MUSICIANS
Meet the artists behind Genuine Brass
GARTH ANDERSON, trumpet
Garth Anderson has been playing with Genuine Brass since the founding of the group. In addition to Genuine Brass, Garth performs as principal trumpet with the DuPage Symphony and with the Wheaton Municipal Band where he serves as personnel manager for the group. Garth also performs with the local German band, Alpine Thunder. Previously, he held the positions of second trumpet and personnel manager with the Fox Valley Orchestra, trumpeter in the Chicago Metropolitan Brass Ensemble, principal trumpet with the Chicago Bach Ensemble, and has performed on several solo and duet recitals.
From 2009 to 2019, Garth maintained a studio of 10-15 private trumpet students, several of which went on to study music in college. He received his Masters and Performer's Certificate in Trumpet Performance from Northern Illinois University in 2012 and Bachelor's of Music Education from DePauw University in Greencastle, IN in 2009. His principal teachers include Dr. Mark Ponzo and Prof. Lennie Foy.
He currently teaches beginning band and general music in Prospect Heights School District #23, a position he also previously held in Sycamore School District #427.
BENNETT KONSTANS,
trumpet
Bennett Konstans is a Chicago-based musician with an active and diverse portfolio. He is in demand as an educator, freelance performer, composer/arranger, and adjudicator, regularly working both in Illinois and around the country.
Primarily a music educator, Bennett holds music education degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (BME, 2013) and VanderCook College of Music in Chicago (MMEd, 2023). Bennett currently works in School District U-46 in Elgin, IL, where he specializes as an elementary beginning band director. Bennett also formerly worked as the Assistant Director of Athletic Bands at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL.
As a performer, Bennett maintains an active schedule as one of the most versatile and consistent freelance trumpet players in Chicago. He is a proud member of Genuine Brass, the Andrew Blake Band, 95th Street Band, Trabuco Salsa Band, and regularly performs with a wide variety of musical ensembles in the Chicagoland area as a freelance musician.
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In past years, Bennett has performed as a soloist, guest conductor, or clinician with groups such as the Chicago Brass Band, Wheaton Municipal Band, Naperville Winds, the Chicago Metropolitan Brass Ensemble, Elan Artists' "The District", Hip Pockit, and Modern Soul.
Before beginning his freelance music career, Bennett performed with the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps as a lead trumpet and soloist (2011-2012), and marched for four years in the University of Illinois Marching Illini, serving as a section leader for two.
Bennett is also an active arranger and composer. A member of ASCAP, his diverse portfolio includes both original works and arrangements for marching, jazz, and concert bands, show choirs, as well as a variety of chamber groups and pop music groups.
As an adjudicator, Bennett enjoys working with both groups and individuals. While primarily working in Illinois and the Chicago suburbs, Bennett also travels around the country to work with marching arts groups as a member of the Central State's Judges Association.
Bennett currently lives in Aurora, Illinois with his wife Jenna and their two cats, Pip and Ollie. In his (very scarce) free time, he enjoys traveling, golfing, and spending time with his family and friends.
CHARLES PAYETTE,
horn
Charles is a graduate of Indiana University in Bloomington, IN, where he studied Horn with Philip Farkas. After graduation, he returned to the Chicago Area where he has been an active performer for many years. He has extensive brass quintet experience and loves performing in chamber settings.
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In high demand, Charles performs regularly with many ensembles. Currently he can be heard with Symphony 847, Cinque Venti Wind Quintet, Festival City Symphony in Milwaukee, Harmonies North Chamber Winds and the Chicago Brass Choir. He is an active freelance musician in the Chicagoland area and recently was featured as a soloist with the Glen-Ellyn Wheaton Chorale. Charles spends several weeks in the summer performing with the Lakeside Symphony in Lakeside, OH.
RACHEL MONROE,
trombone
Rachel Monroe is a 2012 graduate of the University of Iowa with a Masters degree in Trombone Performance. Rachel received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2010.
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Rachel won her earliest orchestra position with the Chippewa Valley Symphony Orchestra in 2007. Rachel has since performed with many professional organizations including the Chicago Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra (principal trombone), Lake Shore Symphony, Evanston Symphony, Chicago Metropolitan Brass Ensemble and Fox Valley Orchestra. She is passionate about chamber music; brass quintet being her favorite.
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Rachel served as Director of Bands at Illiana Christian High School (Dyer, IN) for 5 years as well as director of the South Suburban College Symphonic Band for the 2021-2022 season. Recently, she has retired from teaching to be a stay at home mom to her five beautiful children.
Rachel maintains a busy schedule as a substitute musician with the Andrew Blake Band, Lake Shore Symphony, the Chicago Brass Band and the DuPage Symphony. Rachel serves as trombonist for The District through Elan Artists as well as a trombonist for Aragon Artists.
MIKE VASCHUR,
tuba
Mike Vaschur received degrees in both Music Education and Tuba Performance from Northern Illinois University in 2019, graduating Magna cum laude. As a student of Scott Tegge, Mike performed regularly in the NIU Philharmonic, Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, New Music Ensemble, and Huskie Marching Band, in addition to being heavily involved in chamber music, performing tuba-euphonium and brass quintet repertoire.
Most recently, he has performed in the tuba section of the nationally-ranked Chicago Brass Band, and previously with the Elmhurst University Symphonic Band, Sterling Municipal Band, Galena Americana Band, DuPage Symphony Orchestra, Dekalb Municipal Band, and Kishwaukee Brass Quintet, among others.
Beyond playing tuba, Mike is an accomplished electric bass player, performing on stage and in the pit for well over a decade. A first generation Ukrainian immigrant, he has arranged and performed music with his Ukrainian folk band, Клопіт (Klopit), in diaspora communities across America for over 14 years. What he loves most about performing with Клопіт is having a platform to share, promote, and carry on Ukrainian culture through a unique mix of traditional Ukrainian music and the styles we hear in music today.
Mike currently serves as the Director of Bands (6-8 grade) and the Instrumental Jazz Director at Lincoln Middle School in Mount Prospect, IL.
WESLEY WOODWARD,
trumpet
Wesley Woodward, a native of Erie, Pennsylvania is a Chicago based trumpet player.
Wesley has appeared with the DuPage Symphony, Lakeshore Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Center for Contemporary Composition, Lakeview Symphony Orchestra, (Chicago, IL), Lake Forest Civic Orchestra (Lake Forest, IL), Lake County Symphony Orchestra (Zion, IL), Kenosha Symphony (Kenosha WI), Erie Chamber Orchestra (Erie, PA), Johnstown Symphony Orchestra (Johnstown, PA), and Westmorland Symphony Orchestra (Greensburg, PA).
In addition to his passion for trumpet, Wesley is an advocate for new music. He was a premiering soloist for Kevin McKee’s Centennial Horizon for Solo Trumpet and Wind Ensemble (2017), and commissioned 3 Divertimenti for Wind Orchestra by Luigi Zaninelli, which he conducted the premier in 2017. His most recent commission, Impromptu for Solo Trumpet, premiered in March of 2020.
Wesley's principal teachers include Neal Berntsen (Pittsburgh Symphony), Channing Philbrick (Lyric Opera of Chicago) and Mark Ridenour (Chicago Symphony Orchestra). In 2018, he graduated cum laude with a B.M. in Trumpet Performance from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania where he studied with Chad Winkler (Pittsburgh Symphony.)
Wesley currently is on faculty at South Suburban College where he teaches applied trumpet, conducts the Wind Ensemble, and teaches music coursework. Additionally he is the affiliated trumpet instructor at the University of Chicago. Wesley also teaches with The People’s Music School proudly serving the mission of bringing free high quality intensive music education to underserved students in the city of Chicago.
