Cornets
Soprano Cornet
Jenny Brown was born and reared outside Chicago. With an undergraduate degree in music from the Cleveland Institute of Music and a Masters in Music from the University of Kentucky, Jenny enjoys teaching music to all levels and ages of players. She is currently freelancing in Lexington and teaching privately. This is Jenny’s first year with the Lexington Brass Band.
Solo Cornet
Andrea Adams was born in Winchester, KY on May 24th, 1975. She attended Eastern Kentucky University, where she received a B.A. in Music Merchandising as well as an M.M. in Trumpet Performance. During that time, she was a finalist at the National Trumpet Competition, and served as a Graduate Assistant as well as 2nd trumpet in the EKU Faculty Brass Quintet. Andrea still resides in Winchester, where she works as a Business Manager.
John Higgins was born on the night of a full eclipse in 1968. He decided to pursue a career in music after his parents told him that he was free to embark on whatever career path he chose – except music. So, after earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance from Miami (OH) University (and an unnamed minor in “how to turn four years of studies into five years of college”), John wondered what he would do next. His parents offered up some more sound advice – “Get a Job!” John heeded their advice as before and went on to do his Master’s of Music work at the Hartt School of Music under the tutelage of Chris Gekker. During his tenure at Hartt, John spent the summer at the Tanglewood Institute where he performed under the batons of such noted conductors and mentors as John Williams, Seiji Ozawa and Roger Voisin. It was at Tanglewood that John was greeted with a tragic epiphany: he was not a very good trumpet player! John came back from Connecticut in 1994, got married, moved to Kentucky and did what anyone would do in his shoes – he put the horn away for 2.5 years! During this time John worked as a purchasing agent for a local engineering company. John’s newest career finds him “fooling the masses”, masquerading as a graphic designer for a local independent association, which he has been working at for the past 8 years. It was during this time that John was asked to play for a birthday party. . .it was a truly horrible rendition of “Over the Rainbow”, but John realized how much he missed playing. He decided to start up again. . .
John joined the Lexington Brass Band in 1996, serving in whatever capacity that the director could see fit. Currently John can be found trying to blend in to the Solo Cornet row, (with mixed success!) He has been a member of the Board of Directors since 1997. In addition to the Lexington Brass Band he is also currently active in the music scene by being a principal partner and featured soloist with the world-renowned Victorian era brass band, Saxton’s Cornet Band and the Principal Trumpet of the Lexington Community Orchestra. John and his wife Cindy, who is also involved locally with the music scene, have two beautiful daughters, Abbie and Emily, along with an 8-month old golden retriever named Drew. John’s favorite hobbies are playing with said children, golfing and running.
Dee Bishop, a native of Princeton, Kentucky, joined the band in the fall of 2006. He is a graduate of Loyola University in New Orleans (B.M.E.), Austin Peay State University (M.M.) and the University of Tennessee at Martin (M.A.+30). He is the Director of Bands at Tates Creek High School and is married to Johnnie C. Bishop. In his spare time, Dee enjoys playing golf.
Lois U. Wiggins, Band Director at Edythe J. Hayes Middle School in Lexington KY, has taught instrumental music for 20 years in Kentucky, Tennessee & Indiana. Ms. Wiggins received a Bachelor of Science in Music Education degree from Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN, a Masters in Music Education degree from the University of Georgia, Athens, GA, and a Rank I in Secondary Education, from Western Kentucky University. Before joining the Lexington Brass Band this year, Lois played trumpet in the Evansville Symphonic Band for 10 years and was a founding member of the Western Kentucky Trumpet Ensemble. Lois was recognized as “Outstanding Young Band Director in Kentucky” by Phi Beta Mu in 1992 and was named KMEA Middle School Teacher of the year in 2000. Hobbies include model railroading, cross stitch & computers. Lois resides in Lexington with her dog Wynton.
Repiano Cornet
Originally from Baton Rouge, LA, Jonathan Martin currently lives in Richmond and works as a freelance trumpet player. He has earned degrees from Louisiana State University (B.M.E.), the University of Texas at San Antonio (M.M.) and the University of Iowa (D.M.A.). Jonathan serves as Principal trumpet in the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra and enjoys playing golf in his spare time. This is Jonathan’s first year with the LBB. Further information about Jonathan can be found on his website.
Second Cornet
John Surgener is a founding member of the Lexington Brass Band and has served as ripiano, second, and third cornet. After careers as a band director and an industrial salesman, he now works at Don Wilson Music Company in Lexington. John is a graduate of Wake Forest University where he studied trumpet with Emerson W. Head and Calvin R. Huber. A partial list of musical organizations in which he has played include: the Advocate Brass Band, Saxton’s Cornet Band (appearing in the motion pictures “Gettysburg” and “The Day Lincoln Was Shot”), Sacred Winds, and the Roanoke (VA) Symphony. He presently resides with his family in Berea, Kentucky.
Eric Murine is currently working on his D.M.A. at the University of Kentucky. Eric is a native of Michigan (Jackson), where he obtained degrees from Western Michigan University (Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance) and Michigan State University (Master of Music in Trumpet Performance). He is currently working on his D.M.A. (trumpet performance) at the University of Kentucky. Eric has performed in the Lansing Symphony Orchestra (2005-2007) and the Alma Symphony Orchestra (Spring 2006). Over the last six years he has been the Marching Band Instructor in Jackson, Kalamazoo, and Grass Lake, Michigan, as well as a trumpet teacher in Kalamazoo, Jackson, Lansing, Interlochen, and Okemos, Michigan. This is Eric’s first year with the LBB. Congratulations are also in order to Eric and his wife Kim on their recent marriage (June 2, 2007).
Third Cornet
Dan Brock, an attorney by day, has been a member of the Lexington Brass Band for a number of years. He holds a B.A. From UNC-Chapel Hill and his J.D. from the University of Kentucky. His musical experiences include both jazz and chamber groups, instrumental and vocal ensembles. As a native of Lexington, KY, he has played in many local and regional groups. In addition to LBB, he is currently a member of the Bluegrass Area Jazz Ambassadors (BAJA), the Kentucky Jazz Repertory Orchestra (KJRO), Lexington’s Men of Note, and the Notables. He has also played with the Dimartino/Osland Jazz Orchestra (DOJO), Saxton’s Cornet Band, the Central Kentucky Concert Band, Louis Bellson, Bobby Shew, Bryon Strippling, Mary Ellen Tanner, and Bill Watrous, as well as his own son, Zach Brock.
Joel Crawford is a native of Iowa, where he received his Bachelors of Music degree from the University of Iowa. He earned his Masters of Music from Bowling Green State University and is currently working on his Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Kentucky. Joel has played in the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band, the Perrysburg (OH) Symphony (principal trumpet), and the Heritage of the March Band. He is married to Cassandra.