Kate

Kate Swope, horn, currently holds regular positions with the Fox Valley Orchestra of Aurora, the Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra, and the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra.  She also teaches privately at the Northern Illinois Community School of the Arts and is the Horn Teaching Assistant at Birch Creek Music Camp in Door County, WI.  Her degrees come from the University of Louisville (B.M./M.M.) and Northern Illinois University (Performance Certificate).  In addition to playing horn, Kate is currently completing her second Master’s degree at Northern Illinois University in Wind Band Conducting.

Michael

Michael Swope, trumpet, currently subs with the Rockford Symphony, Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra in Decatur, and the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra of Dekalb.  He maintains a private studio made up of musicians from the Dekalb and Sycamore area.  Michael is a former member of the Indiana Wind Symphony, Indianapolis Brass Choir, and was a substitute musician for the Louisville Orchestra.  He holds degrees from Butler University in Indianapolis (B.A.) and the University of Louisville (M.M.).