Formed in 2025, Duo Sonoto is a euphonium duet dedicated to musical collaboration and innovation. Both members are pursuing their Doctor of Musical Arts degrees at the University of North Texas under the mentorship of Dr. David Childs. The name Sonoto merges the Spanish word “sonido” and the Japanese word “oto” both of which translate to “sound” in English, reflecting the duo’s Mexican and Japanese heritage and the harmony of their shared musical voice. Through commissioning and performing new works, Duo Sonoto seeks to expand the euphonium duet repertoire and inspire fresh creativity within the brass community.
Loke Lovett
Originally from the San Antonio area, Loke Lovett is a euphonium player and educator currently located in Denton, Texas. Among other accomplishments, Loke has been selected as a finalist in the William Gammon Henry Concerto Competition at the University of North Texas, and is a member of the award winning Viridity Euphonium Quartet. As part of his commitment to sharing the euphonium with an ever-widening audience, Loke has participated in several consortiums for new works. He has also commissioned solo and chamber works for euphonium, most notably Andrés Ballesteros' "De Colores," which premiered in 2024. Loke received his undergraduate and master's degrees in euphonium from the University of North Texas under the tutelage of Dr. Brian Bowman and Dr. David Childs. He continues to serve as a Teaching Fellow there as he pursues his DMA in euphonium performance, all while maintaining a sizeable private studio in the DFW area.
Kaho Mills
Kaho Mills, a euphonium player and educator from Japan, is pursuing her D.M.A in euphonium performance at the University of North Texas, studying with Dr. David Childs. During her undergraduate studies in Japan, she studied with Dr. Mitsuru Saito. She visited Texas in 2017 and 2018 to study with Dr. Brian Bowman, which inspired her to continue her musical journey in the United States. Kaho has earned recognition in several international competitions, including winning the South Central Regional Conference Artist Euphonium Division in 2024 and receiving 2nd Prize at the Kobe International Competition in 2019. She was a semifinalist in the International Falcone Competition in 2018, 2020, and 2024, and in the ITEC Euphonium Artist Division in 2019. As a member of the Kunitachi Euphonium Tuba Quartet, she won the Japan Classic Chamber Competition in 2018 and was a semifinalist in the ITEC Chamber Division in 2019.
