Our Team

Julie Thornton - French Horn

Julie Oden Thornton has decades of experience in orchestral and brass quintet performance.  Julie received a scholarship for French Horn performance at the University of Georgia. Since college, Julie has been performing in Orchestras and area opera and theatrical performances in North and South Carolina, including, Charlotte Civic Orchestra, Union Symphony, Wingate Opera, and CPCC opera companies. Before relocating to the Low Country, Julie performed and managed the very successful brass quintet, Brass Act, for over 15 years. Since moving to Charleston, SC, Julie is a free lance musician, performing in area orchestras, theater productions and is a regular performer at churches, continuing her love for brass quintet performing with Holy City Brass.

Kevin Gossett - Tuba

Kevin Gossett has been a performer, conductor and music teacher for over 20 years throughout the Lowcountry.  He earned a B. Mus. In Music Education at Furman University and a Master of Tuba Performance degree at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.  He attended the Tanglewood Institute Brass Quintet Seminar, taught by the Empire Brass Quintet. Kevin is also a freelance rock and jazz bassist and vocalist in the Charleston area.  

Kyle Lane - Trumpet

Kyle Lane is a freelance trumpet player, composer, arranger, and General Manager of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. Originally from Denver Colorado, Kyle received his Bachelor of Music from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and his Master of Music from the Mannes College of music. Notable performances have included playing for the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Johnny Mathis, Mary Poppins (on Broadway), former First Lady Laura Bush, Nobel Piece Prize winner Elie Weisel, and the former president of France Nicolas Sarkozy.

Carrie Bates - Trombone

Carrie Bates, trombone, is a Michigan native who moved to the Charleston area in 2009. She holds degrees in trombone performance from Western Michigan University and Michigan State University, where she received a B.F.A. and M.F.A. under the direction of Dr. Steve Wolfinbarger and Ava Ordman, respectively. 

Throughout her years as a trombonist, Carrie has performed as a soloist/clinician, chamber musician and in countless large ensembles across Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Ontario, Canada; mostly notably the Greater Lansing Symphony Orchestra, Saginaw Bay Symphony, West Shore Symphony, Detroit Chamber Winds Society, Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic, and the Lambton and Manitou Music Festivals. 

Now living in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, Carrie teaches at the College of Charleston, as well as privately to area low brass students. She has performed throughout the Lowcountry with Chamber Music Charleston, Charlestowne Brass, Charleston Symphony Brass, Holy City Brass, Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, Beaufort Symphony, Summerville Symphony, Charleston Wind Symphony, North Charleston POPS, Piccolo Spoleto festival, and the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. 

Jon Thornton - Trumpet

Jon Thornton has had a career spanning over 40 years as a professional trumpet player and musician.  Specializing in Jazz and commercial music, Jon has also played  in symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles and brass quintets.  Over the years he has performed with the Woody Herman Band, the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, the Les Elgart Band, Natalie Cole, the Four Tops, the Temptations, the O’Jays, Al Jarreau and many others.  He currently leads his Jazz Quartet and Big Band (Holy City Jazz Collective), the Holy City Brass Quintet and teaches privately in Charleston, SC.