Erin Beave currently serves as the Director of Instrumental Music for the Sutton Public Schools in Nebraska. His degrees are from the University of Nebraska (BME) and Kansas State University (MM). His teachers have included Dennis Schneider and Gary Mortenson. Prior to his position in Sutton, Erin was Director of Bands for the McCook (NE) Public Schools.

Lisa Blackmore is adjunct professor of trumpet and horn at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. She earned degrees from the University of Illinois (DMA), State University of New York at Stony Brook (MM), and the University of Missouri-Columbia (BM).

Joseph Bowman is professor of trumpet at Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand. Bowman has received degrees from Arizona State University (DMA, MM) and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (BM). He serves ITG as the coordinator of the Youth Web Site.

Kari Brooks is a freshman music education major at Kansas State University where she studies trumpet with Gary Mortenson. While in high school she was a three-year member of the Kansas All-State Band, and a four-year member of her District Honor Band. Kari performed with the KSU Student Brass Quintet in Germany during June of 2004.

Bryan Edgett serves as Director of Instrumental Activities at Eastern University where he directs the Eastern Winds and the Jazz Ensemble. Edgett also teaches applied high brass and conducting. Edgett is active as a clinician and performs frequently in the Philadelphia area. Edgett has written column and articles for the ITG Journal.

Kevin Eisensmith is associate professor of trumpet at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he teaches trumpet and directs the IUP Jazz Ensemble and the Trumpet Ensemble. An active clinician and performer, he also serves as principal trumpet with the Johnstown Symphony.

Tom Erdmann is director of bands and professor of music at Elon University, North Carolina. He has earned degrees from the University of Illinois (DMA), Illinois State University (MM), and the State University of New York at Fredonia (BMP, BME). Erdmann is a frequent contributor to the ITG Journal with his on-going series of interviews with prominent jazz trumpeters.

Scott Freeby teaches instrumental music in the Manhattan, Kansas public schools. His degrees are from Kansas State University (BME and MM). Freeby will conduct the premiere performance of his composition Enlightenment with the KSU Alumni Ensemble prior to the American Brass Quintet performance at the 2004 ITG Conference.

Jeff Helgesen is a freelance trumpet player living in Champaign, Illinois whose playing credits include recording and touring with the Ray Charles Orchestra. His website can be found at http://www.shout.net/~jmh/

Kevin Hupe is currently the Director of Bands at Kingman High School in Kingman, Kansas. He has earned degrees from Kansas State University (BME), the Berklee College of Music (MMJ), and is currently pursuing the DMA at the University of Missouri – Kansas City.

John Irish is an assistant professor of music at Angelo State University, San Angelo, Texas. He directs the trumpet studio there and maintains an active performance presence in brass quintet, orchestra, and jazz combo. He is a frequent contributor to the ITG Journal.

Elisa Koehler is assistant professor of music at Goucher College where she conducts the Goucher Chamber Symphony and teaches trumpet and conducting. She also performs with the Lyric Brass Quintet, conducts the Frederick Orchestra, and serves as Recording Reviews Editor for the ITG Journal.

David Montgomery just completed his MM degree at Kansas State University. He came to Kansas from North Carolina where he graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. David taught for several years at East Gaston High School in Mt. Holly, NC. Montgomery performed with the KSU Student Brass Quintet in Germany June/2004.

Gary Mortenson is professor of music at Kansas State University where he teaches trumpet, brass methods, directs the university’s trumpet and brass ensembles, and serves as Chair of Graduate Studies in Music. He is now in his fourth year as ITG’s publications editor.