Brian Frederick – Trumpet

Hometown:  Etna Green, IN.  Now living in Nappanee, IN.

Education:  Music Performance, Grace College, Winona Lake, IN.

Playing Experience:
1989-1991: Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps, Bloomington, IN; Lead Mellophone.  Performed with Canadian Brass.
1991-1995: The Commandant’s Own Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, Washington DC; Section Leader for High Brass.
1996-1998: Grace Brass, Touring and Performing
1996-1999, 2006-Current: Grace Wind Ensemble
1999-2000: Blast!  Professional group on stage in London, England at the Hammersmith Apollo Theater.  Lead Trumpet and Piccolo Trumpet with the original cast.
2002-Current: Star of Indiana Alumni
2005-2006: Nostalgia Band, Big Band and Swing Music
2005-Current: Star United, Indianapolis, IN; Lead Trumpet.
2007: Elkhart Symphony Orchestra, Elkhart, IN.
2007-Current: Truth in Jazz

Career Highlights: Winning the DCI Championship with Star of Indiana in 1991 as lead Mellophone player was an amazing experience.  In the Commandant’s Own, I was able to perform for President Clinton’s inauguration and Colonel Powell’s retirement, while also performing with Lee Greenwood and Niel Diamond.  I played the bugle calls for the 8th&I barracks, as well as Taps at Arlington Cemetary, which were great experiences.  Performing on stage in London for a year with Blast! was also a major highlight, being a soloist and lead trumpet and piccolo for a Tony and Emmy award winning show!  I also opened for Sawyer Brown at the West Baden resort with Star United, with whom I play lead trumpet.  Star United is the current DCA Mini-Corps Champion, having the championships New York the last three years running.

Why I Play with TiJ: Truth in Jazz allows me the opportunity to continue performing locally with a great group of talented and dedicated players.

Micah Niespodziany - Trumpet

Hometown: North Liberty, In.

Greg Smucker - Trumpet

Hometown: I grew up in Columbus, Ohio. I have lived in Goshen for 29 years.

Education: Attended Fort Hayes Career Center for the Performing Arts in Columbus, Ohio.  Music and business degree from Goshen College

Playing Experience: Maple City Chamber Orchestra, Elkhart Symphony, More With Brass Quintet, Maple City Jazz Quartet

Career Highlights: Touring with Maple City Jazz Quartet, performing at the Elkhart Jazz Festival with TIJ

Why I Play With TIJ: The band is made up of some very fine musicians. That makes for very productive rehearsals. It also motivates me to improve as a musician. The band members are also great people to be around.

Marty Becker - Trumpet

Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio.  Currently living in Leesburg, IN.

Education: BME from Morehead State University, Morehead Kentucky; MA Music Education and Trumpet Performance from Ball State.

Playing Experience: First Chair Trumpet at Morehead State University w/Symphony Band, Orchestra, Jazz Band, Brass Choir, and Marching Band Section Leader, Two years Trumpet with Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra, Second Trumpet with the Marion Philharmonic Orchestra, Cincinnati Civic Symphony, Cincinnati Community Orchestra, Cincinnati Youth Orchestra, Seventeen years with the Donn Smith Dance Orchestra, Sammy Kaye, Cliff Lash Band, Greater Cincinnati YMCA Band, Cincinnati Park Bands, Instructor for the Special Olympics Opening Ceremony Herald Trumpets, Maryland State Games Herald Trumpets, Truth In Jazz Big Band, Indiana Ambassadors of Music.  Forty years of experience in Music Education, having taught at all levels of Instrumental Music instruction from beginning band to college.  I have been an active Music Educator, Administrator, Professional Musician, Private Teacher, Conductor and Adjudicator.  I am presently a faculty member at Grace College School of Music where I teach music education method classes, conducting and direct the Grace College Community Wind Ensemble, I am also the director of the Lake Area Community Band, and I am a private teacher at Concord and Northridge Schools. I served on the Indiana State School Music Association State Board for eighteen years and served as President twice; I have also been active in the Indiana Bandmasters Association and served as President.

Career Highlights: Four years as Bugler at River Downs Race track in Cincinnati, Ohio. Performed trumpet on the Ruth Lyons/Bob Braun Show three times. Played three years with the Lexington Philharmonic.  High School Jazz Bands performed with Vince DiMartino and Clark Terry (3 times).  High School Band Director for 34 years. Seven times a State Concert Band Finalist. Received Phi Beta Mu   Outstanding Bandmaster Award in 1994. Twice president of the Indiana State School Music Association.  Also served as President of the Indiana Bandmasters Association.  Directed and instructed the Herald Trumpets in the Nationally Televised Opening Ceremony for the Special Olympics held in Notre Dame Stadium and also at the University of Maryland.  Currently teaching at Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana.  Applied music instructor at Concord and Northridge Schools.

Why I Play With TIJ: I enjoy having an outlet to play my trumpet.  So much of my career has been spent conducting in front of groups, the opportunity to be on the other side of the podium is both rewarding and challenging. I enjoy the level of musicianship and difficulty of the jazz arrangements we perform.  It is always fun to bring enjoyment to an audience through the art of making music.

Steve Allen - Trumpet

Hometown: Miami, Florida; currently living in Elkhart

Education: Undergraduate Degree with honors from Florida Southern College.  Graduate school at Kansas University with a major in trumpet performance and conducting.

Playing Experience: Played trumpet in the Glades Junior High Band in Miami Florida in 1967 and in Miami Killian Sr. High.  After graduation Steve performed for six years in the USAF Tactical Air Command Band, Langley Field, Hampton, VA.  At Florida Southern University he held the principal positions for four years in Jazz Band, Symphonic Band, Brass Quintet, Dixieland Band, the Lakeland Community Band, the Lakeland Symphony Orchestra, and served as the Director’s Assistant.  While at KU he performed with the Symphonic Band and Jazz Band I. He was also the first Graduate Teaching Assistant in Jazz at KU (responsible for directing Jazz Band III and assisting with the Jazz Choir) under Dr. Ron McCurdy.

Career Highlights: Steve is a charter member of Truth in Jazz. He has performed with Tom Milo’s Orchestra, the Elkhart Symphony, the Elkhart Municipal Band, the Central Florida Bach Festival, B. J. Thomas, the Pink Flamingos, the 700 Club, and has appeared as guest soloist with many Jr. and Sr. High School Bands.  In 1993 Mr. Allen left Kansas to pursue a career in the Music Business.  He worked in music retail, taught high school band and eventually settled in Elkhart, Indiana in June of 1997 working for United Musical Instruments, and later Conn-Selmer & Woodwind and Brasswind.   Steve performs regularly as a free-lance professional musician, is actively involved with leading worship on electric guitar at his church.

Why I Play With TIJ: I perform with Truth in Jazz because of my tremendous love for this style of music and the joy it brings to those who hear us perform! The music of Jazz is all about the audience and we have a fantastic following of committed Jazz patrons in the cities of Elkhart and Goshen! We are giving back to two cities and a county that have long been committed to music around the world through it’s musical instrument manufacturing and distribution businesses! It is with great pride that I perform in a group with such vision and selflessness. Thank you to the Elkhart Truth for this opportunity!