When did you start playing your instrument?
I started playing euphonium in 1976
When did you join the band?
I joined the EIBB in 1988
What is your hometown and where do you live now?
I grew up in Wood Dale, IL.
My wife and I have three children and live in Solon, IA.
What is your favorite band memory?
There are way too many fantastic memories to narrow down to a single favorite.
One of my more recent favorite memories is preparing and performing, “Intrada Ein’ feste Burg.” The audience reaction to our performances at the US Open and at our home subscription series concert was simply AWESOME!
My all-time favorite “feel good” memory as a member of the EIBB was when we unveiled a surprise for our director, Casey Thomas, at one of our home Christmas concerts. The band took up a collection and flew his parents up from Atlanta to Mt. Vernon so they could attend the concert. Casey didn’t know they were at the concert until they both walked out onto the stage before intermission. The generosity of the band members was overwhelming and we were able to treat his folks to a first-class weekend with their son. Truly memorable!
What is your favorite brass band piece of music?
“Hymn of the Highlands” by Philip Sparke
When you’re not practicing, what do you enjoy doing?
Spending time with my family, attending our kids activities and athletic events, traveling, downhill skiing, boating, fishing, scuba diving, water skiing, motorcycle cruising, photography, playing with our two dogs, watching the Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears, and watching the Discovery channel.
Where did you go to school?
I graduated from Fenton High School in Bensenville, Illinois (near O’Hare airport) in the class of 1984.
I graduated with a B.A. from Luther College, Decorah, IA in 1988.
I earned a Band Instrument Repair Technician certificate from Red Wing Technical College, Red Wing, MN in 1996.
I earned a computer programming certificate from Kirkwood College, Cedar Rapids, IA in 1998.
What is your occupation?
I am a Programmer/Analyst at Gazette Communications in Cedar Rapids, IA
How long have you been playing your instrument?
I started playing in 5th grade… so more than 30 years.
What is your most embarrassing moment with the band?
It was a hot June afternoon in Clarion, Iowa. I believe the year was 2000 or somewhere near there. With hundreds of people in attendence for our concert, I stepped off the stage and prepared my music stand in front of the band to perform a solo. As I was adjusting my stand, a quick gust of wind blew my music to the ground. I bent over to pick up the music and heard, “Riiippppp.” The rear seam of my pants ripped from the bottom of my rear belt loop all the way to the inseam! I felt a cool rush of air where there is usually no air at all! Immediately I stood up not knowing what to do. I turned an looked at Dave DeHoff and he couldn’t hardly keep from laughing. I knew there was no way I could now turn my back to the audience and the band was getting a show they definately didn’t want to see. Thinking quickly, Dave took one of our blue stand banners and tucked it into the back of my pants so it hung down my backside like a loincloth. At that point, the audience realized what was going on and laughed along with me and the rest of the band. We played the piece, I took my bow, and then walked backwards to my chair. I played the rest of the concert sitting with the loincloth under by bottom and a red glow on my face from the incident.”
