Jason Brame was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. He holds a Master of Music degree in Music Theory and Orchestral Conducting from Texas Tech University, and a Bachelors of Music in Flute Performance from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating with honors and highest distinction.
His musical training began in 1993, he began a seven year membership with the Raleigh Boychoir, singing in numerous venues including, Duke Chapel, the White House, and Carnegie Hall. In 1996, Jason began to study flute through his middle school band program. Two years later, he began private studies with Mary Boone, assistant principle flute with the North Carolina symphony. He also accompanied the Raleigh Boychoir during concerts as a flutist.
After his membership with the boy choir ended, Jason took a position as a flutist with the Triangle Youth Philharmonic (TYP). With his aspirations to study orchestral conducting, he began formal studies with William Henry Curry, assistant conductor for the North Carolina Symphony, in 2002. During his studies with Maestro Curry, Jason became a student conductor for TYP, conducting William Grant Still's Fanfare for an American Hero and William Schuman's Newsreel.
After completing secondary school education, Jason was accepted and enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he pursued a Bachelors of Music in Flute Performance. Jason completed an honor's thesis entitled "The Performance of Contemporary Music in Major American Orchestras, 1980-2000" which, in short, analyzes and details the trends in programming of contemporary repertoire in three major American orchestras.
Jason held the position of Orchestral Coordinator for the student run musical theater company Pauper Players from 2003-2007. As Orchestral Coordinator, he formed and conducted pit orchestras for each musical produced by the company. Credits include The Fantasticks, Pippin, Last Five Years, Footloose: The Musical, Assassins, Jekyll and Hyde, and Cabaret. He has also worked as Music Director/Vocal Coach for The Fantasticks and Assassins. With Pauper Players, Jason has frequently had the opportunity to orchestrate numbers from popular musicals for an instrumental set in the company's annual musical revue, as well as orchestrating the entire score for the production of Cabaret.
Jason recently received his Master of Music in Music Theory and Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from Texas Tech University. As a graduate student, Jason was an instructor in the Music Theory and Aural Skills sequence. In 2009, Jason completed in Masters Thesis entitled "Examining Non-Linear Forms: Techniques for the Analysis of Scores Used in Video Games." This research was selected to be presented at the Texas Society for Music Theory conference in Waco, TX in February 2010. Jason's research interests include Analysis of Music in Video Game, Analysis of Orchestration, Post Tonal Music, and Performance Applications of Music Theory.
While pursuing his Masters Degrees, Jason worked as a supervisor for Best Buy, first in the Media department and then over the Product Process department. While a supervisor, Jason planned and implemented many different events, such as exclusive shopping and new release events. He also served as a trainer, running new hire orientation class, training the hiring and training coordinator, and developing a leadership training class. As product process supervisor, he had many successful project management jobs with overnight resets and holiday preperations.
Currently, Jason is a Walt Disney World cast member, performing daily as a sales host and floor stocker in the American Adventure Pavilion at Epcot. Jason continues his academic pursuits with current projects including: Modern Edition of Beethoven's marches for wind band, analysis of Super Mario Bros. 2, and continuing projects on the music of The Legend of Zelda.
Jason currently lives in Kissimmee, FL with his wife Jennifer, also a recent graduate of Texas Tech with a Master of Music in Wind Conducting. She currently is performing with the Entertainment division of Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts.
Principle Teachers
2007-2010 - Dr. Michael Berry, Music Theory, Texas Tech University
2008-2010 - Dr. Andrew George, Orchestra Director, Texas Tech University
2007-2008 - Mr. Gary Lewis, Orchestra Director, Texas Tech University
2007 - Prof. Susan Klebanow, Choral Director, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2003-2007 - Dr. Brooks de Wetter-Smith, Flute Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2003-2006 - Prof. Tonu Kalam, Orchestra Director, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Music Director, Longview Symphony Orchestra
2002-2003 - Mr. William Henry Curry, Resident Conductor, North Carolina Symphony
1997-2003 - Ms. Mary Boone, Assistant Principle Flute, North Carolina Symphony
World Premieres
In April 2010, Jason took part in the premier of From Midnight to Morning by Justin Houser, a piece written for flute, trumpet, cello, and piano.
In January 2007, Jason and his wife Jennifer premiered No, You Tell Me by Enrique Varela, which was commissioned by the two for Jason's senior recital.
In December 2004, Jason debuted Canamus with the Raleigh Boychoir, a piece written for Boy's Chorus, Flute and Piano by Perry Townsend.