​Stephen Squires - Music Director

Mr. Squires received his musical training at the Preparatory School of the Eastman School of Music and the Crane School of Music, in his home state of New York. He earned his Master's degree in Instrumental Conducting/Trumpet Performance at California State University, Northridge. He continued conducting study in seminars with Helmuth Rilling, Maurice Abravanel, Daniel Lewis, Tsung Yeh, and the Aspen School.

As a professional conductor, Mr. Squires has worked with many exceptional artists, including Janos Starker, Pinchas Zukerman, Shmuel Ashkenasi, John Browning, Leon Bates, Ani Kavafian, Wendy Warner, James Tocco, Richard Stoltzman, and most of the principal players of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Lyric Opera Orchestra.  Stephen Squires is the Principal Conductor and Professor of Conducting in the Music Conservatory at Chicago College of Performing Arts, Roosevelt University.  A conductor active in orchestral, wind, operatic and ballet music, Mr. Squires' current professional appointments include Associate Conductor of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Music Director of the Mendelssohn Chamber Orchestra (Rockford, IL), Principal Guest Conductor of the Millar Brass (Evanston, IL), and Conductor of the Salt Creek Ballet Orchestra (Hinsdale, IL). He is the former Music Director of the Illinois Chamber Symphony.  Mr. Squires has recently made his debut conducting the famed Chicago Symphony Orchestra.  In addition, Mr. Squires is an accomplished recital accompanist and freelance trumpeter.

MUSICAL SERVICES

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Formal Concerts  

Recitals  

Ceremonial Music 

Educational Concerts

Individual Member Solo Recitals and Masterclasses

Corporate Events

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MEMBERS OF THE MILLAR BRASS ENSEMBLE

Trumpets - Bruce Daugherty, David Gauger, David Inmon, Kari Lee, Matthew Lee

​Horns - ​ Abby Black, Jeremiah Frederick, Caroline Kinsey, Mary Jo Neher, 

Trombones -  Rob Blumstein, Robert Hoffhines, John McAllister

Bass Trombone - Mark Hoelscher

Tuba - Sean Whitaker

The Millar Brass Ensemble was founded in 1981 by a group of friends interested in playing and performing large brass ensemble music. A rehearsal space was provided for the musicians at Northwestern University's Alice Millar Chapel in return for performing at the Chapel’s worship services. After a thirty three year odyssey, the ensemble has developed into an established tradition with a nine month performing season and an international reputation for the finest in brass playing. The ensemble has toured extensively and has performed concerts at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the International Trumpet Guild Conference, the International Trombone Workshop, the New York Brass Conference, the Texas Music Educators Convention, the University of Chicago and the Eastman School of Music. The group has seven compact discs to its credit on the Crystal, Koss and Delos International labels. The brass players that make up the ensemble are highly regarded as many of the top freelance musicians in Chicago. The individual members have performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Grant Park Symphony, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and a host of other regional orchestras and chamber groups. Alumni of the Millar Brass Ensemble are performing as members of symphony orchestras around the country. While the ensemble tours and performs outside of Chicago, one of its primary functions is still to perform brass music as part of the liturgy at Alice Millar Chapel.

ARRANGEMENTS

Contact Matt Lee at millarbrass@gmail.com for information about rental or purchasing arrangements.