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West
Point Dixie Players
The West Point Dixie Players, who premiered in February of 1997, are one of the more unique chamber groups within the United States Military Academy Band. Members from the Concert Band and Jazz Knights make up this six-piece Dixie group. The musicians create a festive, upbeat, old-time sound at such events as Fat Tuesday for the United States Corps of Cadets and at the New Jersey Botanical Gardens. The West Point Dixie Players add a new dimension to musical entertainment at West Point and in the Tri-State area. SERGEANT MAJOR ERIC SHEFFLER - DRUMS, is a native of Pittsburg, Kansas. He returned to the Academy Band in January of 2002 serving as a Rudimental Drummer in the Hellcats. Beginning in the summer of 2004, SGM Sheffler assumed the duties of Drum Major. He previously served in the Hellcats from 1983 – 1994 and was the assistant drum major of the marching band as well. While away from West Point, SGM Sheffler completed his Masters Degree in Percussion Performance at Pittsburg State University. He also taught classes in Percussion Techniques, Applied Percussion, Music Fundamentals, Basic Conducting, Wind Ensemble, and Marching Band. Additionally, SGM Sheffler is an adjunct faculty member at Marist College and a freelance percussion arranger for competitive marching bands throughout the Midwest. SGM Sheffler is a founding member of the West Point Percussion Group. MASTER SERGEANT GERALD CATES - TUBA, is from Tullahoma, Tennessee and has been a member of the U.S. Military Academy Band since June of 1989. He received a bachelor's degree from Tennessee Technological University in 1985, and a master's degree from the University of Illinois in 1986. Prior to joining the band, MSG Cates was Director of Bands for the Marshall County Public Schools in Lewisburg, Tennessee. In addition to performing with the Concert Band, MSG Cates is a member of the West Point Tuba Quartet and the Regimental Brass Quintet. He is also the concert band librarian. MASTER SERGEANT RON FLEISCHMAN - TROMBONE, from Darlington, Pennsylvania, came to the Academy Band in February of 1996. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Duquesne University and a master’s degree from Youngstown State University. Since joining the Army in 1992, MSG Fleischman attended the Army Element, School of Music and performed in the band at Ft. Gordon, Georgia. Additionally, he has played with the Augusta Symphony Orchestra. MSG Fleischman is a trombonist in the Jazz Knights.
MASTER SERGEANT GARY
MCCOURRY - SAXOPHONE is originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan. He
attended Western Michigan University, where he completed his Bachelor of
Music degree, majoring in Applied Saxophone, Music Education and Jazz
Studies. While at Western, he
studied classical and jazz saxophone under Trent Kynaston, who helped
instill a desire to strive for versatility as a musician.
MSG McCourry also holds a Master of Music degree from Indiana
University, where he studied saxophone with the renowned Doctor Eugene
Rousseau while pursuing majors in Jazz and Woodwinds.
Upon
graduation from Indiana University in 1986, MSG McCourry was selected as
alto and soprano saxophonist for the United States Military Academy
Concert Band and its saxophone quartet, a position he enjoyed for nine
years. In 1995, he became the
baritone saxophonist for West Point’s Jazz Knights.
As a member of the Jazz Knights, McCourry writes numerous
arrangements for the band, organizes jazz clinics for students and
educators, publicizes concerts and is frequently featured as a soloist.
MSG McCourry has continued to study baritone saxophone with specialists Ed Xiques, the late Nick Brignola and Gary Smulyan, who was Pepper Adams’ replacement in the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. STAFF SERGEANT BRIAN BROELMANN - BANJO, has been a member of the United States Military Academy band since 2001. He holds degrees in music education and music performance from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, where he studied with Dr. Timothy Mcallister. SSG Broelmann has appeared in a number of venues, including regional, national, and international saxophone conferences, both as soloist and in chamber settings. In addition to his duties as saxophonist, SSG Broelmann appears as banjo soloist with the USMA Concert Band and performs with the West Point Dixie Players. STAFF SERGEANT JON LEONARD - TRUMPET, returned to the Academy Band in August of 1998. He previously served in both the Hellcats and the Jazz Knights, from 1992 to 1995. SSG Leonard attended the University of North Texas, earning a bachelor's degree in jazz studies and a master's degree in trumpet performance. While at UNT, he played with the renowned One O'clock Lab Band. He pursued doctoral studies at the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley and was most recently a visiting instructor of brass at Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado. He currently plays bugle in the the Hellcats. SSG Leonard is from Fairbanks, Alaska. STAFF SERGEANT MICHAEL REIFENBERG - CLARINET, a native of Cudahy, Wisconsin, joined the saxophone section of the Jazz Knights in September 2005. In 2003, he received a Bachelor of Music in Saxophone Performance from the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater. Two years later, SSG Reifenberg completed a Master of Music in Jazz Studies at Indiana University School of Music, where he was also an associate instructor under renowned jazz pedagogue David Baker. Throughout the years, Reifenberg's most influential teachers have been Curt Hanrahan, Rob Wilkerson, Tom Walsh, Pat Harbison and David Baker. In addition, he has studied improvisation with Ed Peterson, Joel Frahm, Clay Jenkins and others. SSG Reifenberg has also performed with several jazz legends, including James Moody, Slide Hampton, Bob Mintzer, David Sanchez, the late Frank Mantooth, Denis DiBlasio, Matt Harris, Steve Houghton and Jeff Jarvis. Additionally, he was a member of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Pops, the Doc Severinsen Big Band, the American Swing Orchestra, the Al Cobine Big Band, the Milwaukee Jazz Orchestra, the Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra and a host of other bands in the Milwaukee and Indianapolis areas. While in Indiana, Reifenberg was a member of the Bloomington-based Saxophone Cartel, a saxophone/woodwind quintet playing anything from creative arrangements of standard jazz repertoire to original works and pieces that were collectively improvised on the spot. The group was selected to perform at the 2005 North Sea Jazz Festival and recently released its first CD Caught in the Act.
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