Canadian Brass Trumpeter, Fred Mills

Fred Mills
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MONROE, Ga. (AP) - University of Georgia music professor Fred Mills, a Grammy nominee who made numerous records as a trumpeter with the Canadian Brass quintet and performed with several orchestras, has died, the school said Tuesday.

He was 74. The university said he was killed Monday night (Sept 7) in a car crash in Walton County, about 45 miles east of Atlanta. UGA officials said Mills was driving to his Athens home from Atlanta's airport after an overseas trip.

Mills joined the university's faculty in 1996. Besides teaching trumpet, he coached a graduate brass quintet, The Bulldog Brass Society. He had attended the Juilliard school of music in New York, where he got his first job offer even before he graduated.

As a trumpeter, the Canada native performed across the globe - from Sweden's Brass Nova to Orquesta Sinfonica de Aguascalientes in Mexico.

In 1961, he was a founding member of the American Symphony Orchestra in New York. He also was pr incipal trumpet for the New York City Opera, and played with the National Art Centre Orchestra in Canada and the New York City Ballet Orchestra.

Mills also recorded more than 40 albums with the Canadian Brass and was nominated for a Grammy award in 1992.

A statement on the Canadian Brass Web site called Mills a "Canadian treasure who changed the world's musical perspective."

The statement also said he "spent over fifty years helping establish the trumpet as a beautiful, lyrical voice amongst solo orchestral instruments."

UGA officials called Mills an "inspiration to all who knew him."

"One of the finest performers and teachers of his generation, he was at the same time a warm and generous colleague and a dear friend." said Dale Monson, director of the music school.

a special person now in Heaven - Dr. J.R.Faulkner

I decided to add this obit to my blog "to those who left their mark" because Dr. Faulkner was one of those special men in our lives. Not only was he the song leader when we attended Highland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN (during our four years of college.) He was also one of the leaders of Tennessee Temple College and performed our wedding in the chapel of HPBC on June 4th, 1977. We are looking forward to that day when we will see him again in Heaven. The funeral service is at 2pm today and it can be heard online at WDYN.com.
The OBIT from the Chattanooga News-Free Press:

Dr. J.R. Faulkner Jr

Dr. J.R. Faulkner Jr., 95, of Chattanooga, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, June 10, 2009. He was former pastor at Highland Park Baptist Church and past president of Tennessee Temple University.
Dr. J.R. Faulkner was preceded in death by his wife, Magdalene “Matsie” Faulkner.
Survivors include his five sons and their wives, the Rev. Dr. Randy and Connie Faulkner, of Oklahoma City, Okla., Robert and Donna Faulkner, of Chattanooga, the Rev. Paul and Diana Faulkner, of Chattanooga, Peter and Judy Faulkner of Valdosta, Ga., and the Rev. Steve and Judy Faulkner, of Simcoe, Ontario; 17 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home and from noon to 2 p.m. at Highland Park Baptist Church.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, June 15, 2009, at the church with Rev. David Bouler officiating.
Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to Highland Park Baptist Church, Tennessee Temple University, 1907 Bailey Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37404; Baptist International Missions, 8614 Harrison Bay Road, Harrison, TN 37341; or Camp Joy, 1907 Bailey Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37404.
Please share your thoughts and condolences at www.mem.com.

His Biography can be read at www.mem.com(click to read)