Band Members

Band Members

Dan Wright – der Kappelmeister (Band Leader)

Instruments
Accordion only (but my digital accordion has – kind of – flute, clarinet, saxophones, organ, mandolin, piano, bass, etc.).
Musical history
Began playing accordion at age 8 (parents wanted me to play piano since we already had one, but because my older brother was doing that I would have nothing to do with it!). Took lessons at the Chinisci School of Music through high school and taught there the last two years of high school and during college at UNM (music theory/composition major). Went to University of Missouri at KC and studied there for one year. Got into Die Polka Schlingel as a substitute for what was supposed to be a one-time gig. I have been here for 42 years now. Also serve as the leader of the Albuquerque Accordion Club.

Favorite Music
Impossible to narrow it down too much, but I love Bach keyboard music, especially “The Little Fugue in G Minor” and Mozart’s “Overture to the Magic Flute”. Those two are mostly because, along with a partner in crime, I’ve played them as accordion duets. Challinging, but great fun!

Favorite musical quote or saying
“A fugue is a compostion in which the voices enter one at a time… and the audience leaves in the same manner”.

Favorite non-musical quotes
Don’t believe everything you think.
BIG PRINT GIVETH. small print taketh away.

Favorite Bumper Sticker
“Eschew Obfuscation”. 2nd favorite bumper sticker is (This is on a red sticker with white lettering) “If this sticker is Blue, you are driving too Fast”.

What are three things always in your music case
Only the accordion. It’s a big no-no to put anything else in there (might mess up the keyboard). Anything else (music, clothes pins for outdoor gigs, etc.) goes in a separate bag. I don’t need cork grease or valve oil. 🙂

If you weren’t playing an instrument what would you be doing
Reading, photography, going for a walk.

Frank Cabasier

Instruments
Saxophone and clarinet

Musical history
First played in a polka band when I was a junior in high school. I’ve been playing ever since. I have been playing with this group for over 34 years now.

Favorite musical memory
Marching band in High School (got to go on a field trip with my first crush).

One thing you should never do with your instrument is…
Eat peanut butter and crackers before playing.

Favorite piece of music
I don’t have a favorite, I like it all.

Favorite musical quote or saying
“I don’t know anything about music, In my line you don’t have to.” -Elvis Presley (1935-1977)

What are three things that are always in your music case?
Reeds, Tums, and a beer stein

If you weren’t playing an instrument, what would you be doing?
Probably sitting in jail for doing something I shouldn’t have.

Ron Sanders

Instruments
Radio, harmonica, drums, violin, red clarinets, trombone, mexican marimba, spoons.

Musical history
Music teacher for 30 years

Favorite musical memory
Playing a christmas gig in the Alb. airport and cuing myself from a persons expletive everytime they missed their part, which was exactly the same measure. Then at the airport, they played it right and i missed my part, meaning i used the expletive, too late.

One thing you should never do with your instrument is…
Play dynamics.

Favorite music
Led Zeppelin

Favorite musical quote or saying
Suppose you were an idiot. Now suppose you were a member of congress..
But I repeat myself.
Mark Twain

What are three things that are always in your music case?
Sticks, drum key, pencil, aspirin, band aids, felt pads.

If you weren’t playing an instrument, what would you be doing?
Playing with my dog or finding a really bad “B” movie.

Willliam Strohl

Instruments
Trumpet, cornet, Flugelhorn, Baritone, Mandolin, String Bass, Vocals

Musical history
Playing professionally for over 35 years, various instruments. Private Music Teacher/ Band Director for 8 years.

Favorite musical memory
“This one time at band camp ….. “, (better not)

One thing you should never do with your instrument is…
Use it for a beer stien (at least not again).

Favorite piece of music
Way too difficult to pick just one, how about some artist ….. lets start with: Mozart’s Requiem Mass, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, ABBA, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Emily Autumn, Weird Al Yankovic, …. (I’m exhausted just trying to think of them all).

Favorite musical quote or saying
Where words fail, music speaks: Hans Christian Anderson Or perhaps…. Bop bopa-a-lu a whop bam boo: Tutti Frutti by Little Richard

What are three things that are always in your music case?
My instruments….. at least I hope so….

If you weren’t playing an instrument, what would you be doing?
Solving the problems of the known universe, … while watching South Park.

Chris Smith

Instruments
Any Brass. Mainly tuba, euphonium, trombone

Musical history
3rd grade: euphonium, 7th grade switched to tuba and never looked back. Been a member of many brass quintets, bands and orchestras. Became a band director 12 years ago.

Favorite musical memory
Performing with my brass quintet for the Empire Brass in Boston.

One thing you should never do with your instrument is…
Ride a motorcycle with it strapped on your back.

Favorite musical quote or saying
Reality is just an illusion. A fairly persistent one, but just an illusion. Einstein

What are three things that are always in your music case?
Valve oil, slide grease, clothes pin pieces.

If you weren’t playing an instrument, what would you be doing?
Watching Top Gear or any old Sci Fi movie.

Kristi Raven

Instruments
I’m a music educator, so theoretically-all of them. But I usually just play clarinet and saxophone

Musical history
When I was 8 or 9, my babysitter could play Suicide is Painless (theme song to MASH) on her clarinet. I was hooked; started playing in the fourth grade and except for a brief stint as a nuclear physics major (my parents wanted me to have a “more lucrative career” than music could provide). I’ve never looked back. Now I play with the DPS (dirndl required on the German gigs), the NMTBB (Civil War era uniform required), and a Baroque recorder ensemble (corset required). When I grow up, I want to play gigs where I can wear a black dress, just a simple black dress.

Favorite Music
To listen to, to play, to conduct? What’s the occasion? What mood am I in? Is the moon full? How could I possibly choose? But once, I was listening to Dvorak’s 9th Symphony while driving to work. Got to the end of the first movement and realized I’d driven several blocks past my school. Turned around, and drove past the school a second time. I don’t listen to music in the car anymore!

Favorite musical quote or saying
“This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before.” – Leonard Bernstein

What are three things always in your music case
Gum, tampon, paper clips?

Sonic screwdriver?

Reeds, all the reeds, so very many reeds…..

If you weren’t playing an instrument what would you be doing
Crocheting a Lorenz Manifold

Sergio Manriquez

Instruments
Erste Tuba. A new way of thinking about heavy metal. Also, have violin, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, clarinet, sax, cello, and bass guitar.

Musical history
Taught music in Albuquerque Public Schools. Past schools I have taught at are Zuni, Cochiti, Santa Domingo, Bernalillo, Fort Diafiance, and Santa Fe.

Favorite musical memory
Road Trips

One thing you should never do with your instrument is…
Run over it with a truck

Favorite piece of music
Effie Suite

What are three things that are always in your music case?
Tools (everything but the kitchen sink), valve oil, and tuner

If you weren’t playing an instrument, what would you be doing?
Probably be a couch potatoe

Bill Biffle

Instruments
Trumpet, cornet, Flugelhorn

Musical history
Lifelong musician – barbershop harmony singer, horn blower, piano banger-upon.

Favorite musical memory
Winning my first barbershop harmony contest.

One thing you should never do with your instrument is…
Play it in tune.

Favorite piece of music
“It’s a Small World After All”

Favorite musical quote or saying
“It don’t mean a thing if you ain’t got a swing” …. heard on a local playground

What are three things that are always in your music case?
Horns, mutes, and mouthpieces.

If you weren’t playing an instrument, what would you be doing?
Singing barbershop and/or playing golf

Orion Brady

Instruments
Trumpet, Alto Horn, Alto Sax, Trombone, Euphonium, Piano, Guitar, and learning Concertina

Musical history
Got started at the Hummingbird Music Camp in 2nd grade on the Trumpet, and then learned how to actually play in Undergrad at UNM.

Favorite musical memory
Playing Euphorium at a Tuba Convention while wearing a big “I Trumpet” shirt. I got nothing but confused and irritated scowls.

One thing you should never do with your instrument is…
Test your throwing arm.

Favorite piece of music

“No One Like You” – Scorpions and “Tuxedo Junction” – Glenn Miller

What are three things that are always in your music case?
Pencils, Extra Pencils, extra mouthpiece, and extra backup Mouthpiece.

If you weren’t playing an instrument, what would you be doing?
Probably thinking about learning an instrument or making another pot of coffee.