The highly acclaimed, internationally recognized Sotto Voce Quartet is one of America's finest serious brass chamber ensembles. Founded in 1996, members include Demondrae Thurman (The University of Alabama), Nat McIntosh (The Dallas Brass), and composers Patrick Schulz (Arizona State University) and Michael Forbes (Carl Fisher). The tuba and euphonium artists within the quartet maintain diverse and wide-ranging careers in music and are in regular demand as performers, composers, and clinicians. After several competition successes during the time of their studies at the University of Wisconsin (under the direction of John Stevens), the group decided to pursue their chamber music ambitions and continue Sotto Voce as a professional quartet.

Sotto Voce isn't afraid to set serious artistic goals, while still incorporating much of the "lighter fare" usually associated with their instruments. The quartet consistently strives for the highest level of artistic expression through their varied repertoire and believes their unique art form is meant to imitate life; presenting music from the immaculately beautiful to the intensely ugly, all performed at the highest level. Their primary goal is to foster musical acceptance on all levels, helping audiences view tuba quartets not just for their novelty-value, but as legitimate chamber music ensembles.

The quartet seeks to achieve musical acceptance through their efforts as writers, performers, and recording artists. Each member of Sotto Voce has composed or arranged for the group, expanding the literature with music that can be found in the catalogs of Editions BIM, Tuba-Euphonium Press, Encore Music Publishers, Music Express, and TubaQuartet.com. In addition to regular recital tours and clinics throughout the U.S., Sotto Voce has been featured at tuba/euphonium conferences from Regina, Canada to Washington, D.C. and in concerts throughout Britain. In the summers of 2004 and 2006, they were guest artists and adjudicators at International Tuba/Euphonium Conferences in Budapest, Hungary and Denver, Colorado.

Through competitions, Sotto Voce has attempted to touch musical circles unaware of the diversity that exists within tuba/euphonium chamber music. They have been semifinalists in both the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition (1997, 1998, and 2002) and the Concert Artists' Guild Chamber Music Competition (1998 and 2002) and were second place winners in the Wisconsin Public Radio Neale-Silva Chamber Music Competition (1998), granting them a statewide broadcast performance. Within the tuba world, they received first prizes for the 1998 Colonial Tuba Quartet Competition and the 1998 I.T.E.C. Tuba Quartet Competition at the University of Minnesota.

Sotto Voce released their first recording, Consequences, with Summit Records in January, 2002 to enthusiastic reviews. The CD includes a potpourri of musical styles from cutting-edge originals to newly arranged works. All but two tracks on the disc were either composed or arranged by members of the ensemble. Their second recording on the Summit label, Viva Voce: The Quartets of John Stevens, was released in March, 2004. It features numerous improvised solos and two new compositions written especially for Sotto Voce by their mentor. Funding for the project was provided by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board. Their third recording, Refractions, features music written before the Baroque period paired with contemporary works and will be out soon on the Summit Label.