Isthmus Brass High Resolution Photos for Download
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Isthmus Brass 2024-25 Member Biographies
Don Sipe is the Principal Trumpet of the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra, a member of new music group Present Music, and a busy freelancer. He teaches at UW-Milwaukee and is Director of Brass Studies at the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra. His chamber music credits include the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass Ensemble, the Chicago Brass Quintet, the Fulcrum Point New Music Ensemble and the Summit Brass.
Brent Turney performs regularly throughout the Midwest with groups such as the Milwaukee Symphony, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Broadway in Chicago, Chicago Jazz Orchestra, Maynard Ferguson and Aretha Franklin. He is a popular soloist and clinician with high schools, colleges, and jazz festivals throughout the Midwest. Brent has performed in 49 states and 20 countries. Currently Brent is the Associate Professor of Trumpet at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Rachel Velvikis is a Milwaukee/Chicago-based freelancer and has performed regularly with the Seraph Brass, the Richmond Symphony (VA) and a myriad of regional orchestras. Other notable chamber groups with whom she has worked include the Atlantic Chamber Ensemble, the Eckhart Ensemble, grammy-nominated A Far Cry Chamber Orchestra, and the Richmond Symphony Brass Quintet and Woodwind Quintet. Rachel also serves on the teaching staff at Interlochen Arts Camp.
Will Akers is an active freelance trombonist and performing artist in the city of Milwaukee. After spending years playing with regional orchestras and chamber ensembles, his current work intersects community organizing and his passion for brass band and experimental genres. Will holds a BFA and MM both in Music Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Sofia Stutesman is a trombonist, composer, and arranger under the mentorship of Mark Hetzler at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Sofia has collaborated with groups like the Wisconsin Brass Quintet and the UW-Madison Wind Ensemble, and is a founding member of the Slippin’ Slides trombone quartet. Beyond her instrumental skills, Sofia has developed a repertoire of pieces ranging from classical to jazz, with her original compositions having been performed by groups including Mr. Chair.
Mark Hoelscher is a member of the Chicago-based Millar Brass Ensemble and is an Edwards artist/clinician. He freelances with groups in the Chicago, Milwaukee, and Madison areas and is an active teacher and coach. He also serves as the Adjunct Professor of Trombone at the Peck School of Music at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Mike Forbes is the founder and leader of the Isthmus Brass and is currently the Principal Tubist with the Manitowoc and Janesville-Beloit Symphony Orchestras. A prolific composer & arranger, Mike’s works for band and brass ensembles are regularly played around the world. He can be heard on his Summit Records solo albums, Forbes Plays Forbes and Forbes Plays Koetsier, and with the Sotto Voce Tuba Quartet on their five albums.
