The Blue Stars are very excited to announce the Brass Staff for the 2013 season. Joining the team will be: Emery Craig – Caption Head, Greg Brown – Trumpet, Aaron Witek – Trumpet, Chris Rugila – Mellophone, James Wilson – Mellophone, Mathew Becker – Baritone/Euphonium, Brent Schooley – Tuba.
"We are very fortunate to provide a brass staff of this caliber and quality for our membership this season," said Bradley Furlano, Executive Director. "I can't wait to work with these outstanding educators, performers, and musicians this season," stated Russ Gavin, Corps Director.
Emery D. Craig – Caption Head
Emery Craig studied music education at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, MI with his principle instrument being bass trombone. Emery marched baritone for the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps. He aged out in 2003 and received an outstanding Rookie Brass Award. Emery has been on the brass staff at Bluecoats for the 2008-2012 seasons. In 2012, Emery served as Bluecoats Brass Co-Caption Head.
Emery has taught several bands and marching ensembles over the past 13 years, including a stint with Dutch Boy Drum & Bugle Corps. He has also performed with several bands, orchestras and musicals, along with the Plymouth Symphony Orchestra. Many students study privately under him focusing on low brass performance. Emery is a music adjudicator for USSBA and some local bands in the west.
Emery has served as assistant marching band director at the nationally recognized Plymouth-Canton Educational Park in Canton, MI. Currently, he is the Music Coordinator and Brass Caption Head. The Plymouth-Canton high school marching band has been a consistent Bands of America Grand National finalist and is a 3 time Grand National champion. The marching band also holds several state championships.
Though a native of Canton, Emery resides in Ypsilanti, MI with his wife Ashley. He is very excited to be a part of the Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps and looks forward to many prosperous years with the corps!
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Greg Brown – Trumpet
Greg Brown studied trumpet performance at Lansing Community College in Lansing, MI. Currently, he is a professional trumpet player and private lesson teacher. Greg has been involved in the marching activity for many years. Greg's marching experience includes the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps from 2006-2009, he held the positions of soloist and section leader.
In 2008, Greg was trumpet instructor at Lake Orion High School in Lake Orion, MI. From 2009 to the present, Greg has focused on trumpet performance at the nationally recognized Plymouth-Canton Educational Park in Canton, MI. Greg served as a visual instructor for the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps in 2012.
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Aaron Witek – Trumpet
Aaron Witek is a performer, educator, and designer based out of Tallahassee, Florida. Currently, he is finishing his Doctorate of Music in Trumpet Performance at Florida State University (FSU) where he also completed his Master of Music in performance. Witek is a certified K-12 educator with a Bachelor of Music in Education at the Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam.
As an educator, Aaron Witek has served as a graduate assistant at FSU for the last five years. He compiles weekly lessons for trumpet majors, coordinates and coaches chamber music ensembles, and directs the FSU trumpet ensemble - a group that in 2011 won second place at the National Trumpet Competition and in 2012 was a finalist. Students of his have won International Trumpet Guild Scholarships and placed as finalists in the Florida State University Trumpet Solo Competition. In 2011, Witek was recognized and awarded the Florida State University Teaching Achievement Award.
In the marching arts, Aaron has served as a visual and music instructor with New York bands such as the West Seneca Marching Band and Eastridge Marching Band. Additionally, he has worked for the last two years with the Wellsville Marching Band as a visual designer and consultant. Aaron frequently presents master classes and maintains an active clinician schedule throughout the nation.
Aaron won first place in the Historical Division of the National Trumpet Competition in 2009 and has competed as semifinalist in the Graduate Division on modern trumpet from 2009 to 2011. He has held the recurring role of principal trumpet in the FSU Wind Orchestra and is a member of the Sinfonia Gulf Coast Orchestra. In addition, he performed with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, Albany Georgia Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of Northern New York, and the FSU University Symphony Orchestra. He has marched with the Patriots Drum and Bugle Corps and the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps. In 2008, Aaron founded tallaBRASSee, a professional brass quintet that plays regularly in northern Florida.
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Chris Rugila – Mellophone
Chris Rugila is currently the Director of Bands at South Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte, NC, a position he has held since 2009. Prior to his arrival at South Meck Mr. Rugila was the Director of Bands at Decatur High School and Middle School in Decatur, MI.
Chris graduated Cum Laude from Eastern Michigan University earning a B.A. in Music Education.
While at EMU he performed in the Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, Marching Band, Symphony Orchestra, Collegium Musicum, and the Huron River Brass Quintet.
In addition to his public school experience, Chris spent two years as a performer with the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps during the 2003 and 2004 seasons.
He began his drum corps instructional career as a brass instructor with the Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps in 2005. He continued on the brass staff at Phantom Regiment during 2008 and 2009, and with the Atlanta CorpsVets in 2010. In 2011 he was a member of the administration team at Carolina Crown.
Chris is an active adjudicator in the marching arts activity. He holds professional affiliations with Music Educators National Conference, North Carolina Bandmasters Association and South Central District Bandmasters Association.
Chris resides in Charlotte, NC with his wife Anna, daughter Norah, and dogs Toby and Jack.
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James Wilson - Mellophone
James Wilson is originally from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and currently resides in Tulsa, OK He is an Asst. Band Director and the Brass Coordinator at Union High School in Tulsa, OK. Union HS is a 9-time BOA Grand National Finalist and 12-time Oklahoma State Champion.
James is returning for his second year on the Blue Stars' Brass Staff after spending last year as a high brass instructor. He began his drum corps career as a member of the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps (2005). Before joining the Blue Stars he taught with Southwind Drum & Bugle Corps (2007) and served as brass caption-head of the Cascades Drum & Bugle Corps (2009, 2010).
James graduated from Broken Arrow High School, and he received a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Tulsa. While at the University of Tulsa he was the principal and lead trumpet of the university's performing ensembles.
James is excited to return as a member of the brass staff for this upcoming season.
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Brent Adam Schooley – Tuba
Brent Schooley is originally from Ypsilanti, MI. He is a graduate of the University of North Texas with a concentration of music education and tuba performance. Brent was a member of the Glassmen Drum & Bugle Corps from 1998-2001 and served in the United States Marine Drum & Bugle Corps "Commandant's Own" from 2001-2005.
Brent has been teaching marching band and the drum corps activity for over ten years. His experience includes: Syracuse Brigadiers 2002-2003, Marine Drum & Bugle Corps 2004-2005, Capital Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps 2009, Carolina Crown Drum & Bugle Corps 2010 and Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps 2012.
Currently, Brent works as a freelance performer, lesson teacher and marching band instructor for University of Texas at Arlington. Brent lives in Ft Worth, TX with his wife Cherie'.
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