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UNDER CONSTRUCTION
In the meantime, see past and present members below
MEET THE PHOENIX BRASS COLLECTIVE
Trumpet
Brianne Borden currently attends Arizona State University for her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Trumpet Performance where she served as Teaching Assistant from 2016-2018. Enthusiastic about management and leadership, Brianne serves as Personnel Director to the Phoenix Brass Collective, in addition to being a founding member in the trumpet section. Brianne's alma maters include the University of Colorado - Boulder for her Master's, where she taught as a TA and performed with the Graduate Brass Quintet, and SUNY Potsdam for her Bachelor's. Her principal teachers include David Hickman, Dr. John Ellis, Terry Sawchuk, and Justin Bartels. Throughout the years, Brianne has competed multiple times in the National Trumpet Competition as both a soloist and an ensemble member. She is also an avid freelancer and private studio teacher within the Phoenix valley. As a certified yoga instructor, Brianne is a passionate researcher in the field of wellness for musicians. She has published multiple articles and created workshops on ways to incorporate yoga into a musician’s lifestyle in order to counteract repetitive motion injuries, battle performance anxiety, and live a healthier life. Brianne is an active clinician and performer, having presented at numerous universities and conferences around the country.
BUDDY DESHLER
Trumpet
His bourgeoning career has taken him around the country, as well as internationally, and has allowed him to share the stage with ensembles such as the King’s Brass, The Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass, Foden's Band of Sandbach, Cheshire, his own Vice City Brass and Marquee Brass, and as of 2017, the illustrious Dallas Brass. In addition, Buddy has performed with the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, Richmond Symphony Orchestra, York Symphony, Williamsburg Symphony, Delaware Symphony, Washington Chamber Orchestra, Concert Artists of Baltimore, American Festival Pops Orchestra, and more. His international performances have taken him to Le Domaine Forget in Quebec, the Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada, and Santiago de Cuba. Buddy Deshler is also a sponsored Performing Artist for XO Brass, Denis Wick, and Smith Watkins.
JOSHUA HAAKE
Trumpet
Joshua Haake received his Doctorate in Trumpet Performance at ASU and serves as Treasurer and Secretary for the Phoenix Brass Collective. As a performer, Joshua is currently Principal Trumpet for the West Valley Symphony Orchestra and the Symphony of the Southwest, and has played with such groups as the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra, Kettle Moraine Symphony Orchestra, Lakeshore Symphonic Band, St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra, Fargo/Moorhead Symphony Orchestra, Phoenix Boy’s Choir and the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra. He has been active as a soloist, playing numerous recitals in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Arizona as well as soloing with groups such as the Concordia College Band and UW-Milwaukee Wind Ensemble. Joshua has always been an avid proponent of brass chamber music and has been performing in brass quintets since 1992. Such groups include the Absolute Brass, Washington Brass Quintet, UW-Milwaukee Graduate Brass Quintet, UW-Milwaukee Faculty Brass Quartet, Palo Verde Brass Quintet, and the Sonoran Brass Quintet. He also has a passion for education, and in addition to working as a TA at ASU and UW-Milwaukee, Joshua was a high school band director for nine years in Port Washington, Wisconsin. He currently maintains a busy studio, and resides in Tempe with his wife Rachel, two sons Liam and Lukas and his daughter Isabella.
RYAN VANCE
Trumpet
A native of California, Ryan Vance grew up in Fresno and began studying trumpet with Joe Lenigan at age 10. Vance recently completed undergraduate studies at California State University, Fresno, where he studied trumpet with Nathan Sobieralski and received a Bachelor of Arts in Instrumental Music Education. He is currently a graduate student at Arizona State University, studying trumpet under the instruction of Joe Burgstaller. Vance has performed in California and across the country with the Clendenin Brass Quintet, the Sequoia Symphony Orchestra, the Wind Symphony of Clovis, and the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps.
SHANNON KERRIGAN
French Horn
Shannon Kerrigan has been an performer and freelancer in the Phoenix, AZ area since the early 1990’s Currently, she focuses her artistic energy in chamber music and musical theatre. Over the past decade, Shannon has collaborated with Phoenix Theatre, Gammage Broadway Series, and Arizona Broadway Theatre on productions of Les Misérables, Mary Poppins, Porgy and Bess, and Spamalot, to name a few and has recorded several commercial projects. Shannon is an active member of Brass of the Desert and Cornua Irae (horn quartet) and was a member of the Southwest Brass (2000-2013). Orchestrally, Shannon has performed regularly with The Phoenix Symphony, The Arizona Opera, The Tucson Symphony, and the West Valley Symphony.
A formal student of Bill Lane, Tom Bacon, John Q. Ericson & Gary Moss, Shannon has a Bachelor of Music from Arizona State University. Shannon has a passion for numbers and has works as an accounting manager. Outside of music and sailing the wide accountancy, Shannon is also mom to German Shepherd (Farley) and Black Labrador (Morgan) and a proud Auntie to Lorelei, William and Callum. Her husband, Chuck Kerrigan, is not only Shannon’s rock, but also an epic youtube tuba star.
ALEX MANNERS
French Horn
Dr. Alex Manners is an active freelance hornist and educator across the Valley. As a performer, he has appeared at both Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center and has been a member of groups including Symphony of the Southwest and Sinfonia da Camera. He has also had frequent substitute engagements with groups across Arizona, including the Phoenix and Tucson Symphonies and the Arizona Broadway Theatre. Alex currently serves as an elementary and junior high band director in the Dysart Unified School District and horn instructor at Glendale Community College. A native Kansas Citian, Dr. Manners holds degrees from Truman State University, the University of Illinois, and Arizona State University.
MARTHA SHARPE
French Horn
Martha Sharpe began her musical studies at the age of four on the piano. By age 10 she was ready for a new challenge and began playing the Horn. She progressed through the top bands and orchestras during Jr. High and High School and by her senior year was named principal Horn of the McDonald’s All American High School Band. During her tour with the McDonald’s band she had the opportunity to audition for several elite music schools. She chose to attend the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in Houston, TX. There she received both Bachelor and Master Degrees in Horn Performance. She was most fortunate to study with three masters of the Horn during her time at Rice: William Caballero, Thomas Bacon, and William VerMeulen. Following her studies at Rice she auditioned for and won a position with the Royal Symphony Orchestra of Seville in Spain. She enjoyed two wonderful years in Spain before marriage and family brought her back to Arizona. Since her return to Arizona she has played principal Horn in the Tempe Symphony (1995 – 1997), the San Marcos (Chandler) Symphony (1996 – 1997), the Symphony of the Southwest (1999 – present), the East Valley Millennial Choirs and Orchestras (2009 – present), and the La Forza Chamber Orchestra (2012 – present). In addition to her symphonic duties, freelancing, and family requirements she is also a member of the horn quartet “Cornua Irae”.
JAICI SULLIVAN
French Horn
Jaici Sullivan is a music educator from Scottsdale, Arizona. She attended Northern Arizona University from 2011-2017 where she studied Music Education and performed in the NAU Symphony Orchestra, the NAU Wind Symphony, and the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra. In addition to these large ensembles, Jaici participated in many chamber groups including woodwind and brass quintets, the NAU Honors Horn Quartet, and other brass ensembles. She was also selected perform solos in the NAU Honors Recital for two consecutive years. After graduating from NAU, she taught General Music at Constitution Elementary School in the Deer Valley Unified School District. She currently performs in the Celebrare Woodwind Quintet, the Phoenix Brass Collective and teaches private lessons at a Music & Arts studio in Scottsdale. This fall Jaici will begin studying Horn Performance at Arizona State University with Dr. John Ericson for her Master’s degree. Jaici thanks Miguel Zarate for the picture provided.
SETH BÄRTSCHI
Trombone
Seth Bärtschi is a freelance trombonist in the Phoenix area and plays bass trombone with the Phoenix Brass Collective. He has performed with such groups as Phoenix Symphony, Phoenix Opera, Arizona Opera, Air Force Band of the Rockies, West Valley Symphony, Salt River Brass, Symphony of the Southwest, Arizona Philharmonic and Millennial Choirs Orchestra. Seth has also performed with many small ensembles including Simply Three, Phoenix Theatre, Arizona Broadway Theatre, Arizona Theatre Company, Extreme Decibel Big Band, Phoenix Trombone Ensemble, Red Rock Brass Quintet, Moon Valley Brass Quintet and Carlos Rivas Salsa Band. He teaches trombone at Glendale Community College and several local high schools. His teachers include Ralph Sauer, Douglas Yeo, Sam Pilafian and Peter Vivona. Seth has been recorded on four commercially released albums including a solo track of Rachmaninoff’s Fantasy Piece on the album "Living Legacy". He is an aviation enthusiast with a private pilot's license and also flies camera drones to capture cinematic aerial footage.
GARRETT HAAS
Trombone
Garrett Mitchell Haas, a Colorado native, began his musical studies at the age of 11 on piano. He attended Colorado State University from 2006–2011 where he received Bachelor’s degrees in both bass trombone and piano performance, studying with Gregory Harper and Dr. Janet Landreth, respectively. In August 2011, Haas moved to Phoenix, Arizona with his wife where he became a graduate teaching assistant and earned his Master’s degree in bass trombone performance at Arizona State University. He is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Musical Arts program at ASU. Mr. Haas began his trombone studies in Arizona with Ralph Sauer, retired principal trombonist of the LA Philharmonic, and since 2012, has studied with Douglas Yeo, the recently retired bass trombonist of the Boston Symphony. He has also studied with Ryan Haines, Dr. Silvana Santinelli, Peter Sommer, Sam Pilafian, and Michael Kocour. Mr. Haas’experience in musical ensembles ranges from trombone choir and quartet to jazz band, marching band, concert band, and symphony orchestra. He has performed throughout the valley with a wide variety of groups, such as the West Valley Symphony and Salt River Brass Band, to name a couple. In addition to his role as a performer, Mr. Haas maintains a private brass and piano studio in the Phoenix area, and is an active collaborative pianist. His hobbies include virtually anything having to do with the outdoors, but especially hiking and skiing. He and his wife, Brittney, have a three-year-old son, Oliver, and are awaiting the birth of their second child sometime in August 2018.
JASON MALLOY
Trombone
Jason Malloy is an active musician and educator in the Phoenix area. He is the principal trombonist with the Salt River Brass, and the Phoenix Opera, and has been a member of the River City Brass, Arizona Opera, MusicaNova Orchestra, and the Phoenix Symphony. He was one of sixteen trombonists to be selected as a participant in the 2005 Alessi Seminar, a prestigious event held by the principal trombonist of the New York Philharmonic, Joseph Alessi. In addition, Malloy has performed with many artists including Rex Richardson, Harry Watters, Patrick Sheridan, Sam Pilafian, the Boston Brass, and Kevin Clark. Malloy holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in music performance from Arizona State University, and currently serves on the music faculty with Legacy Traditional Schools.
MATT VEZEY
Trombone
Matt Vezey discovered his passion for music when he began playing the trombone in his middle school band. Despite initially learning how to play the trombone upside down (a small setback which was quickly fixed by his band director at the time) he continued to pursue his passion for music. Throughout his high school career, he performed with several regional and all-state ensembles as well as the Bands of America Honor Band and the U.S. Army All American Marching Band. Matt earned a Bachelor of Music Degree in Instrumental Music Education from Arizona State University. While studying at ASU Matt performed two solo recitals and performed with several university ensembles gaining experience in multiple musical genres: wind band, orchestral, chamber, marching band, jazz, dixieland, musicals, and even Javanese Gamelan! Matt had the privilege of studying trombone with Ralph Sauer and Douglas Yeo. In addition to teaching band at the high school level, Matt performs throughout the valley with local big bands, combos, latin dance bands, churches, and chamber ensembles. He has performed with groups such as the Chandler Symphony Orchestra, ProMusica Arizona, Arizona Broadway Theatre, Peoria Theater Works, BOOM! Percussion, and The Village Blasting Club. He loves spicy food, listening to live music, hiking trails throughout Phoenix, and of course playing the trombone!
DAVID GONZALEZ
Tuba
David Gonzalez is an accomplished low brass teacher and artist. Currently, he is pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts with the Euphonium Teaching Assistant at Arizona State University, he has also held a Teaching Assistantship with the University of Tennessee- Knoxville Pride of the Southland Band for his Masters. His primary teachers include Christian Carichner, Dr. Kelly Thomas, Dr. Alexander Lapins, Dr. Benjamin Pierce, and Dr. Deanna Swoboda. David is also a staff member for the Arizona State Sun Devil Marching Band under James G. Hudson. He enjoys teaching a multitude of high school and middle school bands in the Arkansas, Tennessee, and Oklahoma states with the famed “Breathing Gym” developed by Pat Sheridan and Sam Pilafian. He has also taught privately at the Community School of Music at the University of Central Arkansas as well as the University of Arkansas and University of Tennessee Instrumental All-State Clinics. As a competitor, David has had national and regional success, including being a Finalist for the Army Band Mock Audition, competing at Music Teacher’s National Association, and Winner of the Honors Recital Competition at the University of Arkansas. Currently performing as principle Euphonium with the Arizona State Wind Orchestra, David is also a member of the Salt River Brass Band directed by Patrick Sheridan. Having performed with other ensembles such as the Conway Symphony Orchestra, University of Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, University of Tennessee – Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Roanoke Symphony Opera (Virgina), University of Tennessee’s Graduate Brass Quintet (Traveled to Thessaloniki Greece), Southern Stars Brass Band, Arkansas MusicWorks Brass Band, and the University of Central Arkansas’ Dixieland Band, David enjoys a diverse performing career on Tuba and Euphonium.
BLAKE RYALL
Tuba
Tubist Blake Ryall is a native of Greensboro, North Carolina and is currently a doctoral student and teaching assistant at Arizona State University’s School of Music. Outside of his studies at ASU, Blake maintains an active presence as a performer and educator in the Greater Phoenix area, currently serving as the principal tubist of the West Valley Symphony, and performing with other ensembles such as the Symphony of the Southwest, the MusicaNova Orchestra, and the Salt River Brass on a regular basis. This past summer, Blake was named winner of the Rafael Mendez Brass Institute's 2018 tuba mock audition. His primary teachers include Dr. Christopher Blaha, Professor Tom McCaslin, and Dr. Deanna Swoboda. Outside of his life as a musician, Blake enjoys running, swimming, and playing frisbee.
JOE MILLEA
Percussion
Joe Millea is currently a member of the Heartland Marimba Quartet and a freelance percussionist and music educator in Phoenix, AZ. Previously, Joe served as a Faculty member at Sam Houston State University, Veritas Preparatory Academy, Collins College, and National American University teaching courses in applied percussion, drumline, percussion methods, music appreciation, digital audio, music theory, music history, music business, and music composition. From 2010 to 2013, Joe was the Principal Percussionist and Timpanist with the Scottsdale Arts Orchestra in Scottsdale, AZ. Joe received his Bachelor's degree in Music Performance and Music Education from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Master's and D.M.A Degrees in Music Performance from Arizona State University. In 2013 and 2014 Joe studied marimba performance at the Royal College of Music in London, England. His primary teachers are Fernando Meza, J.B. Smith, Daniella Ganeva, Peter Kogan, Earl Yowell, Mark Sunkett, Simone Mancuso, Brian Duffy, Matt Kettlehut, Dom Moio and Phil Hey. Joe is an endorser of Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets, Black Swamp Percussion and Marimba One marimbas.
