Rice Clarinet Works Specialists

Mikey Arbulu

Mikey Arbulu earned both a Doctorate of Musical Arts and Master of Music degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Florida. Prior to joining The U.S. Army Field Band in 2018, Mikey served as the second clarinetist of the Kentucky Symphony, and often performed with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, The Louisville Orchestra, the Dayton Philharmonic, and the New World Symphony. He is also a founding member of the new music ensemble All of the Above, and has performed on international tours with the American Chamber Winds. Mikey’s primary teachers and mentors include Jonathan Gunn, Ron Aufmann, Benjamin Freimuth, Ixi Chen, and Mitchell Estrin.

Mikey’s hobbies outside of music include board games, video games, and spoiling his dog Rocky.

Sheila Cullen

Clarinetist Sheila Cullen, a native of Marietta, GA, received a Bachelor of Music degree in Clarinet Performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in 2002 and a Master of Music degree in Music Theory in 2004. Her mentors include James Campbell, Howard Klug, D. Ray McClellan, Kirsten Ahnell, and Robert DiLutis.

A clarinetist in the United States Naval Academy Band since 2006, she leads the Wind Trio and Clarinet Quartet, and has performed and recorded with the Chamber Winds, Concert Band, and various other ensembles. Ms. Cullen is also a founding member of the Chesapeake Reed Trio.

A strong advocate for music education in the community, she has coordinated clinics and masterclasses in wind band music, chamber music, and clarinet, as well as worked closely with the Maryland Performing and Visual Arts Magnet Program. She has performed with the Londontowne Symphony, Owensboro Symphony, Gainesville Symphony, The United States Air Force Band, United States Fleet Forces Band, and is an active recording artist and adjudicator in the D.C. area. Her teaching experience includes: Adjunct Instructor, Clemson University, Faculty, Hartwick College Summer Music Festival, Instructor, Atlanta Music Academy, as well as private instruction at Lassiter High School, Kennesaw Mountain High School, and Pope High School.

Michael Miller

Clarinetist Michael Miller of Sarasota, Fla. joined “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in October 2024.

After graduating from Lakewood Ranch High School in 2018, he earned a bachelor’s degree in clarinet performance from the Eastman School of Music, studying under Michael Wayne, and went on to complete a master’s degree at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, where he studied with Richie Hawley.

Prior to joining the band, Staff Sgt. Miller performed with regional orchestras and ensembles in New York, Texas, Florida, and the D.C area. He has received awards in national and international solo and chamber music competitions, including the Vandoren Emerging Artist Competition, the ICA Young Artist Competition, and the American Prize in chamber music, among others. Staff Sgt. Miller is also an active solo and chamber musician, giving recitals in the D.C. area as well as other parts of the country. During the summer, he has attended notable festivals such as the Interlochen Arts Academy, Eastern Music Festival, National Orchestra Institute, National Repertory Orchestra, and the Music Academy of the West. Additionally, he has given masterclasses at top university’s and colleges throughout the United States, and enjoys teaching a studio of private students in the DMV area.

Staff Sgt. Miller performs with the Marine Band and Marine Chamber Orchestra at the White House, in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, and across the country during the band’s annual concert tour.

Erick Morales

Erick Morales is a fifth-year undergraduate Music Education and Clarinet Performance student at the University of North Texas. In 2023, he was the First Prize Winner of College of Music’s William Gammon Henry Concerto Competition. As part of his prize, he appeared as a guest artist with the Norman Philharmonic of Norman Oklahoma in November.

Following a successful audition process in April, Erick secured a position in the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” of Washington, D.C – the premier musical organization of the U.S. Army. In January, Erick will complete basic combat training after which he will be stationed at Ft. Myer in Virginia. As a clarinetist in the Army Band, he will assist in rendering musical honors on a regular basis for our Nation’s leaders, foreign dignitaries, heads of state, diplomats, and veterans. The band’s most important duties are performed in honoring our Nation’s fallen heroes at Arlington National Cemetery.

During his time at UNT, Erick has performed as a member of the North Texas Wind Symphony, the UNT Symphony Orchestra, the Aaru Reed Quintet, the Lone Star Wind Orchestra, and served the Wind Studies area as a music librarian. His primary teachers are Dr. Kimberly Cole Luevano, Deborah Fabian, and Gregory Raden. Outside of UNT, Erick maintains a studio of young clarinetists at Lone Star High School and Stafford Middle School in Frisco, TX.

Born and raised in Laredo, TX, on the US-Mexico border, Erick began playing the clarinet at age 11 without applied instruction until starting his studies at the College of Music. He is a first-generation college student and is grateful for all the support he has received from his family, friends, colleagues, and mentors.

Chanse Morris

Musician 1st Class Chanse Morris, from Houston, Texas, joined the Navy Band in 2021. He earned a Bachelor of Music from The University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Music from the Eastman School of Music. His primary teachers include Kenneth Grant and Jonathan Gunn.

As a freelance musician, Morris has performed with the Richmond Symphony, Alexandria Symphony, Inscape Chamber Orchestra, and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.

Morris has been a prizewinner for the following competitions: the Vandoren Emerging Artist Competition, International Clarinet Association’s Clareidoscope Competition, Charleston International Music Competition, VI Odin International Music Competition, Glory International Music Competition, Sound Espressivo Global Competition, and the National Federation of Music Clubs’ Biennial Collegiate Competition.

In his free time, he enjoys running and tending to his houseplants.

Nicholas Schlie

Nicholas Schlie holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in clarinet performance from the University of West Virginia, studying with Dr. John Weigand, where he graduated Magna cum Laude.

During his time at West Virginia, Nicholas served as a clarinet teaching assistant and graduate assistant for the university orchestra and was principal clarinetist in the wind symphony, chamber winds, and orchestra. Schlie performed in the graduate wind quintet, woodwind trio, and on several occasions with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra and the Cincinnati Wind Band. Schlie has performed multiple solo and collaborative recitals throughout the region, and has performed in master classes under acclaimed clarinetists from throughout the country.

Besides clarinet, he enjoys mountain hiking, composing, yoga, river activities, and collecting records.

Nick is also part of the Repair Facility Team.

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