Executive Director
Chris Judd
With hometown roots in Texas and Virginia, Chris Judd has settled into his new home here in Minnesota. Chris graduated with his bachelor’s degree in Music Business and Composition from McNally Smith College of Music. He continues to live out his passions by educating and composing for marching percussion ensembles throughout the state of Minnesota over the past 10 + years. With his career focused on Sales and Project Management, Chris is motivated to bring a positive and fresh approach to the Executive Director position within Minnesota Brass. He is driven to enhance the winter percussion and winter color guard ensembles for years to come. Lastly, with a two-year absence due to Covid -19, Chris aspires to bring back a summer ensemble that honors the history of the Minnesota Brass Drum and Bugle Corps over the past 75 years to develop a new beginning for the current and future generations.
Ensemble Director & Program Coordinator
Jake Esterberg
Jake Esterberg is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, holding a Bachelor of Music Education. He now serves as the Elementary Band Director in Waconia, Minnesota where he teaches 5th Grade Beginning Band at three Elementary Schools. Jake is the Director of MBI Indoor Percussion and the Program Coordinator for the Colt Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps.
Jake’s marching experience consists of 5 years of Drum Corps (Govenaires Drum and Bugle Corps, Minnesota Brass Drum and Bugle Corps, and Colts Drum and Bugle Corps), 3 years of Indoor Drumline (MBI Indoor Percussion), and 2 years of College Marching Band with the Blugold Marching Band where he served as the Drumline Captain and Percussion Arranger.
As a Marching Arts instructor and percussion arranger, Jake has taken a variety of roles with groups across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa, including the Colt Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps (2019 DCI Open Class Finalists), MBI Indoor Percussion, the Blugold Marching Band, Minnetonka High School (YIM Outstanding Percussion 2A 2016, 2017, 2018), 728 Cadets/River Valley Percussion Theatre, Big River Motion of Menomonie High School (MPA Winds Regional A Champion 2018) and Baldwin-Woodville High School (WSMA Class A Champion, Outstanding Percussion 2019).
Jake is very excited to be back with MBI in a new capacity for the 2023 season!
Batterie Arranger
Joe Asleson
Joe has been an active marching arts educator and designer in the Twin Cities area for 16years. He is currently the battery arranger for River City Rhythm Indoor Drumline, a role he has held since 2019. Joe worked with the Eden Prairie HS drumline for 12 years in varying roles including percussion caption head, visual designer, and battery arranger. During his time with Eden Prairie HS they were two-time Percussion Scholastic World Class finalists (2013 & 2014). He was also on staff with the Minnesota Brass Indoor Drumline (2012 PIO silver medal, 2013 PIW finalist) from 2010-2019 serving in various roles including snare technician, visual designer and director. Joe also worked with the Colts Drum & Bugle Corps as snare technician and battery choreographer in 2012 and 2013, and has served as battery arranger and visual designer for several ensembles in the Twin Cities metro area & beyond. Joe was elected to the MPA Board of Directors in 2015 and eventually served as 2nd Vice President until 2020.
As a performer Joe was a snare drummer for several seasons with the MN Brass Drum & Bugle Corps, and in 2008 Joe was snare section leader of the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps. Joe was a founding member of the MN Brass Indoor Drumline in 2008. In 2009 Joe joined the snareline of Music City Mystique, earning the 2009 PIW bronze medal. Joe has been fortunate to learn from quality educators including Roger Carter, Casey Brohard, Tim Maynard, Carl Eppler, Shane Gwaltney, Joel Matuzak, and Mike Ferry. Joe graduated from Metropolitan State University with a Bachelor of Social Work, and he currently works as a mental health case manager in Hennepin Count. Joe lives in the Uptown area in Minneapolis where he enjoys being active, cooking, and looking for neighborhood cats on walks with his wife, April.
Front Ensemble Arranger
Matt Hahn
Matt Hahn is an active designer and percussion educator in the Dayton, OH area. Matt is currently the Front Ensemble and Sound Designer for the Madison Scouts Drum And Bugle Corps. In 2012, Matt founded Resonant Music Design, a company specializing in marching arts design and education of all kinds.
Matt was a member of Rhythm X from 2005 – 2008 and was a staff member from 2009 – 2015. Matt also was a member of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps from 2006 – 2007 in the front ensemble and was a staff member from 2009 – 2012. Matt graduated from Miami University (OH) in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education degree.
In 2013, Matt was elected to the Board of Directors of the Mid East Performance Association (MEPA) circuit and was recently elected as Vice President of Percussion for the circuit.
Matt is a proud sponsor of Innovative Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, and Evans/Planet Waves products. He currently lives in Springboro, OH with his wife Sara and his son Micah.
Visual Designer & Coordinator
Tyler Shipe
Bio Coming Soon
Visual Designer & Choreographer
Natalie Sterner
Natalie Sterner is excited to return to MBI Indoor Drumline as a visual and movement designer. Natalie has been performing since 2003 with multiple dance ensembles and has professionally studied ballet, pointe, modern, African, jazz, tap, and lyrical. She has also marched with the Rosemount High School color guard, MBI Winter Guard, and Lux Independent Winter Guard. She studied Dance Movement Therapy at University of Wisconsin-Madison and applies that knowledge to her teaching style and technique.
Natalie also brings to MBI extensive teaching experience including Rosemount High School competitive fall and winter programs since 2016 and River City Rhythm Winter Guard since its inaugural season in 2017. She has served as a designer, choreographer, equipment technician, movement specialist, and winter guard director. She is particularly known for her emphasis on movement, establishing movement programs and building technique for groups that have both experienced and novice dancers, and is looking forward to applying her experience to drumline at MBI.
Natalie holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and works in strategic sourcing for a global manufacturer.
Batterie Coordinator
Joe Jaeger
Joe has been an active music educator and performer throughout the Twin Cities area since 2009. He has experience instructing, arranging, and directing for marching band and indoor percussion at Rosemount HS, Eden Prairie HS, 728 Cadets, River Valley Percussion Theatre, and many more. At the independent level, Joe has found a home at Minnesota Brass, consistently working as a snare tech and battery coordinator for the summer and winter ensembles. He has also worked as a snare technician with the Seattle Cascades Drum and Bugle Corps, and the percussion caption head with Chops Drum and Bugle Corps.
Joe studied music at Normandale Community College, and finished his music education degree at the University of Minnesota. Currently, he is the middle school band director and elementary music teacher at Prairie View Elementary and Middle School in Otsego, MN.
Joe’s marching experience includes 6 years of Drum Corps and 4 years of indoor percussion: Minnesota Brass Drum and Bugle Corps (2009-2010, 2013, 2016), Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps (2011-2012), MBI Indoor Percussion (2010-2013). Other professional performance experiences include the Minnesota Vikings Skol Line, and various rock, funk, hip-hop, and jazz groups around the area.
Batterie Instructor
Vlad Boz
Vlad is a proud alumnus of South St. Paul High School, where he participated in the marching band and indoor drumline 1997–2002. He also marched with the Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps (2001–2002), the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps (2004–2006), and the Minnesota Brass Drum and Bugle Corps (2003, 2007–2008). He has been teaching South St. Paul High School since 2009, Rosemount High School since 2011 and Minnesota Brass since 2010, in addition to having taught several other local groups in the past. And he’s been president of the Minnesota Percussion Association since 2015. Vlad has a degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota and works in marketing and communications. In his spare time, he enjoys petting strangers’ dogs and writing his bio.
Snare Instructor
Zach Fitzgibbon
Zach Fitzgibbon is a freelance instructor, designer, and arranger in the greater Twin Cities area. Zach began his marching career at Eden Prairie High School in both the Summer and Fall programs (2011 – 2014), then later went on to march with Minnesota Brass (2014), the Madison Scouts (2015), the Cadets (2016), the Bluecoats (2017 & 2018), MBI Indoor Percussion (2015 – 2018), and ended his career with a first time world championship as a member of Broken City (2019). As an educator, he has worked with the Eden Prairie High School Drumline since 2016 as a Snare Technician, and now currently holds the titles of Assistant Director, Battery Arranger, Visual Designer, and Ensemble Coordinator. Zach has also served as a Battery Technician for Champlin Park High School in 2016, the Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps in 2019 & 2020, and is also the Battery Arranger for the Andover High School fall marching band. He credits his strong career in the marching percussion world to the world-class instruction of those like Joe Asleson, Colin McNutt, Jacob Gall, Ryan Kilgore, Roger Carter, Ryan Anderson, Mike Davis, Joe Woodie, and Mike Jackson. In addition to the DCI / WGI circuits, Zach has spent several years as a member of the Minnesota Vikings Sköl Line, as well as with the Pride of Minnesota Marching Band during his undergraduate studies. He currently lives in Minneapolis near Huntington Bank Stadium, where he enjoys running up and down the Mississippi River.
Snare Instructor
Jack Gillie
Bio Coming Soon!
Quad Instructor
Deryck Lawson
Deryck started his marching career back in 2014 with Burnsville HS, from there, he graduated in 2015 and went on to march with groups such as the Govenaires and River City Rhythm over the next few years until finally aging out with Matrix in 2019.
Deryck is looking forward to year 3 with MN brass and couldn’t be more excited to get the season underway.
Quad and Visual Instructor
Austin Collins
Austin Collins is a percussion educator based in the Twin Cities, Minnesota where he lives with his partner and their two miniature dachshunds. Austin’s marching background includes Seattle Cascades (2014-2016), Dark Sky Percussion (2017), POW Percussion (2018), The Cavaliers (2018-2019), Pulse Percussion (2019-2020), and the Minnesota Vikings Skol Line.
Austin has been teaching various high schools since 2018 and began teaching drum corps in the 2020 and 2021 seasons at Pacific Crest, He also taught visual at Santa Clara Vanguard 2022. Outside of teaching drum lines and private percussion lessons, Austin is going to school to join the medical field as a Radiologic Technologist.
Austin is beyond excited to be joining this team of undeniable educators and is looking forward to creating an unforgettable experience of excellence and comradery for the members involved as well as a lasting legacy for the Minnesota Brass program.
Bass Instructor
Connor Woitte
Connor began his marching career in 2011 with the Eden Prairie Marching Band. From there, he went on to perform with MBI indoor in 2016 and 2018 and the Oregon Crusaders 2018 Drum Corps as a bass drummer.
He began his teaching career with Eden Prairie High School after graduating in 2015. He also taught the Menomonie High School indoor ensembles from 2016-2020. Connor continues to teach at Eden Prairie HS, and returns for his 2nd season teaching the MBI bassline.
Connor is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Stout where he received a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. He currently works as a software engineer for a student information software company.
Cymbal Instructor
Jacque Gaetz
Jacque has marched and taught Cymbal Lines for 15 years. She began marching with River Valley Percussion Theatre for 6 years and 728 Cadets for 4, then at MBI for 4 years and the DCA corps for 1, and lastly Jacque marched cymbals at Crossmen for 2 years in DCI. Jacque has taught at Lincoln HS in Sioux Falls, 728 Cadets and RVPT for 4 years, and River City Rhythm for 3 years. Jacque has also written cymbal music for the St. Michael HS Marching Band. She took a couple years off during COVID, but now is happy to say for her 16th year involved with cymbals she’ll be here with MBI!
Visual Instructor
Derek Fritz
Derek Fritz has been working with Minnesota Brass since the 2023 winter season. His past experiences include marching with the Madison Scouts from 2015-2018 on the tuba, and Minnesota Brass Indoor in 2017 and 2018 as a visual performer and soloist. Derek currently works as a Middle School Band Director in Hudson, WI. Additionally, Derek spends his summers teaching Pacific Crest, a World Class Drum Corps out of Diamond Bar, California as well as writing drill and choreography for bands all across the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Derek has directly contributed to over 12 state championship marching bands and drum lines across all classes of performance. In his free time, Derek enjoys running, rock climbing, obsessing over coffee science, and hanging out with his pet rabbit Philip.
Front Ensemble Coordinator
Alex St. Clair
Alex St. Clair started his marching career at El Dorado High School Marching Band in 2010 on baritone saxophone. In 2012, he transferred to South St. Paul Secondary and very quickly found a home in their winter drumline with the front ensemble. He has since marched in the front ensemble at MBI Indoor (2014-2017), Minnesota Brass Drum and Bugle Corps (2014-2017), and Minnesota Brass Sound Sport (2018-2019). The MBI organization has supported and shaped Alex into the hard-working and passionate educator he is now. Since 2018, he has been teaching the front ensemble at MBI Indoor and hopes to give back the same way his instructors did for him. Alex is also the front ensemble coordinator and arranger at South St. Paul Drumline where he’s been since 2014, the front ensemble coordinator and arranger for the Andover High School Marching Band since 2014, and a front ensemble instructor at Irondale High School since 2020.
Front Ensemble Instructor
Emalee Judeh
Bio Coming Soon!
Front Ensemble Instructor
Sophie Koehler
Sophie has been involved in music since a young age. She started her music journey playing violin and piano at the age of six, and later began studying percussion. Sophie graduated from St. Olaf College where she studied percussion under the guidance of Dave Hagedorn while pursuing her music education degree. She played in the band, orchestra, and percussion ensemble there. In addition to her classical music experiences, Sophie has participated in the marching arts with the Eden Prairie Eagle Marching Band (2012-2015), Eden Prairie Winter Drumline (2013-2016), and the Minnesota Brass Drum and Bugle Corps (2016-2017). Currently, Sophie teaches band at Scott Highlands and Falcon Ridge Middle Schools in District 196.
Front Ensemble Instructor
Erin VanBurkleo
Erin VanBurkleo started her percussion career with the Eagan High School winter drumline in the front ensemble in 2001. After graduating from Eagan, she performed with The Academy drum and bugle corps in the front ensemble in 2007. Starting in 2005, Erin performed with the Minnesota Brass drum corps and continued in 2006, and as front ensemble section leader from 2008-2014. Erin has taught as a front ensemble instructor at Eagan High School’s winter drumline from 2004-2013 and 2020; River City Rhythm from 2011-2012; Eden Prairie High School winter drumline from 2013-2019; Rosemount High School marching band since 2005 and Minnesota Brass Indoor since 2013. Erin currently serves as First Vice President for the Minnesota Percussion Association Board of Directors, is a Minnesota Master Naturalist, and is a graduate of St. Olaf College with a B.A. in History and Classics.
Front Ensemble Instructor
Calvin Stromwall
Bio Coming Soon!
Front Ensemble Consultant
Mackenzie (Mack) Steinberg
Mackenzie (Mack) Steinberg resides in Saint Paul, MN. He has been an avid front ensemble instructor in the MPA, SCPA, and DCI circuits since 2014. In addition to being a Front Ensemble Consultant with MBI Indoor, he is the current Front Ensemble Coordinator at Eden Prairie High School and a Front Ensemble Instructor at Mandarins Drum & Bugle Corps. Mack’s previous teaching experiences include Irondale HS, Los Alamitos HS, Burnsville HS, and Pacific Crest Drum & Bugle Corps.
Mack has performed with numerous world class ensembles since high school, including MBI Indoor Percussion, Boston Crusaders, RCC Indoor Percussion, and the Blue Devils. He served as the front ensemble section leader for both RCC and the Blue Devils, as well as received gold medals in SCPA, WGI, and DCI finals.
Mack graduated from Hamline University in Saint Paul, MN with a degree in Sociology and currently works as a Program Associate for World Savvy, a global competence education nonprofit dedicated to building inclusive, adaptive, and future-ready schools.
Audio Engineer
Jared Olson
Jared (he/him) is excited to serve his first year as Audio Engineer for MBI Indoor Percussion. He also serves as Director of the Eden Prairie HS Winter Drumline program as well as Percussion Caption Head/Front Ensemble Arranger for the EPHS Eagle Band. Past programs he has worked with include Champlin Park HS (MN) and Valley HS (IA).
Jared’s marching percussion experience as a performer includes time with MBI Indoor and Drum and Bugle Corps, the Madison Scouts, and Twin Cities Area Independent indoor drumline.
Jared is an information technology professional by trade in the Twin Cities area and resides in Minneapolis with his partner Cristina and their 2 cats, Daisy and Kirby.
