More member bios|
Mary Kasprzyk 
Mary Kasprzyk is a percussionist with the Syracuse University Brass Ensemble. She has played with the Onondaga Civic Symphony, and is the principal timpanist with the Syracuse Summer Festival Orchestra. She graduated from Syracuse University in 2003, taking part in the SU Marching Band and Symphony Band during her undergraduate studies. By day, Mary is a video editor and technical specialist with the SU Video Production Unit. She is the recipient of several Telly Awards for her work with the Unit, and joined the SU Brass Ensemble shortly after she filmed and edited their 2006 annual holiday concert, which airs on WCNY. Mary also plays classical piano, and is originally from Buffalo, NY.
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Rob Enslin 
Rob Enslin has enjoyed a rich and varied career in music and communications. Since 2004, he has served as the communications manager of The College of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse University, where he oversees media relations, publications, and special events. From 2001-04, he held a similar position at Nazareth College in Rochester, N.Y. During the 1990s, Rob served as a record producer and music executive in Atlanta for Intersound Inc., then one of the world's largest independent record companies. In this capacity, he produced five "gold" albums and dozens of chart-topping classical and crossover albums; created some of the industry's first Enhanced CDs; and promoted a variety of classical, jazz, rock, and country projects. As a trombonist, Rob has played with or opened for James Brown, Parliament/Funkadelic, David Grusin, "Doctor" Lonnie Smith, and countless others, as well as performed with many concert bands and orchestras, including the National Repertory Orchestra and Orchestra Atlanta. As a journalist, he has written hundreds of album liner notes, film and album reviews, and magazine/newspaper profiles of notable musicians, dancers, artists, writers, and filmmakers. An amateur composer, he supports new music and music education by serving on the boards of various arts organizations.
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Tom Quirk 
Tom graduated from the S.U. College of Visual and Performing Arts with a Bachelor's Degree in Mus. Ed. with Performance Honors in '75 and a Master's Degree in Performance on Trumpet in '78. He studied with Rudy Nashan, Don Smithers, George Coble, Karel Husa and Norbert Buskey.Tom has taught Instrumental Music for a total of 30 years ranging from Elementary through Collegiate levels between Cortland and Oswego City Schools and SUNY at Cortland and Oswego. He has guest conducted various Elementary All-County Bands across NYS and has been a NYSSMA Brass Adjudicator for many years. |
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Craig Elwood Craig earned his Bachelor's of Music Education at Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. While there, he performed in the school's premier ensembles, including Crane Symphony Orchestra and Crane Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Mr. Anthony Maiello - one of the top conductors in the band world today.Craig has taught at all levels with the Central Square School System. Along with Richard Patri, Craig was responsible for starting an All District Elementary Band in the 80's. He started the Middle School Parade Band in the 90's and has directed most of the after school performing groups. Craig earned his Masters of Trumpet Performance Degree at Syracuse University in 1990. For well over two decades, Craig has devoted his life to the kids and community of Central Square. He has been President of the Mid-York Colorguard circuit, New York State Field Band Conference. He has served as NYSSMA state chairperson for Marching Band and was recently President of the Oswego County Music Educators Association. He is on the Boards of OCMEA, Central Winds, and SUBE. Even as full-time band director, Craig still performs on his trumpet. He has performed with the Finger Lakes Brass, Regal Brass, Central New York Wind Symphony, Syracuse University Brass Ensemble, Brass on The Rocks, Jazz Cats, The Island Band and performs in local churches in the central New York area. Craig and his wife Jeanette are also very involved with their two children, Heather and Alyssa. |
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Paul Sherman 
Paul Sherman is an artist and teacher at Fulton High School in Fulton, NY, with special interests in ceramics, sculpture, and drawing. He earned a B.S. in Landscape Architecture from Cornell University in 1970. He was self-employed as a potter at a studio in LeRoy, NY. He earned an M.F.A. in Ceramic Art and Sculpture from the School of American Craftsman at Rochester Institute of Technology in 1986 and received his teaching certification from SUNY Buffalo in 1987 and taught since then at Fulton HS.Paul has received numerous awards for sculpture, and his work appears in five books on ceramics and sculpture and in several art magazines. Pieces of his work reside in both private and university collections. Paul has a hobby - a passion - for playing Medieval and Renaissance Music on period instruments. |
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Clifford Crain 
Clifford has performed in a variety of musical groups through the years, and currently plays bass trombone with the Oswego City Band, the Skaneateles Brass, the Do Good Swing Band and the Syracuse University Brass Ensemble. A native of Pittsburgh, he moved to central New York in 1997 from Portland, Oregon. Clifford is a management accountant at the Interface Solutions Inc. plant in Fulton and lives in Syracuse with his wife and family.
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Michael Sponsler 
Michael began playing F horn in fifth grade, and he was very glad to join the Syracuse University Brass Ensemble shortly after starting as a chemistry professor at SU in 1989. He has been a member of the board for several years, and currently serves as chair. He occasionally performs also with the Mellow Brass.Michael notes that the Ensemble contains several scientists and physicians, including its director. Not that this is a requirement for joining, just an interesting fact. |