Meet Us
MICHAEL S MILNARIK, tuba
Michael S. Milnarik is a musician of great versatility. He has performed with most of the orchestras in northern New England, the Albany Symphony, the Key West Symphony, as well as with ensembles ranging from new music to jazz, and also as a soloist. He is a member of the Innovata Brass & Percussion, Brass Sect, Keys & Brass, Dr. Fidgety Dixieland Jazz Band, Brass Planet, Toobis Groovis and the Cosmopolitan Tuba Quartet. He is also in demand as a session tuba player - having recorded with brass quintets; orchestras; tuba quartets; contemporary music ensembles; jazz and Dixieland groups; on novelty recordings; children's albums; and on pop albums.
Milnarik has a passion for providing direction to young musicians so that they can achieve their own personal goals and dreams. Young tuba and euphonium players that study with him learn the techniques involved to improve their performance level and the skills necessary to survive in today's highly competitive performance and educational environments. Milnarik is the tuba and euphonium instructor at Tufts University, Brandeis University, and Salem State University and has recently been appointed (as a substitute for the fall 2012 semester) as the low brass instructor at Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania. Formerly, he taught tuba and euphonium at the University of Southern Maine (8 years), the University of Massachusetts Lowell (5 years), and the Lexington (MA) Public Schools (11 years).
Outside of these institutions Milnarik has a select private teaching studio and is the founder/director of both the MMI - Tuba Euphonium Academy and MMI - Brass Splash! The MMI - TEA focuses on enhancing the individual playing of tuba and euphonium players of all ages and abilities. The MMI - BS focuses on fundamentals of brass performance - both from the nuts and bolts of performing in a small brass ensemble and also how to present to a 21st audience.
Milnarik is the owner and manager of TubaStudio.com, a web store that carries sheet music, compact discs, instruments and accessories. TubaStudio.com was opened to help other tuba and euphonium players by offering free resources, making commonly used educational materials and supplies readily available, and providing quality pre-owned instruments.
In addition, he has arranged numerous works for brass quintet, has served on the board of the New England Philharmonic as both a board member and as president of the orchestra, has been a consultant for non-profit organizations and in 2014 will complete his 9th year of involvement with the Boston Tuba Christmas - his first two years as guest conductor and the last six years as the coordinator/conductor of the event.
Michael S. Milnarik has recorded on the Stillwater Digital and Albany Records labels.
BRIAN L. DIEHL, trombone
Brian L. Diehl, a trombonist and Maine native, began his illustrious musical journey at the Interlochen Arts Academy, earning the Fine Arts Award for Brass. He pursued his Bachelor's in Music at Northwestern University, followed by a Master's at the New England Conservatory of Music. Diehl made history as the first brass player at NEC to win both the Rabb Presidential Scholarship and the Theodore Presser Award. He honed his skills further as a Fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center, collaborating with renowned conductors such as Leonard Bernstein and Seiji Ozawa. His talent also led him to a three-year Fellowship with the New World Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas, where he gained extensive touring and recording experience.
Currently, Diehl holds the prestigious position of Principal Trombonist at the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, directed by Carolyn Kuan. He also serves as the Principal Trombone for the Springfield Symphony Orchestra under Kevin Rhodes, and his performances extend to the Berkshire Choral Festival. Diehl's musical prowess is evident in his collaborations with various orchestras and ensembles across New England, including the Rhode Island Philharmonic and the Boston Lyric Opera.
Previously, Diehl was the Principal Trombone for the Florida West Coast Symphony (now the Sarasota Orchestra, FL). His exceptional talent has seen him perform with top orchestras such as the Boston Symphony, The Florida Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, where he recorded Verdi's Opera Highlights with Sir Georg Solti in 1989. He has worked under the baton of eminent conductors like Luciano Berio, Bernard Haitink, and Leonard Slatkin, and was selected as the Principal Trombone for the American-Soviet Youth Orchestra, performing under Zubin Mehta and Dmitri Kitayenko.
An ardent soloist and trombone advocate, Diehl has commissioned and arranged numerous works, including recent pieces from Sanae Kanda and Anthony DiLorenzo. His contributions to trombone literature are significant, with his book “Low Brass Essentials” being a valued resource at institutions like Northwestern University. Diehl's solo performances are equally notable, having appeared with orchestras like the National Repertory Orchestra in Colorado and the New England Conservatory Orchestra.
Chamber music is another of Diehl's passions, with performances ranging from Brass Quintets to unique ensembles like Roger Goeb’s Quartet for String Quartet and Trombone. He was a member of the New World Brass, touring and recording notable works.
In addition to performing, Diehl is dedicated to teaching. He instructs at the New England Conservatory’s Preparatory Division and the University of Southern Maine, among others. He has also held teaching positions at institutions like the University of South Florida and Miami-Dade Community College. Diehl’s commitment to music education extends to his private studio in Andover, MA, where he nurtures the next generation of musicians.