The History
The Branson Trumpet Ensemble began performing in the Branson area in 2005 and has amassed a library of over 1,000 arrangements ranging from Bach to Rock. Its performances have included weddings, private parties, concerts, conventions, church services as well as special music for many different occasions.
The Original Members
John Casebourn graduated from McMinnville Senior High School in McMinnville, Oregon. He earned his BS degree in 1987 from the College of the Ozarks, in Branson Missouri.
John was the band director at the following communities- Plato, Missouri from 1987 until 1988; Blue Eye, Missouri 1988-1998; Spokane, MO 1998-2006 and Kirbyville Middle School 2006 to the present.
John’s teachers include Mr. Leon Bradley at the College of the Ozarks in Branson, Missouri and Mr. James Elswick from Drury University in Springfield, Missouri.
Greg Hoffman grew up in Chicago, IL, was inspired by the sounds of Louis Armstrong and started playing trumpet in the 5th grade. Right after High School, his earlier musical experience took him on the road playing with the United States Air Force Band. Greg attended College of the Ozarks and holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Drury University, and went on to be a band director at Galena High School in Galena, Missouri..
Mr. Hoffman is a freelance trumpet player and resides in Branson Missouri. For over 23 years, he has performed with artists including Tony Orlando, Diana Shore, Bill Cosby, Ray Price, Kristy Lane and Jerry Presley. He has performed all over the country including Las Vegas, New York City, Atlantic City and Biloxi Mississippi.
Greg wishes to bring his musical background and experiences to help energize and motivate student musicians around the country through a student performance program he created in Branson 14 years ago called, Branson On Stage Live! He has turned the theatre stages of Branson into the classroom and gives student performing groups a performance showcase of a lifetime!
Bob Smither is a native of Missouri and began studying trumpet at the age of eleven. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from the College of the Ozarks and a Masters of Music from the University of Oklahoma where he performed with the Faculty Brass Quintet and the Oklahoma Symphony. Mr. Smither became a member of the United States Military Academy Band at West Point, New York in 1984 where he spent 23 years performing in one of the nation’s premier military bands as a member of the Hellcat Field Music group, the Concert Band, Jazz Band, and the Heritage Brass Quintet. While in the service he was also a member of the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, Orange County Chamber Orchestra and the Newburgh Symphony. Among the many highlights in his career, include performances for our nation’s highest dignitaries including four presidents, performing in Carnegie Hall with the Academy Glee Club for West Point’s Bicentennial celebraton, and working with many other noted muscians and celebrities including members of the NY Philharmonic, Mr. Walter Cronkite, Mr. Charles Osgood, General Norman Schwarzkopf, John Faddis and Eddie Daniels just to name a few. His career culiminated in rising to the rank of Sergeant Major and being in charge of the Concert Band. Recently retired, SGM(R) Smither now lives in Branson, MO with his wife, son and daughter.
Bruce Chidester was a member of the faculty at the University of Northern Iowa, School of Music in Cedar Falls from 1969 until his retirement in 1999. While at the university he was actively performing with the Faculty Brass Quintet and the Faculty Jazz Quintet. In addition to teaching trumpet, his responsibilities included conducting the UNI Brass Choir, the UNI Jazz Ensemble II and the award winning UNI Bear Cats who were finalist in the 1986 Southern Comfort National Collegiate Dixieland Competition in Chicago, Illinois. His duties also included adjudicating and solo work throughout the state. He has performed at the International Trumpet Guild Convention and the Missouri Trumpet Festival in Columbia, Missouri. In 1982 his professional Dixieland Band (the Cedarloo All-Stars) opened the Bix Beiderbeck Festival in Davenport, Iowa.
Before teaching at UNI he performed in Dallas, Texas where he recorded commercials at Pam Recording Studio and was a member of the State Fair Band of Texas, Starlight Concert Band, Matamoras Brass and the dance bands of Mal Fitch, Tommy Amidor, Durwood Cline, Billy Williams and the Ted Weems Orchestra. His playing activities included performing in the following hotel bands- Executive Inn, Cabana Motor Inn, Desert Inn, Tower Motel, Baker Hotel and the Fairmont Hotel. Additional shows included-Shrine Circus, Ringling Brothers Circus, Royal Canadian Air Force Mounted Police, Harmonicats, International Water Follies, Ford Auto show, Holiday On Ice, Ice Capades, Lippizan Horse Show, Massey Ferguson tractor show and the Barnes Rodeo. He has performed with many well-known entertainers such as Bob Hope, Jim Nabors, Roy Rogers and Dale Evens, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, Anita Bryant, Carman Cavalara, Victor Borgie, the Four Freshman, Blackstone the Magician, Bobby Vinton and John Davidson.
Since moving to Branson, he has performed with the Lawrence Welk Orchestra, Les Brown Orchestra and has been a regular performer with the Bobby Vinton Orchestra for the past three years. He has also performed with the Branson Brass Quintet as well as his own chamber group, the Branson Trumpet Ensemble. He has taught at the College of the Ozarks as well as performing with their College/Community Band and was a selected member of the Branson All-Star Big Band. He was featured twice as soloist on the annual Tri Lakes Singers concert in Kimberling City and has performed with the following shows, musicals and dance bands in the area- Jerry Presley Show, Bye Bye Birdie, Sound of Music, Dave Rice Big Band, Steve Samuelson Big Band, Les Elgart and Les Brown.
The Instrumentation
To give its listeners a wider range of color and timbre, each player makes use of Bb trumpets, flugel horns, cornets as well as the higher pitched trumpets; C, D, Eb, and piccolo trumpets.
The Purpose of the Ensemble
The Branson Trumpet Ensemble was formed to fulfill two purposes. The first reason for the formation of the ensemble was to give its players a reason to continue practicing their instruments to keep their “chops” up. The second and equally strong reason to form was to promote live music in our area. With the great number of theaters and shows performing regularly, we felt that the smaller venues needed to be addressed and it was and is our desire to help promote live chamber music in the Branson Area.
dear sirs,
I have a question which may seen strange, but here goes…
My fathers recent passing has motivated me to want to start playing again.
He was a professional musician most of his life, while i only played from 4th gradfe thru high school. When he passed I had inherited some of his horns which I sold most of for my mother.
So my question is this.. As I started noodling around on his horns and selling some on e-bay and talking with many of those people who purchased horns my interest has been re-kindled after 35 years dormant.
One man told me his story of starting over as a result of the parents in a high school band boosters club who many of which were former players themselves and started their own band which practices and performs regularly. Do you know of any such community bands or organizations where I could ooze back into playing?
My instrument is trumpet and I’m tryiong to work up some chops to be able to not to badly embarrass myself.
Any thoughts?
Thank you much for your suggestions and or ideas.
Mike Black
Good morning Mike,
First I would like to pass on my condolences on your fathers passing. I’m sure he would be pleased to know of your interest in an area which was very important to him.
I will address your questions in the order you have sent them-
As I started doodling around on his horns my interest has been re-kindled after 35 years dormant.
There has been a huge movement across the country which has been called “comeback players”. People who for whatever reason stopped playing their instrument are now starting back at it. So you are now part of a national and possibly a world movement. Congratulations! There are many people in your situation and for that reason; there is an increased amount of assistance available to you.
My instrument is trumpet and I’m trying to work up some chops to be able to not to badly embarrass myself.
The most important decision at this point would be, “is the horn you are using, in good working condition”? You don’t want to have to fight an instrument which is in bad shape. Also, before you search out and join an established band, I would suggest that you spend some time doing some practicing which will make you feel better when you first rehearse with your new band. Due to the fact that I do not know your current ability, I would suggest you read the following related topics from my site-
http://www.thetrumpetblog.com/practice-plan-1-part-1/
http://www.thetrumpetblog.com/practice-plan-1-part-2/
http://www.thetrumpetblog.com/the-need-to-play-in-an-ensemble/
http://www.thetrumpetblog.com/how-to-become-a-great-trumpet-player-for-only-plus-tax/
http://www.thetrumpetblog.com/rest-as-much-as-you-play/
http://www.thetrumpetblog.com/do-you-ever-get-tired-of-practicing/
http://www.thetrumpetblog.com/the-trumpet-warm-up-part-i/
http://www.thetrumpetblog.com/the-trumpet-warm-up-part-ii/
Your first assignment……
Clean you selected horn, oil the valves, grease the slides and read one of the above articles each day for eight days. It would be a good idea to use a mouthpiece cleaning brush on your mouthpiece and put a little tooth paste on the brush. Make sure you rinse it completely before placing it in your horn.
Do you know of any such community bands or organizations where I could ooze back into playing?
Without knowing where you live, I can not make specific recommendations so I would advise you to contact your local high school band director, explain your situation and go from there.
Any thoughts?
Just one. Your father is proud of you!
The very best to you and yours and if you have any other questions, please keep me informed. I would like to hear more as you come back to the fold.
Hi Bruce, send me an email so I can return my phone number. I would like to talk to you. Take Care, Craig.
Great hearing from you. It has been way too long.
I play the Euphonium. I know there is a community band in Springfield but is there anything closer to Branson? Community Concert Band, Brass Ensemble, or Tuba-Euph ensembles would be of interest. Thanks
I have been trying to get Branson to fund a city band but have had no luck.
This is the only city I have ever lived in that didn’t have one.
The way Branson is set up with the landing and all, it should be a natural!
WE BRING IN THE SERVICE BANDS, WE BRING IN THE SPRINGFIELD SYMPHONY!
YOU WOULD THINK THAT WITH ALL THE GREAT MUSICIANS IN TOWN WE COULD HAVE ONE!!!(*&*&*&$$&&^%^$^()&()%$#^%&^&*^*&
Sorry, I sometimes get excited.
Do you play tuba?
There are a couple brass ensembles that might be looking for a euph./tuba player.
Contact me at brucechidester@hotmail.com and I’l ask around for you.
If you are in town, stop down to the Mountain Moonshine store on the landing Friday or Saturday evenings from 7-10 and introduce yourself. I’m the one playing on the pBone.
The best to you and yours from the
Branson Trumpet Ensemble
Dixie Kings