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Isthmus Brass Member Biographies
Dave Cooper (trumpet) is widely recognized as one of the most versatile trumpets players in the Midwest. His performing affiliations include the Madison Symphony Orchestra, the New Breed Jazz Quintet, The Art Blakey Tribute Band, The Tim Whalen Nonet, and the Isthmus Brass. He is the Chair of the Music Department and Associate Professor of Trumpet at University of Wisconsin-Platteville. He can be heard on his albums on his blog page: AllThingsTrumpet.com
Don Sipe (trumpet) is the Principal Trumpet of the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra, a member of new music group Present Music, and a busy freelancer. He teaches privately 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.
Jon Schipper (trumpet) is an extremely active performer and educator in the Midwest. He has performed with these artists on tour or in concert: Frank Sinatra, Jr., Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, John Tesh, Don Rickles, Clay Aiken, Cheap Trick, Jon Faddis, Wayne Bergeron, and The Nelson Riddle Orchestra. During the 1990's, Jon was a featured soloist with the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps. He regularly performs with many local groups including Madisalsa and Phat Phunktion, Jon is Director of Bands and chairs the music department at Madison Country Day School in Waunakee, WI.
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 the newest member of the Isthmus Brass. She also performs extensively with the Seraph Brass an internationally recognized all-female brass quintet. She has performed regularly with 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, the Richmond Symphony Brass Quintet, and the Richmond Symphony Woodwind Quintet. Rachel also serves on the teaching staff at Interlochen Arts Camp.
Tim Albright (Trombone) serves on the faculty at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin where he teaches trombone and jazz courses. He regularly performs with the Atlantic Brass Quintet and the Alan Ferber Big Band, Argento New Music Project, Iris Orchestra, Riverside Symphony, Steve Lehman Octet, and Miguel Zenón Identities Jazz orchestra. He has performed on Broadway and records extensively with RCA Victor, Universal Music, Summit Records, Sunnyside, New World Records, Pi Recordings, Aeon, and Label Bleu.
Dylan Chmura-Moore (trombone) is Assistant Professor of Music at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh where he teaches trombone and serves as Director of Orchestral Activities, conducting the University Symphony Orchestra. Dylan has recently performed with Madison Symphony Orchestra, Green Bay Symphony Orchestra, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra, Dal Niente, and Con Vivo!. Dylan can be heard on Mode, Summit, EuroArts, Albany, TZADIK, and the Accentus record label.
Michael Dugan (trombone) is the Associate Professor of Trombone at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. In addition to his teaching duties, Mike is an active freelance artist in the Upper Midwest. Recent engagements include the Milwaukee Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, as well as many fine regional orchestras throughout Wisconsin and Iowa.
Mark Hoelscher (bass trombone) 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 (tuba) is the founder and leader of the Isthmus Brass and is currently the Principal Tubist with the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra and the low brass professor at UW-La Crosse. He is also a founding member of the internationally recognized Sotto Voce Tuba Quartet and was also heard as the tubist with the “Guy’s All-Star Shoe Band” on A Prairie Home Companion. A prolific composer & arranger, Mike’s works (especially for brass and wind band) are regularly played around the world. He can be heard his Summit Records solo albums, Forbes Plays Forbes and Forbes Plays Koetsier, or with Sotto Voce on their five albums.
Keith Lienert (percussion) is the percussion instructor at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. His performing and teaching career credits include Disneyland’s Collegiate All-Star Show Band, Arizona State University, Arizona School for the Arts, and Elgin Community College in Illinois. He has performed in Southern Wisconsin with the Janesville Armory Dinner Theater, the Dubuque Symphony, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, and the PanGo Steel Drum Band from Chicago.