Niko Morales is one of the Directors of The Sounds of Freedom. He is currently attending San Jose State University pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Music Education where he is a member of the SJSU Wind Ensemble, Spartan Marching Band, New Music Ensemble, and Clarinet Studio. 

In the past, Niko has performed in many Central Valley ensembles such as the Dr. Lawrence R. Sutherland Honor Band, the Fresno-Madera County Music Educators Association (FMCMEA) Honor Band, and the California Orchestra Directors Association (CODA) Symphony Orchestra. A graduate of Central High School, his Wind Ensemble was considered to be one of the finest ensembles in the state of California. They were awarded several national honors, selected to perform at the California All-State Music Educators Conference (CASMEC), and selected to perform at the New York Wind Band Festival in Carnegie Hall receiving a rousing standing ovation.

Niko received his Associate's Degree from Fresno City College in 2023 and has been a recipient of several certificates and scholarships, in 2021, he was awarded the Dale Engstrom Excellence in Music Award, and in 2022, he won the annual FCC Conducting Competition. Niko also had the opportunity to conduct one of his arrangements with the Kingsburg City Band in the Summer of 2024.

Most recently, Niko had the honor of performing with the Master Sinfonia Chamber Orchestra and the Livermore-Amador Symphony.

Brad Riley graduated from Clovis High School in 1983 where he was very involved with the music program. He attended California State University, Fresno, and graduated in 1988 with a B.A. in Music Education (Magna Cum Laude). He was a member of the prestigious CSUF Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band “A” During his time at Fresno State he was also the drum major for the Bulldog Marching Band for the years 1986 and 1987. He was also very involved with Drum Corps International as a soloist with the local California Dons Drum and Bugle Corps (1984-85) and DCI World Class Champions, Santa Clara Vanguard in 1986. He was honored to be listed in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities in 1988. Riley went on to teach music for over 30 years in Fresno County schools and has recently retired. He enjoys teaching piano and traveling with his wife, Bing.

Monte Gmur became the Director of The Sounds of Freedom in 2003. He served as a driving force in the promotion of a unique programming style that creates a concert experience that awakens curiosity, imagination, wonder, awareness, and appreciation of band music. Bands performing under his direction have been described as “Well Rehearsed” and “Grand”. A reporter for the Long Beach Press-Telegram once wrote that “He brings clarity, balance, and precision to the ensemble”.

A past president of the Youth Band Council of Southern California, founding member of the Pacific Coast Judges Association, and member of the prestigious National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Mr. Gmur contributed to the success of several television and motion picture projects; served as musical conductor for the Miss California Pageant;  production consultant for The All-Western Band Review, Jerry Lewis’ Muscular Dystrophy Telecast, ARCO’s National Jesse Owens Games, and Disneyland.

For several years, he participated in the prestigious World Adult Wind Orchestra Project in Schladming, Austria.

Monte passed away on February 9, 2025, at the age of 75. His life was his music. He started his career as a musician in his teens. As he explained it, his high school band needed a tuba player and he was a big guy. He studied music, practiced hard, and expanded his mastery of instruments to include guitar, piano, organ, and pretty much any instrument he picked up. Soon, following in the footsteps of his uncles, Verus John “Babe” Gmur and Ralph Frederick “Fats” Gmur, Monte’s passion for music took flight. Over the years, Monte performed with Junipero Serra High School Band, the Torrance Youth Band, the El Camino Community College Band, the University of Southern California Trojan Marching Band, the Red River Dutchmen, the Kingsburg Community Band, and, most recently, with the World Adult Wind Orchestra Project in Schladming, Austria. Monte dedicated 55 years of his life to conducting and arranging music for the Our Lady of Guadalupe choir, St. Anthony High School Marching Saints, the Long Beach Junior Concert Band, the El Camino Community College Band, the South Gate City Youth Band, the Los Caballeros Youth Band, the Santa Ana Winds, and, the crown jewel of his long career, the AUSA Sounds of Freedom Band Military Concert Band. 

Monte was preceded in death by his parents: Monte Norman Gmur and Laura McMullen Gmur. He is survived by his sisters Teresa Warner and her husband Douglas, Karen Kirkpatrick and her husband Paul, and Juliana Francis Gmur; nieces and nephews Kylene Gilbert and her husband Matthew, Kegan Donlan and her husband Bobby, Christian Warner and his wife Erika, Kellan Warner and her husband Jonathan Liu, River Gmur, Sean Paul Kirkpatrick and his wife Katya Rose, and Brian Kirkpatrick; and grand nieces and nephews Hannah Gilbert, Meaghan Gilbert, Noelle Gilbert, Luke Gilbert, Rory Donlan, Kip Donlan, Rudy Donlan, Kal Donlan, Finley Warner, Connor Lucas Kirkpatrick, Charlotte Rose Kirkpatrick, Sophia Maffei Kirkpatrick, and Eleanor Juliana Kirkpatrick.

His family asks everyone who knew him to keep Monte’s legacy alive by supporting music programs in their area, attending concerts, and, if you are a musician, by keeping the music playing. In place of flowers, please send donations to the Monte C. Gmur Memorial Scholarship by contacting Robin Robertson at Info@abcmedicalservices.org or (559) 994-7679.

Hollon Kinney was the founding member and first director of The Sounds of Freedom Military Concert Band. “There were about a dozen members then,” Mr. Kinney recalled. “But we were like a family — and we still are,” he added.

After graduating from Dos Palos Joint Union High School, Mr. Kinney entered military service with the U.S. Army Air Corps, serving in the European Theater during World War II. He often joked that his skills as a musician kept him out of the line of fire, though if pressed, he would humbly acknowledge having had more than a few close calls.

A proud World War II veteran and accomplished trumpeter, one of Mr. Kinney’s greatest honors was performing “Taps” in memory of fallen heroes — a role he carried out with reverence and pride.