THE BANDS I PLAY IN

I took up playing the trumpet in junior high school and played in both the junior high band and high school bands(Pep, Jazz & Concert Bands) while attending Abbotsford Jr.-Sr. High School in Abbotsford, Wisconsin.

After high school, I didn't play much for several years until my former high school band director, Martin Schultz of Abbotsford, invited me to join one of the bands he was playing with at the time.

I am presently playing with the Marshfield Civic Band (whose website I designed, built and still maintain for them).  Before moving out of Abbotsford, to Wausau, I used to play with the former University of Wisconsin-Marshfield/Wood County Symphonic Band.  But the UW system now charges non-students to play with the band.  Plus I needed to take into consideration the constant roundtrip driving distance from Wausau to Marshfield.  So, I made the decision to discontinue performing with that group.   I had also played for several years with the Black River Valley Concert Band out of Neillsville, Wisconsin, until it was discontinued in 2002.

The UW Symphonic Band is open to all students and community members who possess previous experience with wind or percussion instruments. It is designed to be a positive learning experience for all participants. UW Center students may register with 1-2 credit hours. All levels of players are encouraged to participate. No auditions are necessary. The class, like any other performing music class, is designed to be both educational and fun. All members are encouraged to bring their own instruments.

Rehearsals are held throughout the school year, one evening a week:  Mondays, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Rehearsals are held in the Helen Conner Laird Fine Arts Building, Room 332. The campus is located at 2000 W. 5th St. in Marshfield, Wisconsin.

Rehearsals eventually culminate with concert performances during the school year. The concerts are held in the theater of the Helen Conner Laird Fine Arts Building.

The current conductor of the Symphonic Band is Dr. Richard B. Brunson, Assistant Professor of Music at the UW Center.  He took over that position in Fall, 2011.

For more information about the University of Wisconsin-Marshfield/Wood County Symphonic Band, contact Dr. Brunson at (715) 389-6542 or write to him c/o UW-Marshfield/Wood County, 2000 W. 5th St., Marshfield, WI 54449, or send him an e-mail.  For concert information(dates and times) contact the UW Center campus at (715) 389-6530(main number) or (715) 389-6534(box office).

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