Latest Board Minutes

Statement of Mission and Expectations


Board Chair
John McDivitt, jmcdivit@twcny.rr.com

Music Director and Principal Conductor
James T. Spencer, jtspence@syr.edu

Associate Director
Tom Quirk, tsquirk@hotmail.com

Recordings and Associate Director
Marice Stith, mstith@twcny.rr.com

Concert Development
Brenda Conley, Chair, snconley@worldnet.att.net

Finance
Charlotte Hill, Chair, chillout@dreamscape.com

Logistics
Craig Elwood, Chair, celwood@twcny.rr.com

Publicity, Community Relations and Outreach
James Greenwald, Chair, greenwaj@upstate.edu

Webmaster
Michael Sponsler, Chair, sponsler@syr.edu




More member bios


Jeffrey Stockham


Soloist and Clinician with the Syracuse University Brass Ensemble. Mr. Stockham received his B. Mus. from Syracuse University and M. Mus. in French Horn from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester. He has extensively toured Europe, Africa and the United States with internationally known artists including Thelonius Monk, Jr. and blues guitarist Jimmy Johnson. He has performed with Johnny Mathis, Natalie Cole, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Sheri Lewis, Harry Connick, Jr., Frank Sinatra, Jr., and many others. He is currently adjunct professor of jazz trumpet at Hamilton College and has been a professor of french horn at S.U.N.Y. Geneseo. He has also played with the Syracuse and Rochester Symphony Orchestras. Mr. Stockham is currently the principal French Horn with the Syracuse University Brass Ensemble and a member of the Regal Brass Quintet. He is in constant demand as a free-lance trumpet and french horn performer. Mr. Stockham plays with a variety of groups in New York including the Central New York Jazz Orchestra, the Salt City Jazz Collective, Joe Salzano's Blue Devils Swing Band, and the Atlas Band. Mr. Stockham is also an avid collector of antique brass instruments and currently owns and plays over two hundred vintage brass instruments.

Marice Stith


Associate Director and Soloist with the Syracuse University Brass Ensemble. Prof. Stith began his musical career in 1937 studying trumpet at the age of 10 at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. In 1954, he moved east to teach and conduct band and chorus at Syracuse University. Under Prof. Stith's direction, the Syracuse University marching band performed several times for nationwide television at the Orange and Cotton Bowls. In 1966, Prof. Stith became director of bands at Cornell University where he directed the Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Marching Band and Pep Band. He has earned a national reputation as a champion of new music, having premiered over two hundred compositions, many of which were written expressly for him. Prof. Stith has given numerous trumpet recitals and has been the featured artist on more than ten commercial recordings. As a professional trumpet player, Prof. Stith has been a member of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra and Brass Quintet. He has also played for a variety of show musicians including Sammy Davis, Jr., Liberache, Andy Williams, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, Xavier Cugat, Abbe Lane, Tony Martin, Jerry Vale, Bobby Darin, Paul Anka, Chubby Checker, Ertha Kitt, Nelson Eddy, Johnny Mathis, Connie Francis, Frank Sinatra, Victor Borge, Al Hirt, Peter Nero and many more. Prof. Stith also began recording music professionally since the early 1960's, at first as a reaction to the inability of others to properly record his band performances. Later, the interest turned into a talent and professional venture. Prof. Stith retired from Cornell in 1989 with a gala performance at Carnegie Hall. He continues to remain very active professionally and teaches and plays with a variety of ensembles including the Syracuse University Brass Ensemble.

James T. Spencer
Director, Syracuse University Brass Ensemble


Dr. Spencer began his studies at the Crane School of Music (S.U.N.Y. Potsdam) before receiving his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Iowa State Univ. After a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Virginia, he joined the College of Arts and Sciences faculty of Syracuse University in 1986 and was recently promoted to full professor in 1997. Dr. Spencer currently is the Music Director of the Syracuse University Brass Ensemble and is Senior Editor for Cornucopia Music Press. He has published over sixty new compositions and arrangements for a variety of both instrumental and choral ensembles. Dr. Spencer has been the Music Director of the Bethlehem Summer Music Festival since 1976 and has directed over twenty BSMF productions including Fiddler on the Roof, Music Man, Guys and Dolls, Oklahoma, Sound of Music, Carousel, South Pacific, Music Man and many others. He has conducted numerous festival chorus and instrumental groups across the country including the opening of the 209th General assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) which included a chorus of over 700 singers with 30 brass and percussion musicians before an audience of over 9,000. He has also premiered many new works and has worked for greater recognition of new compositions for brass ensembles. He currently performs with a variety of groups throughout Central New York including the Regal Brass Quintet.


Lee Strickland


Lee Strickland began his musical studies in Olean, New York where he started trumpet under the guidance of Charles Edel. He attended Syracuse University and studied at the Eastman School of Music with Sidney Mear. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Syracuse University. He has performed in back up bands for Nat King Cole, Lena Horne, the McGuire Sisters, Paul Anka, Johnny Mathis, Sonny and Cher, Liberace, Wayne Newton and Johnny Ray. He performed with Syracuse Friends of Chamber Music in the Library of Congress with noted saxophone soloist Sigurd Rascher.

After completion of military service as an officer in the U.S. infantry, Lee was principal trumpet with the Syracuse Symphony for 8 years, and taught in the East Syracuse Minoa school district for 35 years. After retirement in 1995, Lee and his wife Judy of 41 years are involved in day care for their two granddaughters.


Jim Greenwald


Dr. Jim Greenwald is the principal trombone of the Syracuse University Brass Ensemble. An Associate Professor at SUNY Upstate Medical University College of Medicine, he has practiced and taught medical students in the Department of Family Medicine since 1981. He is the recipient of numerous awards for his teaching and community service including the New York State Academy of Family Physicians Educator of the Year in May 1998, the Onondaga County Medical Society Award for Community Service in October 2000, and the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching in June 2002. Jim has played trombone since the 5th grade and has been part of the ensemble since 1989. He is a codirector of the choir at Trinity Fellowship in Syracuse and enjoys singing and playing bass.


Tom Quirk


Associate Director with the Syracuse University Brass Ensemble. Mr. Quirk received his Bachelors Degree in Music Education with Performance Honors from Syracuse University in May 1975. While at S.U. he studied with Rudolph Nashan (former Principal 2nd Trumpet of the Chicago Symphony), Don Smithers, and Steve Marcone. Mr. Quirk received his Master's Degree in Music Performance in 1978 from S.U., studying with Mr. George Coble who was then, and still is, the Principal 1st Trumpet of the Syracuse Symphony, Norbert J. Buskey, Don Mattran, and Karel Husa.

After teaching music at all levels in the Cortland City School District, Mr. Quirk began teaching in the Oswego City School District in September of 1979 and has been there for 25 years. He was hired to build an Elementary Instrumental Music Program from scratch. He helped establish a 4th Grade Beginner Band program; a 5th/6th Grade Concert Band program; participation in the Elementary All-County Music Festivals, NYSSMA Solo/Ensemble Festivals, and the NYSSMA Major Organizational Music Festival, in which his Riley Elementary Band earned the "Gold with Distinction" award.

Mr. Quirk has also performed in many opera productions with the SUNY Oswego College Community Orchestra under the batons of Dr. Julie Pretzat and Dr. Juan LaManna. He has also been an Adjunct Brass Instructor and Assistant Conductor of the College Orchestra, led by Dr. Jerry Exline. He was also the Principal 1st Trumpet for the "Bach" Orchestra for 10 years under the Direction of Professor Leon Carpetyan. Mr. Quirk has been a member of the International Trumpet Guild (ITG); Music Educators National Conference (MENC); New York State Band Directors Association (NYSBDA); New York School Music Association (NYSSMA) and has been a Brass Adjudictor for NYSSMA the past 15 years. He has also been invited to guest conduct Elementary All-County Bands in different parts of New York State.

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