BBC Bios

"Front Row" Cornets

Dan King

Solo Cornet

Instrumental Music Specialist, Columbus Public Schools; Trumpet Instructor, Otterbein College

Member Since: 1984

(Charter Member)

Dan King is a founding member of the BBC and for most of those years has been principal cornet, soloist, and concertmaster.  In addition to his BBC duties Dan is an instrumental music specialist in the Columbus Public Schools, and an adjunct trumpet lecturer at Otterbein College.

He has earned his B.M.E., and M.M., degrees from the University of Kentucky and a D.M.A. in trumpet performance from The Ohio State University.

Dan and his wife, Nancy, are frequent travelers across the pond to visit with our British colleagues.  Outside of music Dan is also a commercial airplane pilot and flight instructor.

Dave Eaton

Solo Cornet

Adjunct Faculty, Ohio Wesleyan University; Director, Kokosing Brass Academy

Member Since: 1984

(Charter Member)

Dave Eaton lives in Mount Vernon, Ohio with his wife Pat who is a
flutist and an elementary music teacher. They have two married children. When Katie and Michael were young, their father would take them to Columbus for horn and trumpet lessons with BBC members Ellen Verbsky and Dan King after which the kids would sit in the back of the bandroom at Brookhaven High School and "enjoy" many BBC rehearsals. In spite of such blatant child abuse, Michael is now a member of the cornet section of the BBC and the legacy goes on.

Pete Baker

Solo Cornet

Physician, Columbus Children's Hospital

Member Since: 1984

(Charter Member)

Pete grew up in Westerville, Ohio and after high school had to make the difficult decision of going into music or starting on the path toward a career in medicine. Although he loved music, he chose to go into medicine. After finishing undergraduate work at Otterbein College and medical school at The Ohio State University, Pete completed residency training at OSU and became a member of the faculty at the OSU College of Medicine. In 2002, he moved to Columbus Children's Hospital. He has continued to play trumpet/cornet during his years of education and says he felt very fortunate to be invited to join the Brass Band of Columbus in 1984.

Miranda Burke

Solo Cornet

Former Music Educator, Homemaker

Member Since: 1992

Miranda attended OSU where she earned her degree in Music
Education. While there, she was a member of OSUMB and Concert Band. She was part of the Concert Band 1987 tour of Japan. Miranda was also a charter member of the Ohio Collegiate Brass.
  She was the assistant band director at Whitehall for 14 years. After
her daughter was born she gave up teaching to become a domestic
goddess. Now she wishes that she had paid more attention in Home Ec
class. These days you can find her reading the same story 20 times a
day, washing sticky hands ad infinitum, and learning to bake from
scratch. She also performs with the Grove City Community Winds and the
OK Syncopators.

Stephanie Smith

Solo Cornet

Music Teacher, Teays Valley High School

Member Since: 2002

Stephanie Smith joined the BBC in 2002 after performing with the Central Ohio Brass Band for more than a decade. She is the Director of Instrumental Music at Teays Valley High School in Ashville.  Stephanie recently moved into a newly constructed home where her "girls" Chloe, Lucy and Gracie allow her to live as long as she continues to provide pet food, toys and daily play time.

BBC Bios

"Back Row" Cornets

Bill Bailey

Soprano

Purchasing Manager

Member Since: 1991

Bill (and wife Cindy) have 3 children. He has a Master's degree in
Business Administration, is a licensed pilot, has been on a shark-feeding
dive in the Bahamas, and believe E.T. flies a Toyota. 

Currently, he is building a time machine so he can visit ancient Egypt and sell corn dogs and Coke to the builders of the Great Pyramid.

Les Mesler

Soprano

Instrument Repairman

Member Since: 1987

Les graduate with BME from Capital University in 1961.  The same year he married his lovely wife Bonnie and they now have three great children and four beautiful granddaughters.

Les was an instrumental music teacher in Southwest Licking Schools for 5 years and in Columbus City Schools for 26 years.  Since 1980 he has been repairing musical instruments and now runs Mesler Repair Service in which he buys, sells and repairs name brand musical instruments.  He has been a member of the Heisey Wind Ensemble since 1997.

His hobbies include woodworking, biking, collecting antique cornets and trumpets, winemaking, family photographic Genealogy. (However much to the bands dismay he has yet to share a barrel of his wine)

Brian Stevens

Repiano

Director of Bands,

Reynoldsburg High School

Member Since: 1988

Brian is the Director of Bands at Reynoldsburg High School.  He is a 1983 graduate of Troy High School in Troy, Ohio and a 1988 graduate of the Ohio State University.  While at Ohio State, he performed with the Marching Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Symphonic Choir and Men’s Glee Club.  Brian began his teaching career as band and choir director at West Jefferson High School in West Jefferson, Ohio.  During his five years there,  his bands and choirs received Superior Ratings at the district and state levels.  Brian was hired by the Reynoldsburg City Schools in 1993, and since that time, he has posted Superior Ratings with the Freshman, Concert, Symphonic, and Marching Bands.

In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Brian is a frequent adjudicator with the Ohio Music Education Association and music arranger for several area bands including the Ohio State University Spring Marching Band and the Brass Band of Columbus.  He is a member of the Ohio Music Education Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, The International Trumpet Guild,  Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Honorary Fraternity and The American School Band Directors Association.  Brian resides in Reynoldsburg with his wife, Julie, and three children, Dan, Hannah, and Nathan.

Joe Burke

Repiano

Director of Bands,

Hilliard Darby High School

Member Since: 1992

Joe Burke is a graduate of Hilliard High School and holds a degree in music education from The Ohio State University. He began teaching in the Hilliard City School District in 1988 as an assistant band director and in 1997 became the Director of Bands at Hilliard Darby High School. Joe has played cornet with the Brass Band of Columbus since 1992.  He currently resides in Grove City with his wife, Miranda, and their daughter Abbey.

Traci Brandt

2nd Cornet

Band Director, Heath High School

Member Since: 2001

Traci is currently the band director at Heath City Schools for grades 6 through 12.  She began her teaching career at Lakewood Local Schools as assistant director to fellow band member, David Wolford.  Both of her degrees, BME – 1993 and MA – 2001, were earned from The Ohio State University where she was a member of the marching band, symphonic band, and jazz ensemble.  Traci and her husband, Eric (also a trumpet player), have two young children.  Jared loves to march and endlessly sings “Fight the Team” and “Hang On Sloopy.”  At this time, he wants to play trombone, trumpet, or drums.  Emma is a very happy baby with a beautiful smile who enjoys watching her brother’s antics.

Mike Eaton

2nd Cornet

Painting Contractor, Trumpet player/teacher, student, soldier, husband, Taco Bell Enthusiast

Member Since: 2004

(Charter Supporter)

Mike joined the Army Reserves right out of high school, spending his summer at Ft. Lost in the Woods (Leonard Wood) in the state of Misery (Missouri). He attended Cedarville College in the fall of 1997, which was more stringent than the army. Almost being kicked out several times for listening to "offensive music", drawing scantily clad comic book heroines, and sneaking out to smoke cigars in the corn field behind the dorm, he transferred to Mt. Vernon Nazarene College in 1999 to get a degree in Art (and because he missed the locals that sit in their trucks in the bank parking lots drinking Old Milwaukee every Friday night in downtown Mt. Vernon). After finishing a degree in graphic design and realizing that he hated computers, he started his own painting business (mainly because he had learned the names of the colors in college). He did very well, but decided that this money making thing was not for him, so he went back to school to get another monetarily worthless degree, this time in music. 

Mike was married in 2004, has just bought his first house, and has a wife that supports him even though she knows he would make more money bobbing for nickels in a park fountain. The two people he credits the most for his playing sit first and second chair, and he has always dreamed of joining them in the BBC. Now that he is in the BBC, all he does is stare at the back of their heads.  He has listened to the BBC for as long as he can remember, and he will always remember that Dr. Droste would have the band play 76 Trombones as an encore for him on special occasions.....hmmmmm, now he knows why some of the band members want me dead.

Christy Farnbauch 2nd Cornet

Business and Community Partnership Coordinator, Hilliard City Schools

Member Since:  

2005

Christy says, "Music is an important part of my life and I believe the arts are essential for building healthy communities.  I was excited and honored when the opportunity to perform with the BBC came along in January 2005."

Christy is a graduate of Otterbein College with degrees in Music Business and Business Administration and over the years has performed with community-based music ensembles such as the Westerville Civic Symphony, Worthington Civic Band and the Central Ohio Brass Band.  As time permits, she serves as a consultant and grant writer for nonprofit arts organizations. 

She has two sons that keep her on the run, Corey (11), who plays piano, percussion and baseball; and Kyle (8), who plays piano and soccer.  Her husband, Eric, owns an audio/video production company, UpBeat Recordings.

John Bierley

 2nd Cornet

Member Since:  

2006

When you see the last name of Bierley, most regular followers of the BBC will automatically think of Paul who was a charter member of the group.  Paul and his son, John, played together in the Village Brass Quintet for nearly two decades.  Other BBC members who played in the quintet included Tim Jameson, Eric Aho, Pete Baker, Todd Cunningham…along with several others who sat in with the group.  

John has enjoyed playing with several other local groups including the Westerville Community Band, Scioto Brass and Percussion Company, and the newly-formed Capital City Winds.  In 2001, John was asked to play with Keith Brion and his New Sousa Band.  Five years later, he is a cornetist and announcer for the band.  

Don’t be surprised if you see John show up for concerts or rehearsals on his motorcycle.  What started out as a way to save gasoline has turned into a hobby.  John and his wife, Peggy, live in Westerville .  As empty nesters, they now have a bevy of pets to keep them company.

David Wolford

3rd Cornet

Retired Music Educator

Member Since: 2003

Dave is a 1972 graduate of The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. He spent his entire 31 year teaching career in the
Lakewood Local School District in Hebron, Ohio where he was the high school
band director and overall director of bands. He and his wife, Margaret, have
been married for 32 years and have two daughters, Abby and Erin. Margaret
also taught 31 years at Lakewood in grades 5 and 6. They both retired in 2003.  Besides playing in the BBC, Dave is also a charter member of the Heisey Wind Ensemble.

John Montgomery

 3rd Cornet

Member Since:  

2006

John is a 1996 graduate of The Ohio State University and is employed in the Hilliard City Schools as an elementary band specialist. (That means his Friday nights are free!) 

He is an active freelance performer with several ensembles to his credit. He is the founding member of the Dominion Brass Quintet, which plays weddings and other functions. He is also a member of the Ohio Capital Winds and the Nostalgia Big Band. 

In his free time John is a golf enthusiast (well let’s admit it, he’s a junky), enjoys ‘Chipotle’ (too much), Sam Adams and is a big fan of OSU football.

Ray Castle

3rd Cornet

Retired Music Educator

Member Since: 1984

(Charter Member)

Ray is a retired instrumental music teacher for the Columbus Public Schools.  He also used to tend flocks of sheep in Wales which has been a useful tool since he is currently OSU Alumni Marching Band Director, a group which regularly has over 600 marchers every September for their reunion game.

Rays biggest supporter is his wife Lucille to whom he has been married for 54 years.  Ray has two daughters, Pam Castle and daughter and son-in Law Judy and Bill Barto.

BBC Bios

Horns

Dave Handshue

Flugelhorn

Director of Bands,

Hilliard Davidson High School

Member Since: 1996

David is currently Director of Bands at Hilliard Davidson High School. Prior to Hilliard, he taught at Highland Local Schools (Medina county) and Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center (Columbus Public Schools). David is a past President of OMEA District 15.

Dave has played cornet, alto horn and finally flugelhorn in the BBC since
joining the band in 1996.  Just what is a flugelhorn?  Start with a cornet, reshape to look like it's ready to give birth, try to make it sound like an alto horn and hope it's not played loud enough to be heard.

George Zonders Flugelhorn

Newsreporter/ Anchor, Newsradio 610 WTVN

Member Since: 1984

(Charter Member)

Over the years, George Zonders has been tested (and rejected) on virtually every section in the middle and high brass - from Effer to Eb horn, and all of the cornet parts in between...each time, he wore out his welcome and was farmed out to some other unfortunate section.  But finally, George appears to have found a home playing Flugelhorn...where his quirks and sometimes unusual odors seem to be at least tolerated.  This former music education major has also somehow managed to transform a potentially promising teaching career into a low-paying, bad-hours job reporting the news at a local radio station (which is at least *good* news for hundreds of local music students).  George lives in Grove City with his daughter Sarah, 2 gerbils, and an uncounted number of small spiders in the basement.

Lisa Galvin

Solo Horn

Graduate Assistant Director of The Ohio State University Marching Band; Director of Bands, Hilliard Heritage Middle School (on leave)

Member Since: 1984

(Charter Member)

Lisa Galvin is a 1984 graduate of The Ohio State University, where she was a member of the OSU Concert Band, Horn Ensemble and a 5 year member of the Marching Band.  She was selected to perform in the 1984 Olympic All-American Marching Band and the 1982 EPCOT All-American Marching Band for the Grand Opening Ceremonies.  She has taught in the Ohio public school systems of Reynoldsburg and Hilliard for the past 21 years, and her middle school bands have been invited to perform at the state and national levels.  Her professional memberships include Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters' Fraternity and the American School Band Directors Association.

Lisa is a founding member of the Brass Band of Columbus, and also serves as the Band Chairperson.  Additionally, she performs as solo hornist with the Athena Brass Band, comprised of all women from across the country.  Lisa and her husband Joe run Charnette Publications, a music typesetting and arranging company, and reside in Hilliard with their two dogs Mo and Buckeye.

Joe Galvin

1st Horn

Band Director,

Marysville Schools

Member Since: 1986

Joe has been a Band Director at Marysville Schools since 1993.  He has been teaching Instrumental music since graduating from OSU in 1983.  He is married to his section leader – Horn soloist, Lisa Galvin.  They met in 7^th Grade Band class and he married her with the blessed sounds of the BBC as a backdrop.  Ain’t band great?  They have 2 black labs – Mo (Mozart) & Buckeye to share our home with. 

Joe received his Bachelor’s and Master’s  degrees from OSU.   He is the host of OMEA Solo & Ensemble contests in district 15 (west).  His memberships include OMEA, MENC, ASBDA, and AKA (American Kite Association).  He and Lisa enjoy beach vacations with family, friends, pets, and kite flying. 

Joe says, "BBC has provided a musically excellent 'rock' for me to count on and draw from as I pass on the joy of music to my more than 500 band students each day."

Karen Miller

2nd Horn

Instrumental Music Teacher,

Dublin Karrer Middle School

Member Since: 2001

Karen Miller joined the BBC in June of 2001. Karen is an instrumental music teacher at Karrer M.S. in the Dublin City School district. She holds both  undergraduate and graduate degrees in Music Education from the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University.

In addition to being a member of the alto horn section, she is the music librarian for the Brass Band of Columbus. Karen and her husband Chuck have three grown sons, Jeffrey, Edward and Daniel.

John Watkins

2nd Horn

Retired Music Educator

Member Since: 2002

John is a retired band director/music educator.  John graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.S. in Music Ed. In 1966 and an M.A. in Music Ed. In 1979.  Currently, he plays horn with BBC, Worthington Civic Band, Marion Community Band, OSUMB Alumni. (He is currently on Step 6 in his fight to quit the French Horn)

  In his spare time you can find John escorting tours for school performance groups, involved in lawn care, landscape engineering, and installing plumbing appliances.  He is also the current BBC Newsletter editor.  

John says, “Retiring from music would be unthinkable.”

BBC Bios

Baritones

Beth Natali

1st Baritone

Instrumental Music Teacher, Buckeye Middle School,

Columbus City Schools

Member Since: 1992

Beth hails from Oxford, Ohio, where she was  (GASP!) a Tenor Saxophone Music Education Major!  She had an epiphany midway through her freshman year at Miami University and transferred to THE Ohio State University, became a Euphonium player and never looked back.  She holds two degrees in Music Education from OSU and has taught Instrumental Music at all levels.  Beth is also a charter member of the NABBA all gal brass band, Athena. 

 In addition to brass banding, Beth is an adoption counselor and volunteer at Citizens For Humane Action Animal Rescue.   Her hobbies include scrapbooking and card making, but in the summer you can find her looking for maximum air time on roller coasters, researching roller coaster designers and amusement park history, and searching out new amusement parks to visit. 

Diana Droste Herak

1st Baritone

Music Teacher, Westerville City Schools

Member Since: 1992, 1999-present

Diana is currently an elementary and middle school strings teacher in the Westerville City School District (Westerville, OH). She graduated from The Ohio State University in 1992 with a B.M.E. in music education and again in 1999 with an M.A. in Music Education.

While at Ohio State University Diana played baritone in the all-brass Ohio State University Marching Band. She played euphonium in the All-Star Brass Band and later both the baritone and euphonium in the Ohio Collegiate Brass (OCB) / Central Ohio Brass Band (COBB). Diana won the NABBA adult slow melody soloist competition on euphonium in 1996 and on baritone in 2006. She joined the BBC in 1999 playing baritone and euphonium.  She is also a member of the the Athena Brass Band, an all-star women's brass band.

During the 2004-5 school year Diana took a years leave of absence from Westerville to pursue her banding career. During this year she had the opportunity to be the solo baritone and assistant musical director of the Welwyn Garden City Band (London & Southern Counties) as well as a member of the Travelsphere Holidays Band (Midlands) which included one of the highlights of her year abroad, playing in the National Championships of Great Britain at the Royal Albert Hall where the band came in 6th. She also had the opportunity to substitute with some of Britain's other great bands including Aveley & Newham (LSC), Tongwynlais Temperance Silver Band (Wales) and Leyland Band (Northwest).

Jayne Canaday

2nd Baritone

Instrumental Music Teacher, Groveport Madison Schools

Member Since: 1986

Jayne is currently the middle school band director at Groveport Middle School North.  She teaches grades 5-8 and conducts one of the bands at Groveport High School.  Jayne graduated from Whetstone High School where she was a student of Les Susi.  

In 1979 she graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.M.E in music education (majoring in clarinet and piano).  She graduated again in 1983 with an M.A. in piano pedagogy.  While at Ohio State Jayne played trombonium in the all-brass Ohio State University Marching Band.  

She has been with the BBC since 1986 playing tenor horn, occasionally percussion and now baritone.  In addition to playing in the BBC, she also teaches private piano and clarinet lessons.

BBC Bios

Trombones

Jeff Keller

Solo Trombone

Adjunct Faculty, Conservatory of Music,  Capital
University

Member Since: 1984 

(charter member)

Jeff Keller recently retired as Director of Bands at Dublin Coffman High
School.  A graduate of The Ohio State University, Jeff began his teaching
career in Dublin in 1972.  He returned to The Ohio State University in 1975 to complete his Masters Degree and pursue his Doctorate Degree in Music Education.  While completing his course work, Jeff taught in the School of Music and was an assistant director with the Ohio State University Marching Band, under Dr. Paul Droste.

Dr. Keller returned to Dublin in 1980 where he continued to head the band program.  He was the State Band Chair coordinating the All-State Band for the 1995 Ohio Music Education State Conference.  In the spring of 2001, he received the God and Country Music Award from the Greater Columbus Area Salvation Army and the Brass Band of Columbus for his service to music education and performance in the Brass  Band of Columbus. In 2002, Jeff was presented the Music Educator of the Year  award from the Ohio Music Education Association for exemplary leadership, service and commitment to excellence in Music Education in Ohio.  At the conclusion of the 2001-2002 school year, Jeff was presented the Dublin Coffman High School Hall of Fame Award for outstanding service.  He is in his twenty-second year performing with the award winning Brass Band of Columbus as principal trombonist.

Dr. Keller lives in Dublin with his wife, Gail. His daughter Kristany is a
graduate of the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia and is currently a second year law student at The Ohio State University.

Don Diurba

Solo Trombone

Field Service Associate, Sarcom; 

Member Since: 1994 

Don is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in Music Education which he received after an extensive (8 year) study of most of the majors at the university.  After a couple of years of substitute teaching in the Westerville Schools, he “fell” into the Information Technology field and has as of yet not been able to climb out of that hole.  In addition to his day job working with computers he also waits tables a few shifts a week at an upscale restaurant in Columbus and also occasionally plays with the OSU Alumni Band.

Jeff Groff

2nd Trombone

Instrumental Music Teacher, Brookhaven High School

Member Since: 1984 

(charter member)

   Jeff has been an instrumental music teacher in the Columbus Public Schools for over twenty years.  He holds the B.M.E. and M.M. degrees from The Ohio State University. 

Jeff says "the joy of performing with 40 professional musicians and friends is an unbelievable musical experience.  After 21 years, the Brass Band of Columbus is still one of the great thrills of my life, and  I continually look forward to sharing our music with others."

Rob Leonard

2nd Trombone

Ex-band director turned dentist

Member Since: 1985 

Rob Leonard was born in the Hocking Hills as the son of a funeral director, so trombone playing seemed an exciting alternative.  He graduated from OSU with a masters in music education and lived the life of a band director at Grove City for four years only to imagine the life of a dentist would be more productive than teaching 12 year olds the love of music and marching.  Now having been in family dentistry for 22 years, he is holding on to his sanity by playing with the Brass Band of Columbus

Todd Cunningham

Bass Trombone

Civil Engineer, Project Manager, EMH&T

Member Since: 1993 

      Todd is a native of Charlotte, Michigan.  He moved with is family to Columbus, Ohio in 1976 where he began attending Southwestern City Schools.  In 1989, Todd graduated from Westland High School.  In the fall of 1989, Todd began attending the Ohio State University to pursue a degree in Civil Engineering.  While at OSU, Todd was an active participant in numerous performing ensembles including the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble and the Marching Band.  Todd graduated from OSU in 1994 with a bachelor of science degree in Civil Engineering. 

BBC Bios

Euphoniums

Eric Aho

 Euphonium

Recovering Graduate Student; Founder and Director of the All-Star Brass Bands

Member Since: 1984

(Charter Member) 

Eric Aho is the founder and director of The All-Star Brass Bands since 1986, providing a unique rehearsal and performing experience for motivated and advanced 7-12th grade brass and percussion students.  He has eleven years public school teaching experience in the Gahanna-Jefferson and South-Western City School systems in central Ohio. Dr. Aho has served as the Adjunct Professor of Low Brass at Kenyon College, Graduate Assistant Director of The Ohio State University Marching Band, Assistant Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands, at Kent State University.   He holds a Bachelor of Music Education,  a Master of Art in Music, and  Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education degrees from The Ohio State University (which qualifies him as a thoroughly indoctrinated Buckeye).  

Dr . Aho has served several OMEA distrists as an Honors Band Conductor and Clinician,  currently sits on the NABBA Board of Directors and serves as the Editor of The Bridge , the official journal of the North American Brass Band Association,.  Dr. Aho was the 1998 recipient of the Music Award presented by the God and Country committee of the Salvation Army. Throughout his research Dr. Aho has not found any viable evidence to refute his theory that the Euphonium IS truely God's instrument.

Lori Cohen

Euphonium

Stay at home mom and musician

Member Since: 1990 

Lori graduated from the Ohio State University with a degree in Music Education. She has taught at Columbus Academy as well as in Columbus Public Schools and South-Western City Schools. 

Currently she advises her family in dealing with nutrition, cleanliness and household duties as well as purchasing and preparing foods. She trains and disciplines her children, assigns and schedules housekeeping duties and takes interest in her children’s schoolwork. Additionally, She  repairs small gadgets, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. She has become quite adept at screening phone calls, maintaining calendars and coordinating the production of multiple household and school projects as well as the planning and organizing of social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Her responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the living facility. She also happen to play the euphonium and she is always available on Christmas and Easter for hire.

BBC Bios

Basses

Patrick Herak

EEb bass

PhD student, Science Education, The Ohio State University; Science Teacher, Westerville North High School

Member Since: 1999

Patrick is a science teacher at Westerville North High School and is currently enrolled in the doctoral programme in science education at the Ohio State University. He graduated from The Ohio State University in 1996 with a B.S.E. in science education and again in 2001 with an M.S. in Environmental Science.

While an undergraduate at Ohio State University, Patrick played baritone in the all-brass Ohio State University Marching Band. He played baritone, tenor horn and EEb tuba in the Ohio Collegiate Brass (OCB) / Central Ohio Brass Band (COBB). He has been with the BBC since 1999 playing tenor horn,  baritone and now EEb bass.

More recently Pat has become arguably America's biggest brass band tart! He has played performed on every low brass instrument in the brass band (from BBb bass to solo horn).  He has played or contested with over 20 brass bands including the Welwyn Garden City Band (London & Southern Counties) at Areas and the Spring Festival in Blackpool, Tongwynlais Temperance Silver Band (Wales) at the French Open, Johnstone (Scotland) at the National Championships of Great Britain and Old Silkstone (Yorkshire) at the Whit Friday marches.

Patrick has had photographs published in the British Bandsman, and is currently the USA news reporter for the online brass band website www.themouthpiece.com and an American correspondent for www.4barsrest.com .

Larry Schafer

EEb bass

Attorney

Member Since: 1995

Larry Shafer has earned degrees from Capital University (B.M.E. 1971 and J.D. 1980) and the University of Illinois (M.S.M.E. 1975).  He has been an adjunct lecturer at Kenyon College, Capital University and Otterbein College.  He studied with Donald Reinhardt, William Bell, Nicholas Perrini and Daniel Perantoni and has performed with the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra, the Capital University Faculty Brass Quintet, the Land of Legend Philharmonic Orchestra and the Newark-Granville Symphony Orchestra.

Larry was a high school band director for six years.  Since 1980 he has been an attorney in private practice.  Currently, he lives in Johnstown and has offices in Johnstown and New Albany.

Larry has played Eb Tuba with the BBC since 1995.  Having only played the tuba for 47 years, he is the second youngest member of the tuba section.  He says that he feels at home in a British-style brass band because he was British in a prior life.

Jules Duga

BBb Bass

Retired

(but still working part-time)

Member Since: 1984

(Charter Member)

Jules is a three time graduate of The Ohio State University: BSc (1953), MSc (1955), PhD (1960) in Physics.

Jules is a Physicist, by education, but most work has been devoted to the intersection between technology & society and the economic impacts of technology. He is widely published and leading authority on national spending on research and development.  He is also a consultant to National Science Foundation, Congressional Research Service/Library of Congress, National Academy of Sciences, Smithsonian Institution.  

He is a former member of Wheeling and Columbus Symphony Orchestras, designated sub for Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, special assignment US Navy Band, an Honorary Member of the US Air Force Band, a former "first call" for traveling circus and Broadway shows (in Columbus, Wheeling and Ohio Valley, Western Pennsylvania).  He is a former instructor in tuba, Capital University.  At university he was in the OSU Marching Band and was a 5-time "i"-dotter (plus once as OSUMB Alumnus), as well as the father of first woman "i-dotter-daughter".  He is also a past President TBDBITL Alumni.  

Jules and his wife Cyril (retired Columbus school teacher/tutor) have two daughters (one with US Air Force Band, Washington, other is pharmacist, Columbus), two granddaughters and one granddog.                                        

Ray Spillman

BBb Bass

Instrument Repairmen

Member Since: 1984

(Charter Member)

Ray recieved his BA and MA in Music Education from The University of Northern Colorado.  He played professionally as a free-lance musician in New York City and surrounding east coast area.  Ray has retired from OSU School of Music as instrument repairman, but is still currently self employed in my own instrument repair business. He has been involved in Music Education as a teacher and by providing service to educators for over 40 years.  Due to a high degree of tolerance from his wife Anne, he is able to enjoy model railroading as a hobby.                                      

Gary Tirey

BBb Bass

Director of Instrumental Music, Otterbein College

Member Since: 1984

(Charter Member)

Nationally recognized as Director of Instrumental Music and tuba professor, Gary Tirey has served at Otterbein College for over 30 years.  A native of Anna, Ohio, he is an alumnus of both Capital University and The Vandercook College of Music.  In 1990, Tirey was named an honorary alumnus of Otterbein.

Professor Tirey is an active member of the Columbus Federation of Musicians and the Ohio Music Education Association, and he has served as president of Phi Beta Mu, an honorary fraternity for band directors.  In 1982, he was named chairman of "Merry Tuba Christmas Columbus," an all-tuba-and-euphonium Christmas concert performed annually.  An original member of the Brass Band of Columbus, Tirey has also performed with the Columbus Symphony and faculty brass quintet.  Currently, he is a member of the Tuba Shop Quartet, a tuba quartet the performs music around the world.  Professor Tirey is also Music Director at Church of the Master United Methodist Church in Westerville.

BBC Bios

Percussion

Dean Appleman

Percussion

Professional Musician; Medical Supplies Manufacturer

Member Since: 2002

A graduate of The Ohio State University, Dean has had a varied career in music performance. He has held positions with The Greater Miami (FL)
Philharmonic, The Las Vegas Symphony and Chamber Players, The Nevada
Symphonic Wind Ensemble and The Columbus and West Virginia Symphonies.
He has also toured with many shows as well as performing on several
recordings and TV programs. Dean was also leader of the Las Vegas Percussion Quartet and a founding member of The Las Vegas Marimbe Quartet.

As a professional musician in Las Vegas for 25 years he performed nightly with a variety of stars and shows, including Doc Severinsen, Steve and Edie, Elvis, Siegfried and Roy, Folies Bergere, Casino De Paris and other too numerous to mention.

Currently Dean resides in Powell, Ohio with his wife, Charlene, who is a
piano teacher and performer and his two children, Johanna and Jordan (who is also a percussionist). Dean is currently active playing concerts and shows
throughout Ohio.

Gary Hodges Percussion

Percussion Instructor, The Ohio State University Marching Band

Member Since: 1987

Gary joined the BBC in 1987.  He received his B.M.E. from The Ohio State University in 1974 after spending his military years in the music department at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado.  Gary is the former Director of Bands at Dublin Scioto High School having retired in 2001.  He was also a percussion adjudicator for Drum Corps International for ten years, and is currently the percussion instructo