Matt hold degrees in horn performance from The Juilliard School and Rice University. In between schooling, he won positions with the Syracuse, Hartford, and Springfield Symphonies. Matt, who is a member of the US Coast Guard Band, has also played with the Louisiana, New Haven, and New World Symphonies, and has been invited to perform at Tanglewood, the National Repertory Orchestra, and the Aspen Music Festival.
Bryce Nakaoka currently plays second horn in the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra and third horn in the United States Coast Guard Band. Bryce received a Bachelor of Music degree in education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. While at UNLV, he recorded four compact discs with the UNLV Wind Orchestra. During his undergraduate career, Bryce performed in shows on the Las Vegas Strip, including Phantom—The Las Vegas Spectacular at the Venetian Resort and Lion King at the Mandalay Bay Resort. He also played with the Las Vegas Philharmonic, where he held the associate principal position during the 2007-2008 season. In his home state of Hawaii, he performed with the Royal Hawaiian Band and the Honolulu Symphonic Winds. Bryce studied with Bill Bernatis and Beth Lano at UNLV, Roger Kaza at the Chautauqua Music Festival, and Eric Kop from the Royal Hawaiian Band.
A native of Birmingham, Alabama, John Michael Flavetta joined the ECSO in 2024. John Michael enjoys a diverse career as an educator and performer. He serves on the faculty of the Hartt School of Music and in addition to performing with the ECSO, is a member of the Hartford Symphony and Portland Symphony Orchestras. John Michael has been featured as a soloist with the Hartford Symphony and performs as a guest musician with major orchestras around the U.S., including the Boston Symphony and Houston Symphony Orchestras.
John Michael is a third-generation professional horn player and received degrees from the New England Conservatory (B.M.) and Rice University (M.M.). His primary teachers were William VerMeulen, Richard Sebring, and Jason Snider. While a student, John Michael participated in prestigious fellowship programs at the Tanglewood Music Center in Massachusetts and the Pacific Music Festival in Japan.
An advocate of new music, John Michael spends his summers performing at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, America’s prestigious, preeminent contemporary music festival based in Santa Cruz, California as a member of the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra.
Hidden talent(s): I’ve always been a really good whistler, although perhaps my most well-received performance was when I simultaneously played violin and harmonica in my elementary school talent show!
Favorite musical memory: I grew up watching my mother perform in the horn section with the Alabama Symphony and enjoyed a full circle moment after I graduated college when I got the call to sub with the ASO for the first time and sit next to her!
Favorite Motto or Quote: Life is short, don’t waste it.
Favorite Composer: Lately, I’ve enjoyed anything by Mozart, especially his piano sonatas. However, my favorite piece of contemporary music that I performed last year was the Concerto for Orchestra by American Composer, Kevin Puts.
What/Who inspired you to take up your instrument: My father passed away when I was two years old. He was also a horn player in the Alabama Symphony. Unfortunately, I don’t have any memories of him since I was so young when he passed, but I’ve always felt a connection through the horn. In fact, I played on his old instrument for many years. He remains my greatest inspiration and motivation, and I’m honored to continue in his legacy.
Brian Nichols plays 3rd Horn in the ECSO in addition to being a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Band and the New Haven Symphony. Prior to moving to CT, he was a member of the U.S. Army Band at West Point for 4 years. Brian received his musical schooling at Florida State University graudating in 1998 with a B.A. in Music. Aside from a busy performance schedule, he enjoys skiing, boating, camping, and coaching local Little League. Major accomplishments include replacing the roof on his garage in 2020, installing a 5 inch suspension lift on his 1997 Tacoma to fit 35″ tires for off-roading, and stomping 60′ front and backflips while skiing prior to landing on my head and tearing my ACL (2 different occasions).