Thomas Burritt

Thomas Burritt was born in 1971 in Buffalo, New York. He began his musical studies on piano at the age of six, and percussion at the age of ten. He received degrees from Ithaca College School of Music (BM-Education and Performance), Kent State University (MM), and Northwestern University (DM). His teachers include GordonStout, Theodore Rounds, Michael Burritt, Paul Wertico, Ron Barnett, and Rubin Alvarez. He has presented recitals, master classes, and clinics throughout the United States and abroad. He was a finalist in both the 1st Leigh Howard Stevens International Marimba Competition held in 1995, and the Percussive Arts Society International Marimba Competition held at PASIC 92' in New Orleans. In November of 2000 he performed Eugene O'Brien's Rhyme and Reason on "New Music Research Day", at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Dallas,Texas. In June of 2001 he traveled to Sweden to perform and teach at the Musikhögskolan in Piteä as a faculty member for the 2001 summer mallet workshop. In July of 2001, Burritt was a guest artist in residence at the Chautauqua School of Music summer program. In NashvilleTennessee Burritt was a featured keyboard clinician at PASIC 2001. In December of 2001 he performed Joseph Schwantner's Concerto for Percussion with the University of Texas Wind Ensemble under the direction of Jerry Junkin. He is active in the performance and creation of new music for the marimba and has contributed several commissioned works to the repertoire. He can be heard as guest soloist on two compact disc recordings: "Hasenproject", which features his second commission Flatiron Wolf, composed by Thom Hasenphlug, for solo marimba and percussion quartet, and "Clarinet Unlimited", Kelly Johnson on clarinet, featuring Sonata, composed by Norbet Goddear, for solo clarinet and percussion. Burritt has played with both the Arkansas Symphony and the Austin Symphony. He can also be heard with the Texas Philharmonic on the Spy Kids 2 soundtrack. Dr. Burritt is currently Assistant Professor of Percussion at the University of Texas at Austin. He performs exclusively on the Malletech Imperial Grand 5 Octave Marimba and endorses Malletech mallets and Zildjian cymbals.

Tony Edwards

Tony Edwards is currently the Principal Timpanist for the Austin Symphony Orchestra,Principal Percussionist for the Britt Music Festival, Assistant Principal Percussionist for the Austin Lyric Opera, and Principal Percussionist/ Timpanist for the Texas Philharmonic. From 1991-2003 he served as Co-Principal Percussionist for the Austin Symphony Orchestra. In addition he performs regularly with the San Antonio Symphony, Conspirare Orchestra, and Austin Chamber Music Center. Tony received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Henderson State University, Master of Music in Percussion Performance degree from the University of Texas and a Professional Studies Cerfificate from Temple University. His recordings include Bartok's Sonata for "Two Pianos and Percussion" with the Southwestern University Chamber Soloist, "Music of Donald Grantham" with Voices of Change (Centaur Records, Inc.) His most recent recording includes the movie soundtrack to Spy Kids 2 (Dimension Motion Pictures). He can also be seen perfoming the movie "Waiting for Guffman" (Castle Rock Productions). Tony currently teaches at the Round Top Music Festival and is adjunct professor at The University of Texas at Austin.

Brannen Temple

Brannen Temple was born August 26, 1970 in Austin Texas. He began playing drums at the age of 10 and very soon began to acquire numerous awards and honors with his amazing talent. Brannen was soon recognized by many Austin players and in 1992 he recordedone of his first CD's with Mitch Watkins, one of Austin's finest jazz guitarist. Brannen's talents was soon recognized nationwide as he began touringwith such artists as Sheena Easton, Chaka Khan, Ted Nugent, and Janet Jackson in the early 1990's. His recordings include: Abra Moore, "Strangest Places" (1995 Arista Records), Lisa Tingle, "In the Water" (1996 Tingle Entertainment, Inc.), and Eric Johnson, "G3 Live" (1997 Epic).