A native of Seattle, Washington, John MacFerran Wilds received his first musical training from his father on the great highland bagpipes. His musical studies later took him to Central Washington University and Indiana University School of Music. Mr. Wilds was Principal Trumpet of the New Mexico Symphony and the Mississippi Symphony before joining the trumpet section of the San Diego Symphony in 1988. John was the Principal Trumpet of Orchestra Nova, formerly Principal Trumpet of the San Diego Opera, co-Principal Trumpet of Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa and is a member of Westwind Brass. As a teacher, he is affiliated with San Diego State University, Point Loma Nazarene University, The University of San Diego and Rancho Bernardo High School. John Wilds has had the opportunity to perform and record with both the Los Angeles Philharmonic and San Francisco Symphony. John and his wife Janis enjoy traveling, cooking, bicycling, architecture and most of all, their daughter Flora.