Suncoast Brass Holiday Concert

Cindy Scaruffi-Klispie, Trumpet
Cindy Klispie has a M.M. from Northwestern University, an M.A. from Barry University, and a B.M. from Illinois State University. She has played Principal Trumpet with the Rome Opera, the RAI Orchestras of Naples and Turin, the San Carlo Opera in Naples, the Southwest Florida Symphony, the Florida West Coast Symphony, and many other ensembles. She is an adjudicator for the Florida Bandmasters Association and a member of the International Trumpet Guild. Ms. Klispie is currently the Director of Music at San Antonio Catholic Church and on the music faculty at Edison College. She also teaches private lessons on brass instruments.

Alan R. Klispie, Trumpet
A native of Sarasota, Florida, Alan Klispie has lived in Charlotte County since 1966. Mr. Klispie is a graduate of Charlotte High School and the University of Tampa. He did postgraduate work at the University of South Florida (with Dr. Mallory Thompson), Florida State University (with Dr. James Croft), University of Miami, and the University of Florida. He was the instrumental music instructor at St. Charles Borromeo Schoolfrom 1977 until 1998. Mr. Klispie is now the band director for five elementary schools in Charlotte County. He has played in the Charlotte Symphony since 1986 and is the orchestra stage manager. He is a member of the Florida Bandmasters Association and the International Trumpet Guild.

Al Mitchell, French Horn
Al Mitchell is an accomplished symphonic musician and an experienced church music director. He has served as Director of Music in churches in Virginia, Missouri, Maryland, Alaska, and oversees. Instrumental performance credits include the Reston Symphony, Stuttgart-Munster Orchester, Atchison Symphony, Contra Costa Orchestra, Fairbanks Symphony, and the Charlotte Symphony. He
is currently with the Venice Symphony. Al has a BSEd from Ohio University and an M.A. from Central Michigan University. He has done graduate work with Central Missouri State University and the Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Mr. Mitchell is a member of the International Horn Society.

Jamie Marshall, Trombone
Jamie Marshall is in his 14th year as head of music studies for Saint Stephen's Episcopal School in Bradenton, Florida. He has been the dean of students for the past 3 1/2 years, and has recently returned to the classroom on a full time basis. In addition to teaching, he has accepted the position as
the school’s administrative ombudsman. Mr. Marshall is active in the southwest Florida music community, playing principal trombone with the Venice Symphony and the Sarasota Pops Orchestra, and is the trombonist for the ten-piece Big Z and the Sophistikats Band. He is a member of the Florida Bandmasters Association, the Florida Vocal Association, and the International Trombone Association.

Thomas Kracmer, Tuba
Thomas Kracmer is a graduate of Northern Illinois University. For nine years, he was the Principal Tubist of the Xalapa Symphony Orchestra, a member of the Xalapa Brass Quintet, and the Instructor of Tuba at the University of Veracruz in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico. Since his return to the United States in 1989, Mr. Kracmer has performed with the Southwest Florida Symphony, the Naples
Philharmonic, and the Florida Orchestra, as well as numerous chamber ensembles. He is currently the Principal Tubist of the Southwest Florida Symphony, brass coach of the Southwest Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra, and owner of Cadence Music in Ft. Myers, Florida.