Madison Scouts Announce Brass Caption Head, Staff
The Madison Scouts are excited to announce their 2007 brass staff. “Like with our design team, our goal with the brass staff was to find a balance of experiences, histories and abilities. While we are still finalizing the remainder of the touring staff, I am confident our nucleus provides the stability and leadership our members, fans and alumni expect,” said Executive Director Jeff Spanos.
The Brass Caption Head for 2007 Madison Scouts is Keith Dunton. Keith earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Trumpet Performance from St. Olaf College and has studied with Bobby Shew (Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Elvis, Tom Jones), Roger Ingram (Ray Charles, Maynard Ferguson, Harry Connick Jr.) and Kye Palmer (The Tonight Show Band, Bryan Setzer Orchestra). He also spent time studying in Lancaster, England, with Kevin Brown of the Manchester Orchestra. In addition to teaching private lessons to nearly 40 students each year, he maintains a busy schedule giving brass clinics around the country. Dunton is currently the Brass Caption Head for Rancho Cucamunga HS, Upland HS and The Riverside Community College Marching Tigers. He has been a brass consultant with Yamato and Esperanza, and is a former member of the Madison Scouts (’95-’96). He resides in Los Feliz, CA, with his wife, Dr. Genevieve Fridlund Dunton.
Dave Cooksey began his drum corps experience over 30 years ago as baritone player with the Racine Kilties and the Madison Scouts. Cooksey is a former scholarship student of Arnold Jacobs, and had the privilege to study at the prestigious Royal School of Music in London, England with John Fletcher, principal tubist with the London Symphony Orchestra. He is a former brass instructor with the Madison Scouts and more recently with the Phantom Regiment (‘02,’03,’05,’06). Cooksey has been active both nationally and internationally as an adjudicator and has adjudicated numerous state, national and international championships over the past 17 years. He is the former Judge Coordinator for the Drum Corps Midwest Judges Guild, as well as brass/music judge for Drum Corps International (1992– 2001), Drum Corps Europe, Drum Corps Japan and Bands of America. He remains active as a program consultant /clinician for various high school programs across the United States and has taught at Carmel HS (Carmel, IN) and Ben Davis HS (Indianapolis, IN). Currently Dave is the Director of Pulmonary Services at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, WI, and lives with is wife and family in Brookfield, WI.
Matt Gregg has been involved with the Madison Scouts since 1982. Over the course of the past two and half decades he has been a member and soloist with the Madison Jr. Scouts and Madison Scouts, as well as a member of the teaching, design and administrative teams. During his tenure as a member, he won an unprecedented six consecutive individual titles on French Horn and mellophone. Gregg is a college music professor at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, where his primary responsibilities are conducting the Symphony Band and Wind Ensemble, as well as the marching band. He also teaches music theory and conducting. In addition to his role as program coordinator, Matt will also serve as an brass instructor as needed during the winter months and camps.
Ian Melrose received his Master of Tuba Performance from the University of Georgia, where he studied with David Zerkel and his Bachelor’s of Music Education from the University of Wisconsin- Madison, where he studied with John Stevens. As a member of the Bulldog Brass Society, the graduate assistant brass quintet at the University of Georgia, he was a finalist in the Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition and the M.T.N.A. National Chamber Music Competition. As a soloist, he was a winner of the 2004 University of Georgia Concerto Competition where he performed Rolf Wilhelm’s “Concertino” with the UGA Wind Symphony. He was also chosen as a tuba semifinalist in the 2004 Leonard Falcone International Euphonium & Tuba Festival. Prior to relocating to the Madison, WI, area he was on the faculty of Truett-McConnell College and Toccoa Falls College. Ian began his drum corps career as a brass instructor with Capital Sound Drum & Bugle Corps and has also been tuba instructor with B.O.A. Grand National Champion Lassiter High School Band. He is currently Director of Bands at Beloit Turner HS, where he directs the Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Marching Band and Jazz Ensemble.
Jon Schipper earned his degree in Music Education from the University of Wisconsin, where he studied under John Aley. Schipper plays professionally with several ensembles, including Phat Phunktion and the Hot Sauce Band. At age 13, Jon got involved with the Madison Jr. Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps. He traveled with the corps for two summers, and then decided to try-out for the Madison Scouts. Over the next six years, Schipper worked his way up through the ranks of the corps and was a soloist in 1995 and 1996. He has recorded commercials for radio and television.
ABOUT THE MADISON SCOUTS
Founded in 1938, the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps is a non-profit youth organization known for developing energetic, powerful and crowd-pleasing shows. Since its founding, the corps has been committed to providing a meaningful, positive and life-changing experience to young men ages 16-22. The corps’ commitment to excellence serves as the foundation for its ultimate goal of preparing members to be successful, contributing members of society.
To learn more about the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps or to volunteer, call 608-837-0707, e-mail Executive Director Jeff Spanos at executivedirector [at] madisonscouts [dot] org or visit www.madisonscouts.org.
