DFW Brass
The Founding Members of DFW Brass are Dr, Lacey Phelps, Adam Miller, and Steven Peterson. Our Principal Conductor is Dr. Josh Phelps.
Dr. Carl Kleinsteuber
Tubaist Dr. Carl Kleinsteuber has led a varied career to date, including a solo recital in Carnegie Hall, performances and recordings with the New York Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein, the Boston Symphony with Seiji Ozawa, the Metropolitan opera under James Levine, and the Canadian Brass as well as a host of others. He was solo tubist with the Hague (Netherlands) Philharmonic for 24 years. Carl is also active in the jazz field, having performed and recorded with Gravity (a jazz tuba sextet), Lionel Hampton, and Quincy Jones. He is also a member of Brave Combo, described an an eclectic “nuclear polka band” which has won two Grammy Awards, playing genres ranging from Classical to Jimi Hendrix.
As an educator, Carl has taught, adjudicated and given master classes around the world. In addition, he is owner of Denton Big Brass, a DFW merchant providing quality brass musical instruments. Carl also designs, repairs, modifies and builds brass instruments and operates Denton Big Brass in North Texas.
Scott Copeland
Scott Copeland serves as a Trumpet, Arranger, and Assistant Conductor for DFW Brass. Scott graduated from the University of Michigan with his B.M. in Trumpet Performance and then went on to the University of Southern California where he obtained his M.M. in Trumpet Performance. He has been the Instrumental Music Director at Lavon Drive Baptist Church in Garland, TX since 2011.
Scott is the technician for Garland Piano in Garland, TX and is the piano tuner for the Singing Men of North Central Texas, where he also plays lead trumpet. Scott tunes and maintains pianos for several local school districts including Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, Dallas ISD, Mabank ISD, Melissa ISD, as well as churches and senior living facilities all across DFW.
Adam Miller
Dallas native Mr. Adam Miller is a founding member and Artistic Director of DFW BRASS and is an active performer in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Adam currently serves as Second Trumpet of both the Plano and Irving Symphonies. As a freelance artist, Adam has done countless recording sessions and performed hundreds of weddings, recitals, and services in local churches , theaters, and other venues over the last 20 years. He has performed with The Dallas Winds, Jacksonville Symphony, the Blast of Brass Ensemble, and the Texas All Star Brass Band.
After completing his Bachelor of Music at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Mr. Miller moved to New York City where he attended the Juilliard School where had the pleasure of studying under Mark Gould, Phil Smith and Wynton Marsalis while working on his Master of Music. Upon completing his M.M. at Juilliard, he moved to China where he served as Principal Trumpet of the Shanghai Broadcasting Symphony. Throughout his career, he has performed with artists such as Wynton Marsalis, Yo-Yo Ma, Luciano Pavarotti, Empire Brass, Canadian Brass, Josh Groban, and Idina Menzell. He has had dozens of students participate in events such as the TMEA All-State ensembles, the National Trumpet Competition, the Grand Valley State Trumpet Seminar, AdamFest, Blast of Brass, and several International Trumpet Guild Conferences.
Steven Peterson
Mr. Steve Peterson, a founding member of DFW BRASS, is an active teacher and performer in the Dallas and San Antonio areas. Currently he serves as Principal Trombone of the San Antonio Philharmonic. Steve was acting principal trombone of the Fort Worth Symphony from 2022-2023 and has played as guest principal trombone with Minnesota Orchestra, Houston Symphony, and Nashville Symphony Orchestra. Steve has also performed in many other orchestras such as Dallas, Cincinnati, St Louis, Colorado, Detroit, Phoenix, Alabama and Sarasota. He has a Bachelors of Music in trombone performance from the University of Michigan where he studied with David Jackson and a Masters of Music from Southern Methodist University where he studied with John Kitzman. Steve has taught at Texas State University San Marcos as interim faculty, Richland College, and is currently adjunct professor of trombone at St. Mary’s University.
In addition to performing with DFW Brass, Steve has performed with several other chamber groups including Olmos Ensemble, Music in the Mountains Brass Quintet, and Bishop Arts Brass. Previous to moving to Texas in 2011, Steve played in jazz and commercial ensembles on cruise lines, which allowed him to travel to Europe, Australia, Asia, South America, and the Caribbean. Steve is also a filmmaker and creates many original satirical and documentary videos that can be found on his youtube channel: thepetersonproject.com.
Dr. Josh Phelps
Dr. Josh Phelps serves as the Principal Conductor of DFW Brass and enjoys a diverse career as a conductor, performer, minister, auctioneer, real estate broker, and professional fundraiser. He holds degrees in Vocal Performance from the University of Tennessee (Bachelor of Music), the University of Oklahoma (Master of Music), and the Graduate Theological Foundation (Doctorate of Sacred Music). As an accomplished tenor soloist and conductor, Phelps has performed in the world’s most celebrated venues including Carnegie Hall, several opera houses in Italy, and has conducted throughout the United States as well as Europe. Choirs and orchestras under his direction have been featured on national television broadcasts and have performed at state and regional conventions of the American Choral Directors Association, as well as at multiple high profile events for heads of states and presidents of the US and Canada as well as European dignitaries. He has served as guest and principal conductor of several notable ensembles including Lovers Lane United Methodist Church Sanctuary Choir in Dallas, The Oklahoma City Community College Symphonic Choir, Oklahoma Choral Artists, Paserina Chamber Choir, Pathways Middle College Choir, Westmoore and Southmoore High School Choirs, DFW Brass, as well as Voci Nel Montefeltro in Italy. He has coordinated several collaborative choral events such as hymn festivals, Messiah sing-alongs, and Mozart in Memoriam, a concert commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Murrah Federal Building bombing; as well as special projects in conjunction with the American Guild of Organists and the Oklahoma Alliance of Liturgy and The Arts.
Josh has helped raise nearly 3 million dollars in gifts for sacred settings and has commissioned and premiered over a dozen new works by composers such as Randol Alan Bass, Joseph Martin, Craig Phillips, Alan Pote, K. Lee Scott, Z. Randall Stroope, Daniel Lynch, and Ovid Young. In addition to serving as a Committee Chair for the Graduate Theological Foundation, he has taught at the collegiate level since 2008. Dr. Phelps also enjoys mentoring beginning auction professionals and serves on faculty at Auctioneer University and Oklahoma Auctioneer School, as he is a 5-time Champion Auctioneer. He is in demand as an auctioneer, professional announcer, and vocal coach, and has presented at multiple state auction associations and conventions where he is lovingly referred to as “The World’s Most Interesting Auctioneer.”
Dr. Lacey Phelps
Internationally celebrated trumpeter, musician entrepreneur and professional fundraiser, Dr. Lacey Phelps, is a Native Oklahoman of Cherokee ancestry who grew up on a farm. She is the Founding Executive Director of DFW Brass. She has played in venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Vatican and countless theaters throughout the world under the direction of conductors such as Gustavo Dudamel, Helmuth Rilling, Julius Rudel, David Andrews Rogers, Frederick Fennell, Placido Domingo, Itzhak Perlman, and Valery Giergiev. She has taught at the collegiate and secondary levels for nearly 2 decades while simultaneously navigating a highly successful international performance career. She serves on Faculty at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp as has most recently been featured as a soloist in Greece, Italy, and Panama. Dr. Phelps previously held a position at the Verdi Opera House in Italy and is a highly active artist and clinician throughout the United States, Latin America, and Europe. She has recorded in 11 countries on 3 continents, judged for The National Trumpet Competition, and performed at the first-ever International Trumpet Guild (ITG) Regional Conference in Oklahoma City as well as other ITG conferences. Comfortable with numerous styles, Dr. Phelps performs regularly in several professional orchestras, chamber groups, musical theaters, and collaborates with choral groups such as New American Voices and The Orpheus Chamber Singers. She has performed with Pacquito D’Rivera, Johnny Mathis, Il Divo, Mariachi Vargas, Jacki Evancho, and for Broadway Tours such as A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Matilda, and An American in Paris. She was a featured soloist with the Sofia Philharmonic in Bulgaria to celebrate National Women’s Day and is a Conn-Selmer Artist. Her former students can be found in recording studios, military bands, orchestras, and teaching at both the secondary and collegiate level throughout the US and abroad. Phelps has performed at countless music festivals throughout the world including The International Brass Festival (Mexico), The Aspen Music Festival (Colorado), Young Euro Festival (Berlin), Spoleto (Italy), Spoleto USA (South Carolina), Le Domain Forget (Canada), Great Waters International Music Festival (New Hampshire), Le Festival Bel Canto (Québec), Snape Maltings (England), Festival de Musique de Monton (France), Musica Riva Festival (Italy), & Campos do Jordao Music Festival (Brazil), among others. Lacey is the proud wife of Dr. Josh Phelps, a Champion Auctioneer, Real Estate Broker in multiple states, Music Ministry Professional, and Principal Conductor of DFW Brass. Together they operate the highly successful Phelps Fundraising & Auctions Team, and raise significant funds for religious and fine arts non-profits. They love to travel, scuba dive, and spend time with their three rescue dogs: Champ, Harvey, & Gracey.
Dr. Heather Suchodolski
DFW Brass’s Hornist, Dr. Heather Suchodolski also serves as Principal Horn of the East Texas Symphony Orchestra. She is an active chamber and orchestral musician and teacher in the Dallas - Fort Worth metro area. Heather performs regularly with countless ensembles throughout the region including The East Texas Symphony Orchestra, The Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra, Lewisville Lake Symphony Orchestra, and the Dallas Opera.
During her doctoral studies at the University of North Texas, Heather held the coveted position as a Teaching Fellow in the horn studio. She has served on faculty at the University of Nevada – Reno, and as Interim Faculty at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX, as well as at Collin College in Plano, TX.
Heather graduated Magna cum Laude from the University of Arizona, studying with Dr. Keith Johnson and Mr. Daniel Katzen, and earned Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of North Texas, under the guidance of Dr. William Scharnberg. Her primary teachers include the previously listed professors, as well as Dr. Douglas Campbell, whose career was the subject of her doctoral dissertation.
When not practicing, rehearsing, performing, or helping others of the proper pronunciation of her somewhat tricky surname (it's Such-a-doll-skee), Heather enjoys painting, cooking, traveling, and good coffee.
Jaime Esposito
Jaime Esposito is a percussion performer and educator based in Dallas, Texas. In 2018, Jaime co-founded Spectrum Ensemble. As a performer, Esposito has been an artist internationally with ensembles such as the International Lyric Academy in Italy, Britten-Pears Festival Orchestra in the United Kingdom, and MarimbaFest Australia. Domestically, Jaime has been an artist with ensembles such as Athena Brass, World Percussion Group, and Heartland Marimba, where they performed concerts and offered coaching sessions to students across the country. Esposito frequently plays with the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra, Texarkana Symphony, Allen Symphony, Abilene Philharmonic, DFW Brass, and Dallas Chamber Winds. As an educator, Esposito currently serves as a private lesson instructor and front ensemble tech at LD Bell High School in Hurst, Texas. Additionally, Jaime has taught as an adjunct professor at North Texas Central College, and front ensemble tech for the Vigilantes Indoor Percussion Ensemble.
Jaime holds a Masters of Music in Percussion Performance from the University of North Texas and a Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance from Northwestern University. Their primary teachers include She-e Wu, the late Christopher Deane, Chris Lamb, James Ross and Robert Schietroma. Jaime currently lives in Denton, Texas.