Minnesota Brass Announces 2012 Design Team
Minnesota Brass is excited to announce the return of one of the most successful and talented design teams in drum corps. After capturing the 2011 DCA Open Class World Championship the corps’ design team will remain unchanged in 2012.
Joel Matuzak returns as Program Coordinator, Percussion Caption Supervisor and Arranger. A 25 year veteran of the corps, Joel has led the Minnesota Brass creative team since 2002. Brass leadership will be provided by Matt Kettelhut, Caption Supervisor and Arranger. In addition to leading the corps to two consecutive high brass trophies, Matt has been a part of the corps since 1999. Gary Swanson will return for his fourth consecutive year in his role as Caption Supervisor and Designer for the color guard, winners of the 2011 high guard caption. After a fantastic first season as Visual Caption Supervisor, Andrew Dussl returns to lead the corps’ marching and movement staff. Andrew has been a member of the visual staff since 2009. Drill Writer and Brass Arranger Andrew Classen returns for another season with the corps. Matt Ferry is starting his ninth year as Front Ensemble Coordinator and Arranger for the corps. (Full bios below.)
The corps’ entire administrative team from 2011 also returns for the 2012 season. Gavin Burnham continues in his capacity as President and Corporate CEO of the organization. Eric Molho will serve his second year as Executive Director/Corps Director. Dave Whitaker continues his leadership as Financial Officer. Operations Manager Jodi Pawlenty will begin her 12th year of service to the corps. The Board of Directors will be led by long-time member and volunteer leader, Kurt Schiebel.
The 2011 season starts on January 4, 2012! Potential members for any section should visit the corps website and submit a membership interest form.
Joel Matuzak Program Coordinator/Percussion Arranger/Caption Supervisor
Joel Matuzak is a graduate of St. Cloud State University with a Degree in Music Education. He is currently the Director of Instrumental Music at Highland Park Senior High School in Saint Paul. Joel has instructed and arranged for numerous marching ensembles throughout the Midwest for over 20 years. He is a member of the Minnesota Percussion Association Hall of Fame and has taught many ensembles that have been WGI finalists. Joel is currently the Director of the Minnesota Vikings Skol Line and the head arranger for the MBI Winter Drumline. He is highly regarded as an arranger, drill writer, clinician, and adjudicator.
Joel has been involved with Minnesota Brass for over 25 years. He has been a percussion arranger since 1998, and Program Coordinator since 2002. The corps has won three DCA percussion titles and one World Championship title during that time. Joel is a former Percussion Section Member of the Year, Director’s Appreciation, and Brassy Award winner. Joel has also taught and is an Alumnus of the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps. He is actively involved with the Minnesota Percussion Association, Tri-States Judging Association, Minnesota Music Educators Conference, Innovative Percussion, Dynasty Percussion, Remo, and Sabian Cymbals.
Andrew Classen Drill Writer/Brass Arranger
Andrew Classen is professor of trumpet and jazz studies at Drake University. He is currently principal trumpet with the Cedar Rapids Symphony. His principal trumpet teachers were Vincent Cichowicz of Northwestern University, William Adam of Indiana University, Robert Baca at UW Eau Claire and Cathy Leach at University of Tennessee.
He is in much demand as a clinician/guest artist for recitals, masterclasses and seminars, regionally, nationally and internationally. In May 2009, he spent 10 days in China giving recitals and master classes thoughout Beijing and Shanghai. Other recent activities include recitals and masterclasses at the National Music Conservatory of Mexico in 2006, and Centro Cultural Ollin Yoliztli, and at the Instituto de Humanidades Y Ciencia in 2007. He received a Bachelor in Music Education degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and a Master of Music degree in trumpet performance from the University of Tennessee. Mr. Classen has been a drill designer and music arranger for Minnesota Brass since 1986.
In 2008 he became the inaugural holder of the Fred and Patty Turner Professorship in Jazz at Drake. He is also an active jazz composer. He currently has six compositions published through C.L. Barnhouse Publishing.
Andrew Dussl Visual Caption Supervisor
Andrew holds a Bachelors in Music Education degree from the University of Minnesota where he studied percussion under Fernando Meza. He is returning for his fourth year of involvement with Minnesota Brass’ visual program and his second year as caption supervisor. Andrew is the ensemble coordinator for the Minnesota Brass Indoor Drumline where he taught the 2010 bassline. Andrew has had the opportunity to teach many indoor and outdoor music programs in and around the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, including the University of Minnesota-Duluth drumline, the Anoka Winter Percussion Ensemble, and the Maple Grove, Rosemount, Anoka, and Forest Lake high school drumlines among others. In 2008, he worked with Anne Sullivan Communications Center teaching percussion within the YMCA Beacons youth development program.
His marching experience includes three years with the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps as well as the Minnesota Brass Indoor Drumline 2008. Andrew is currently performing with the Minnesota Vikings Skol Line, the Pizzazz Jazz Dance and Swing Band, and previously performed with the Northern Symphony Orchestra. He currently teaches private percussion lessons in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
Matt Ferry Percussion Arranger
Matt Ferry is currently a Regional Education Sales Manager for MakeMusic Inc. creators of the Finale and SmartMusic software. Outside of his work in music technology, Matt is a sought after arranger, educator and adjudicator for indoor percussion, marching bands, and percussion ensembles.
Matt has been the Front Ensemble Coordinator and Arranger for Minnesota Brass since 2003, which has included all three of the corps’ high percussion titles in DCA. In addition to his work with Minnesota Brass, Matt has consulted and arranged for dozens of bands and percussion ensembles in the Midwest. He has performed and consulted with several Minneapolis based recording projects.
Mr. Ferry is an alumnus of the University of Minnesota where he earned a Bachelor in Music Education degree. He has studied percussion with Fernando Meza, Erik Johnson, Bret Kuhn, Allan Miller, Mike McIntosh, Phil Hey, Rolando Morales Matos, Nebojsa Zivkovic, and Earl Yowell.
Matt Ferry exclusively endorses Innovative Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, Finale Notation Software and SmartMusic.
Matt Kettelhut Brass Arranger/ Brass Caption Supervisor
Matt Kettelhut is excited to be starting his 13th season with Minnesota Brass. Under Matt’s direction as arranger and brass caption head the Minnesota Brass hornline has climbed to the top of the activity, capturing the high brass award for the 2010 & 2011 seasons. A graduate of the University of Minnesota and a hornline member of the 1994 undefeated DCI World Champion Concord Blue Devils, Matt has studied with several noted percussionists. He has earned an applauded reputation giving clinics and concerts throughout the US and Europe as part of the Penumbra Percussion Duo. Matt is a highly sought after judge and clinician for solo/ensemble contests, indoor drumline and marching band competitions across the country. He is a past Treasurer for the Minnesota Percussive Arts Society, a member of Chamber Music America as well as the Twin Cities Musicians Union.
Gary Swanson Color Guard Designer/Caption Supervisor
Gary has a long history with Minnesota Brass. He first instructed the color guards while marching in 1990-1992, again in 1998, 1999 and he returned once more and has been instructing the guards since 2008.
Gary’s design and instructional credits include: Irondale High School color guard programs since 1990, (15 BOA Regional Finalist awards, 2010 BOA Class AA Regional Champion, NSC MN Winter Guard Open Class State Champion since 1996, 2011 WGI Scholastic A Finalist, 2003 WGI Scholastic World Class Finalist, 2002 WGI Open Class World Champion), the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps, and many other high school groups throughout Minnesota. He is the Past President of the North Star Color Guard Circuit and is affiliated with WGI. Gary is also involved in adjudication, consulting, and special event choreography both locally and nationally for the pageantry arts.
Gary received his Baachelor in Apparel Design from the University of Minnesota. He marched with Minnesota Brass Drum and Bugle Corps, Minnesota Brass Winter Guard, Crosstown Hwy Winter Guard, and the University of Minnesota Marching Band. Gary works at FamilyMeans, a nonprofit, family service organization in Stillwater, MN.
About Minnesota Brass
Minnesota Brass is the Midwest’s premiere all-ages drum and bugle corps. The corps has competed in the Drum Corps Associates (DCA) World Championships 30 times since 1973 and has placed in the top ten in Open Class competition every year since 1991. In 2011, Minnesota Brass won its first DCA Open Class World Championship title.
Minnesota Brass, Inc. is a non-profit performing arts organization based in St. Paul, Minnesota that operates four separate performing ensembles: Minnesota Brass (all-age drum and bugle corps), Minne-Brass (mini-corps), Minnesota Brass Winter Color Guard, and Minnesota Brass Indoor Drum Line.
Additional information is available online at mnbrassinc.org or facebook.com/minnesotabrass. Contact the corps at: info [at] mnbrassinc [dot] org.
