock, Gregg Bissonette, Chris Vadala, Kevin Mahogany, Denis DiBlasio, Frank Mantooth, Clay Jenkins, and many others. As a clinician for the Yamaha Corporation, Mr. Berg regularly appears at jazz festivals and camps throughout the United States and is endorsed by Bag End Loudspeakers. He has been selected as director for the IAJE International Community College All-Star Jazz Band, and has directed All-State Jazz Bands all over the US.
Mr. Berg is the Artistic Director for Jazz with the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra foundation and directs the GDYO Jazz Orchestra. He taught college for 27 years and is the founder of the award-winning Jazz Program at Collin College including the Collin Jazz Fest and the Texas All-Star Jazz Camp.
To contact Kris or for information about chart, book or CD purchases, please find Kris at www.krisbergjazz.com.
A native of Las Vegas, New Mexico, Dr. Frank “Pancho” Romero comes from a family of music educators, with a grandfather, father, brother, two uncles and seven cousins having been involved in music education within the state of New Mexico.
He received a Bachelors Degree in Music Education at New Mexico State University, Masters of Music Education at the University of North Texas, and a Doctorate in Trumpet Performance from the University of Oklahoma.
Dr. Romero has toured with various groups including Common Ground, “Thurlow Spur’s Splendor Productions”, performed with Sandy Patty, Doc Severinsen, Gordon Goodwin, Rita Moreno, Reba McIntyre, Bob Hope, Carl Fontana, Chris Vadala, Wayne Bergeron, Andy Martin, Linda Carter, a few among numerous other international musicians.
Dr. Romero maintains a national and international reputation as a performer and clinician. During his tenure at university, his jazz ensembles recorded four big band albums and participated in several national festivals including the Wichita, Reno and University of Northern Colorado Jazz Festivals. His international appearances include performances in Austria, Czechoslovakia, Colombia, Guatemala, Germany, Italy, France and Cuba. His NMSU jazz and trumpet ensembles recently completed a tour of Spain where they performed at the Festival International in Massanassa, Spain. His students can be found teaching and performing on Broadway, in premier DC military bands, on several university campuses and in public and private schools across the country. They have participated and won national and international trumpet performance competitions over the years.
Dr Romero was principal trumpet with the Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra 2001-2023. He frequently performs with the El Paso Symphony, NMSU Faculty Quintet, Brass Souls Quintet, Tres Metales Brass Trio. He directs the Border Jazz Orchestra, Footprints Jazz Quintet and Capones Swing Band. He taught at Oklahoma Baptist University and New Mexico State University where he received the Emeritus Professor status. In 2025, Dr. Romero was inducted into the New Mexico Music Educators Association “Hall of Fame”.
Dallas, Texas native, Dean McCarty is a multi-instrumentalist and educator with over 40 years of performing experience. As an active freelancer, he has performed all over the United States and in Europe on trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, and percussion. His playing ranges from the symphony stage, to the Grande Ole Opry, to session work for countless projects. His recording session work has led to seven Grammy nominations, and one Grammy win on the album “Chicanisimo” by Little Joe Hernandez. On the stage he has performed with many different artists including Ray Charles, Harry Connick Jr., Bob Hope, Robert Goulet, Rod Stewart, Peabo Bryson, Selena, Wynton Marsalis, Chris Botti, Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Bob Florence and many others. He has had a private studio for many years and has also been a Texas public school educator since 1998. He is an endorsing artist/clinician for Voigt Brass trombones and Long Island Brass mouthpieces.
You can find him at Dallas, Texas native, Dean McCarty is a multi-instrumentalist and educator with over 40 years of performing experience. As an active freelancer, he has performed all over the United States and in Europe on trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, and percussion. His playing ranges from the symphony stage, to the Grande Ole Opry, to session work for countless projects. His recording session work has led to seven Grammy nominations, and one Grammy win on the album “Chicanisimo” by Little Joe Hernandez. On the stage he has performed with many different artists including Ray Charles, Harry Connick Jr., Bob Hope, Robert Goulet, Rod Stewart, Peabo Bryson, Selena, Wynton Marsalis, Chris Botti, Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Bob Florence and many others. He has had a private studio for many years and has also been a Texas public school educator since 1998. He is an endorsing artist/clinician for Voigt Brass trombones and Long Island Brass mouthpieces.
You can find him at Dallas, Texas native, Dean McCarty is a multi-instrumentalist and educator with over 40 years of performing experience. As an active freelancer, he has performed all over the United States and in Europe on trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, and percussion. His playing ranges from the symphony stage, to the Grande Ole Opry, to session work for countless projects. His recording session work has led to seven Grammy nominations, and one Grammy win on the album “Chicanisimo” by Little Joe Hernandez. On the stage he has performed with many different artists including Ray Charles, Harry Connick Jr., Bob Hope, Robert Goulet, Rod Stewart, Peabo Bryson, Selena, Wynton Marsalis, Chris Botti, Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Bob Florence and many others. He has had a private studio for many years and has also been a Texas public school educator since 1998. He is an endorsing artist/clinician for Voigt Brass trombones and Long Island Brass mouthpieces.
You can find him at www.dean-mccarty.com
Rick Condit is a world-class saxophonist, Fulbright Scholar, and Jazz Hall of Fame educator. From the soloist chair of the Stan Kenton Orchestra to the classrooms of McNeese State and Lamar Universities, Rick has dedicated over 40 years to performing and mentoring in more than 25 countries. A former Kennedy Center Jazz Ambassador, he has collaborated with legends like Tom Scott, John Pizzarelli,Tom “Bones” Malone, and the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra. Today, he continues to inspire through performance and masterclasses across the country and around the world.
Espen Isak Egeland is a versatile musician on a variety of brass instruments. He is equally at home on the baritone, tuba, trombone and trumpet/flugelhorn.
From an early start in the Oddernes School Marching Band, he has played in many musical settings: Royal Norwegian North Army Marching Band, Kristiansand Youth Marching Band, Tveit Big Band, Kristiansand Big Band, Jan Gustav Big Fat Band, Raba Choir/Orchestra, Sout Land Symphonic Band, Kristiansand Janitsjar Marching and Symphonic Band, Kjevik Royal Air Force Marching Band, Amunds Tirol Orchestra.
At present, he plays a vital role internationally with the IHS World Orchestra.
Dr. Michael Averett is the Associate Professor of Trumpet at Samford University in Birmingham, AL. Before going to Samford University, Dr. Averett was the Director of Brass Studies and Professor of Trumpet at Washburn University in Topeka, KS. Michael has been a soloist and guest recitalist throughout the Southeast and Midwestern United States including engagements with High School and University Wind Ensembles, Orchestras and Marching Bands.
Dr. Averett has been a member of, or performed with, the Alabama Symphony, the Columbus Philharmonic, the Marion Philharmonic, the Muncie Symphony, the Orquestra Sinfonicia of Monterrey, Mexico, the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra, the Topeka Symphony, Carmel Symphony Orchestra, Western-Piedmont Symphony Orchestra, JCC Symphony Orchestra, Hickory Choral Society, the Fort Wayne Bach Collegium the Alabama Ballet, the Kansas City Ballet, and America’s Hometown Band. Michael also won multiple U.S. Open and North American Brass Band Championships as well as the 2009 Scottish Open as a solo cornet with the Fountain City Brass Band.
Dr. Averett is also a founding member of the MIENT DUO. The MIENT DUO has been featured by multiple community concert organizations, OnStage Live and Kansas Public Radio. They have released two albums: Avalon and Souls Like Birds.
Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts in Trumpet Performance from Lenoir-Rhyne University, a Master’s of Music in Trumpet Performance from Ball State University and a Doctor of Arts in Trumpet Performance and Conducting from Ball State University. Dr. Averett is a YAMAHA Performing Artist and plays exclusively on Yamaha instruments.
Dr. Jim Laughlin is a professor of music at Amarillo College, TX where he teaches woodwinds, jazz studies, audio engineering and music theory. He is an active performer, adjudicator and clinician throughout the Region. Dr. Laughlin is a member of the Amarillo Symphony on both clarinet and saxophone, performs with Amarillo Opera and leads his own dance orchestra and jazz quartet.
He has served on various community boards, and is director of the non profit organization the Amarillo Jazz Society. He is also the founder and program director of The Jim Laughlin June Jazz Series, a favorite community event attended by crowds of 1500 at Amarillo College.
Dr. Laughlin completed his PhD in jazz pedagogy from The University of North Texas. He is an endorsement artist for Cannonball Musical Instruments and D'Addario Woodwinds.
Dr. Michael Cox was inducted in 2025 as Professor Emeritus in the Capital University Conservatory of Music in Columbus, Ohio, upon his retirement from full-time tenured academic appointment. For over 35 years he taught applied saxophone and jazz studies courses, many of his students continuing to become active performers and educators throughout the United States. Michael maintained and continues today a busy free-lance performance schedule on saxophone, clarinet and flute.
He performs regularly with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, the Columbus Symphony, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, and diverse small groups including the Black Swamp Saxophone Quartet, Flippo the band, and the High Street Stompers Dixieland Band. In 2021-2022 Michael played midwest jazz quartet tours with Grammy-award winning jazz artist Dianne Schuur, and he has joined recent performances with Rolando Matias’ RLJQ Latin jazz quintet and the Tom Krause Band.
Dividing his time between Winnipeg Canada and southern California - Walle Larsson is intensely devoted to his craft - and a creative imagination second to none, Larsson has been wowing audiences from New York to Montreal, Toronto to Tokyo with sizzling jazz solos and sultry smooth jazz. Larsson has six solo cd’s to his credit and has garnered two Top Twenty Billboard Hits. He inspires all who sit in a session with him.
Dillian Davidkov hails from Sofia in Bulgaria. He is a graduate of the National Academy of Music in Sofia and is trumpet crazy. He spends his time playing for national radio, television and has accompanied some of the top artists in Bulgaria. If you want to find him, just listen for someone playing a double high C and above. He is a phenomenal player and has a great big heart of love.