Musicians of Wild Prairie Brass

The musicians of Wild Prairie Brass are all active members of the Twin Cities brass community and play in a variety of settings ranging from orchestras and concert bands to jazz ensembles and a New Orleans style street band.
From left to right, John Rotenberry, tuba; Jim Olcott, trumpet; Paul Grette, bass trombone; Stan Bann, euphonium; Mary Brindle, horn; Kelby Stine, horn; Ralph Brindle, trombone; Soren Tryggestad, trumpet. Not pictured: Anthony Parrish, trombone; Craig Thrane, trumpet.
From left to right, John Rotenberry, tuba; Jim Olcott, trumpet; Paul Grette, bass trombone; Stan Bann, euphonium; Mary Brindle, horn; Kelby Stine, horn; Ralph Brindle, trombone; Soren Tryggestad, trumpet. Not pictured: Anthony Parrish, trombone; Craig Thrane, trumpet.
James Olcott - Trumpet & Fluglehorn
An active free-lancer in the Twin Cities, Jim is professor emeritus of trumpet at Miami University (Ohio) and the former principal trumpet of the Cincinnati Ballet Orchestra. He has performed with jazz and classical ensembles throughout the country. A champion for trumpet players, Jim founded the Cincinnati Herald Trumpet Ensemble and the Twin Cities Trumpet Ensemble. Eric Johnson - Trumpet & Fluglehorn
Hailing from Montevideo, MN, Eric is a music educator and professional trumpet player in the Twin Cities. He performs with many groups in a plethora of styles including New Orleans street music, jazz, classical, and commercial music. Eric studied at Bemidji State University and the University of Minnesota Duluth with Del Lyren and Scott Belck. Craig Thrane - Trumpet & Fluglehorn
Craig is a retired musician from the Army band system playing with the National Guard bands from North Dakota and Minnesota as well as active duty with the 6th Army Band at the Presidio of San Fransisco. Kelby Stine - Horn
Kelby began composing at the age of 13 and has remained immersed in the world of music publishing through composition, arranging, editing, and engraving. Kelby studied music performance (horn) at Columbus State University and completed a masters in music composition from Ithaca College. His original works are influenced by the whimsical Erik Satie and the strident harmonies of William Billings. One of the major objectives in his arranging is to revive music from the late 19th and early 20th century band literature. He is an alumni member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia National American Music Fraternity. Mary Brindle - Horn
Mary began playing horn at the age of 9. Her father was her first band director. She studied music education at the University of Minnesota and University of Wisconsin and studied horn with Leslie Gaska and Elaine Davis. While at the University of Minnesota, Mary played in Concert Band Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Frank Bencriscutto, where she met Ralph. Currently, Mary teaches horn and performs regularly with ensembles, large and small, supporting the arts throughout the community. She is also a member of the Edina City Council and a very active community volunteer. Some of the organizations she is affiliated with include the Edina Morningside Rotary Club, the Community Action Partnership of Southern Hennepin, the Southwest Corridor Community Works Committee, the I-494 Corridor Commission, and the Southdale YMCA. |
Ralph Brindle - Trombone
The man with iron chops, Ralph is an active trombonist in the Twin Cities plays lead for multiple big bands in the area. He also is the lone trombone for the CC Septet - know for its high energy creativity and original compositions. If that wasn't enough, during the day Ralph is a firmware engineer for Honeywell. Anthony Parrish - Trombone
Anthony is a fundraiser for Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, and in his free time enjoys playing regularly and as a substitute with many ensembles in Minnesota. He studied trombone with John Ilika and Dr. Steve Wolfinbarger. A musical highlight of his was performing a duet with Phil Smith in Carnegie Hall. Susan Hoesly - Trombone
Stan Bann - Euphonium & Trombone
A composer and arranger, Stan is an active voice on both the Twin Cities and national music scenes. His works for jazz ensembles, concert band, and mixed ensembles have been performed and published worldwide and his recording have received both critical and public acclaim. As a big band leader and educator, he has presented 350+ concerts/clinics expanding the awareness of and appreciation for jazz and the value of music in public schools. Stan studied jazz composition from the Berklee College of Music and privately studied with the late jazz theorist Frank Mantooth, Hollywood orchestrator, Scott Smalley, Matt Harris, and others. Stan studied trombone with Phil Wilson, Dave Steinmeyer, John Fedchock, and Conrad Herwig. Paul Grette - Bass Trombone
John Rotenberry - Tuba
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