Brad Poreda, one of the two founders of Spotlight Brass, can be found most nights working feverishly on his Mac adapting and arranging most of the music we play, but his three dogs ensure he occasionally gets fresh air and a nice walk. Brad is also passionate about Ultimate (frisbee) and disc golf. (No comment on what influence the dogs had on his recreational pastime of choice.)
What did Captain Picard say upon entering the holodeck and seeing a flugelhorn soloist?
“Computer, end program.”
What did Captain Picard say upon entering the holodeck and seeing a flugelhorn soloist?
“Computer, end program.”
Lisa Lahmeyer, the other founder of Spotlight Brass, teaches vocal music at Jenks Middle School, and with two kids of her own at home (Nick and John), three cats, one dogs and a pet rat she made the prudent decision to add more adult contact in her life in order to maintain her sanity. We hope this works, but we’re secretly worried that being around the rest of us is a bit like being around a bunch of middle school kids. Or a bunch of animals, truth be told.
How many trumpet players does it take to change a light bulb?
All of ‘em...one to change the bulb and the rest to complain that they could do it better.
How many trumpet players does it take to change a light bulb?
All of ‘em...one to change the bulb and the rest to complain that they could do it better.
David Lawrence has a pretty good sense of humor... for a euphonium player. A walking encyclopedia [read nerd], he’s always ready to share random information about various things, but tends to spend most of his time explaining what a euphonium is and how it... uh... something, something, blah blah blah. (We tend to zone out when he goes off.) Ask him anything. Just don’t ask about the euphonium, unless you have a LOT of time to kill. Or insomnia.
What’s the difference between a euphonium player and a large pizza?
A large pizza can feed a family of four.
What’s the difference between a euphonium player and a large pizza?
A large pizza can feed a family of four.
Dick Tockey has a magical trumpet that frequently channels Doc Severinsen, Wynton Marsalis and Chet Baker when playing with Spotlight Brass. He also plays with The Sounds of Music Jazz Orchestra in Tulsa, and is an avid DCI fan, having played in a corp himself for five years. He is a monster trumpet player and is very nice letting the rest of us play alongside him... even if it does make playing gigs on nights with a full moon problematic.
What is the dynamic range of a typical lead trumpet?
On and off.
What is the dynamic range of a typical lead trumpet?
On and off.
Doug Brown is the celebrity of the group, and you may have heard his voice on his weekly radio show Wind & Rhythm (Sundays at 7pm on KWTU). Doug doesn’t let his the fame get to his head, though--that’s Sunday nights at 7:00 on 88.7 FM--and enjoys playing music as much as he likes sharing it... like at seven on Sunday evenings. When not signing autographs, Doug teaches a class on the proper way to roll up an electrical cord.
What is the definition of a gentleman?
A man who knows how to play the flugelhorn... and doesn’t.
What is the definition of a gentleman?
A man who knows how to play the flugelhorn... and doesn’t.
Jim Strother is our “underwear” (He is the tuba after all). Jim holds us together, gives great support from below, and helps give shape to our body (of sound). And when he isn’t unwadding our knickers, he’s out getting his laser on! Jim is an avid laser tag player. He owned and operated Photon Laser Tag. He also knows a thing or two about Unix operating systems, but we don’t necessarily consider him a nerd, just our collective boxer-briefs.
Why do bands have tuba players?
To translate for the percussionists.
Why do bands have tuba players?
To translate for the percussionists.
Bryant Warren works great with wood. No, really, he makes stuff out of wood. And when he isn’t building fine cabinetry at his shop, he’s keeping up with the three lovely ladies in his life, his wife Michelle and daughters Alyssa and Sophia, or he might be playing with his Lego collection. Seriously...Legos; he’s really into construction. In any case, he’s a favorite with our audiences due to his sense of humor and wit. Oh, he’s moderately OK at trombone, too.
How can you tell that a kid on a playground is a trombonist's kid?
He can't swing and he complains about the slide.
How can you tell that a kid on a playground is a trombonist's kid?
He can't swing and he complains about the slide.
Bekah McAvoy plays trumpet but has been known to slum it in the flugel section when needed. She also plays with Stillwater Jazz, and can often be found raising all kinds of trouble in many of Tulsa’s numerous night spots. We’re not saying Bekah is a wild child, but we recently noticed she was being tracked by National Geographic. Oh... and never, ever say anything bad about the OKC Thunder around her. She will seriously hurt you.
What does "pp" mean to a trumpet player?
An opportunity for an improvised solo.
What does "pp" mean to a trumpet player?
An opportunity for an improvised solo.
Nicholas (NOT Nick) Foster is one of the youngsters (and lone red head) of the group, but don’t let his age deceive you - he is filled with talent beyond his years. When he’s not playing gigs around town, or doing brilliant imitation of Animal the Muppet, he attends the University of Tulsa and dreams of the day he’ll be able to go out at night without a chaperone. But beware, guys: he is known to make the ladies swoon when we play the tune “Cute.”
How do you tell if the stage is level?
The drummer drools equally from both sides of his mouth.
How do you tell if the stage is level?
The drummer drools equally from both sides of his mouth.
When Jeremy Parker isn’t busy herding his 100+ kids (yes, that many, because... he’s the director of Bixby Bands! What did you think?), he’s a member of MENC, OMEA, EDBDA, OBA, OKJE, FYI, ATM, BLT, and ROFL. We’re sure it’s all very impressive, mostly because Jeremy keeps telling us that it is. And when he isn’t training the next generation of musicians, he’s probably writing drill, or joining another organization. (What’s up with that anyway?)
Why do some people play trombone?
Because they can’t move their fingers and read music at the same time.
Why do some people play trombone?
Because they can’t move their fingers and read music at the same time.
Arnie Dahl is the perfect gentleman and conversationalist. How he got mixed up with Spotlight is a complete mystery as he is way too much of an adult to be around us, but we hope to bring him down to our level one day. We’re seriously working on it. He seems to tolerate us well, though, and is always willing to share a colorful story topped with class and humor. And being a transplanted New Yorker, he’s never short of colorful stories.
A kid runs up to his father and says, “I want to grow up and become a trumpet player!”
“Sorry son,” replies the father, “you can’t do both.”
A kid runs up to his father and says, “I want to grow up and become a trumpet player!”
“Sorry son,” replies the father, “you can’t do both.”
Aaron Cole is the youngest member of Spotlight, which we constantly remind him, especially when sending him out for coffee. He’s very talented, though, so we keep him around even though he refuses to do the cute little dances anymore. Aaron can be found playing trombone with the Jazz Band and Orchestra at the University of Tulsa where he is a pre-med student. Yes, he has talent and brains... but still needs to show a little more hustle with that coffee.
What is the definition of "trombone"?
A wind driven, manually operated, pitch approximator.
What is the definition of "trombone"?
A wind driven, manually operated, pitch approximator.
Trey Pritner is a busy, busy guy. In addition to teaching music at Union Public Schools and Tulsa Community College, he serves on so many different boards and organizations and associations and conventions and festivals and... well, we’re convinced he’s cloned himself, and we just wish he’d share the technology. Trey is also an accomplished musician, having studied tuba under Arnold Jacobs, Rex Martin, Charles Daellenbach, Pat Crumpley, Mark Moore, Scott Watson, and Mark Mordue. So you know Trey has to be talented, because it’s very difficult to play the tuba with that many people sitting on top of you.
A young child returned from his first music lesson on the tuba.
"How did it go?" asked his father.
"Great," said the child. "I learned how to play a 'Bb'."
The next week the child took another lesson and again his father asked how it went.
"Terrific," said the child. "I learned how to play an 'F'."
The following week the child didn't come home. The father was frantic with
worry when the child finally arrived at 2:00 AM.
"Where the heck have you been," shouted the father.
"I had a gig!!" answered the son.
A young child returned from his first music lesson on the tuba.
"How did it go?" asked his father.
"Great," said the child. "I learned how to play a 'Bb'."
The next week the child took another lesson and again his father asked how it went.
"Terrific," said the child. "I learned how to play an 'F'."
The following week the child didn't come home. The father was frantic with
worry when the child finally arrived at 2:00 AM.
"Where the heck have you been," shouted the father.
"I had a gig!!" answered the son.
Interested in playing with Spotlight Brass?
Spotlight Brass keeps subs ready for its many performances, and thus has frequent open rehearsals to evaluate new players. If you’re interested in playing with Spotlight Brass, click here to email us. Please include your instrument(s) and a brief summation of your playing experience. We will then send you music to peruse and notify you of the next rehearsal.
Spotlight Brass keeps subs ready for its many performances, and thus has frequent open rehearsals to evaluate new players. If you’re interested in playing with Spotlight Brass, click here to email us. Please include your instrument(s) and a brief summation of your playing experience. We will then send you music to peruse and notify you of the next rehearsal.
