Spirit of Atlanta is pleased to welcome back Brass Caption Head Andrew Putnam and his skilled team of instructors for a fourth season. "Andy always does an excellent job with the brass program and we are thrilled the brass staff is returning to SOA. Our members will surely benefit from the depth of talent, experience, and maturity his team will bring to the field this season."
(Executive Director, Dr. Todd Snead)

Also returning this year are Spirit alumni Patrick Hinton (Low Brass Coordinator/Tubas) and Clark Hunt (High Brass Coordinator/Trumpets),  and previous Spirit instructors Dr. Dennis AsKew (Tubas), G-Jon Thomann (Low Brass), and Justin Robinson (High Brass). New to the brass staff this year are Jessi Fazio (Mellophones) and Jason Hausback (Baritones). Both Jessi and Jason hail from Texas, hold advanced degrees in music performance, and are veteran teachers of the drum corps activity. "This team is comprised of incredible musicians and teachers and each have the knowledge, experience, and techniques necessary to take our members to the next level of brass performance." (Andrew Putnam)

To learn more about the SOA 2012 Brass Staff, click on the link below.

Dennis W. AsKew - Tubas/Low Brass: Dr. AsKew currently serves as Professor of Tuba, Euphonium and Music Education, Coordinator for Brass and Percussion, and Director of Athletic Bands at UNC Greensboro. Additionally, he is the Coordinator of Educational Activities for the Miraphone Corporation, a member of the Brass Staff for Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps and serves as Consultant to the Board of Directors for Carolina Gold Drum & Bugle Corps.  Dr. AsKew received degrees from the University of Michigan, Penn State University and the University of Georgia.  He has served as President for the International Tuba Euphonium Association, Assistant Dean for the UNCG School of Music, and was host of the 2002 International Tuba/Euphonium Conference.  In 2003, he was elected an Associate Regent for Pi Kappa Lambda, the music honor society.  He has been active as a performer, having given solo performances throughout the United States, Hungary, Canada, Italy, Finland, Australia and the Netherlands, as well as numerous concerts throughout the United States and China as a member of the Market Street Brass Quintet.

Jessi Fazio - Mellophones: Jessi is currently a freelance hornist in the Dallas-Fort Worth area where she teaches privately to students in grades six through twelve.  Jessi hold a Master of Music in French Horn Performance from the University of Missouri, Kansas City’s Conservatory of Music and Dance, studying with Ellen Campbell. While at UMKC she worked for Interlochen Arts Camp, started teaching privately, and played frequently with the Barn Players and Shawnee Mission Theater in the Park. Jessi also maintained membership with the Topeka Symphony as Assistant Principal Horn.  Prior to her time in Kansas City, Jessi earned a Bachelor of Music degree in French Horn performance from the University of Southern California where she was a student of Rick Todd and Vincent DeRosa.  While at USC she worked under the direction of H. Robert Reynolds as a member of the USC Wind Ensemble.  Additionally she was a member of the Trojan Marching Band and the Disney All-American College Band, at Disney Land in Anaheim.

In addition to her private studio work, Jessi is frequently in demand as a clinician where she regularly presents clinics, master classes, works with marching bands, and prepares small ensembles for competition.  Currently Jessi performs with the Lone Star Wind Orchestra and has also been on brass and visual staff for the Vigilantes Drum and Bugle Corps from Richardson, TX and mellophone and trumpet staff with Revolution Drum and Bugle Corps from San Antonio, TX.

Jason Hausback - Baritones/Euphoniums: Jason is currently a doctoral candidate in trombone performance at the University of North Texas and has been an active teacher and performer in the Dallas/Ft. Worth metro area for the last several years. As a graduate student, Jason has performed with many of the nation’s premiere collegiate groups including the UNT Wind Symphony.  As a former member of the internationally-acclaimed 1 O’Clock Lab Band, he can be heard on the album “Lab 2009,” which was nominated for two Grammy Awards.  Additionally, his international performance credits include engagements in Europe, South America and Asia.  In 2008, Jason was the winner of the Eastern Trombone Workshop National Classical Bass Trombone Solo Competition.  His trombone quartet “Bell Street Four” also won the 2008 ITA Quartet competition.  Prior to his studies at UNT, Jason attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

As an educator, Jason has been involved with many of the premier schools in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He currently is the Adjunct Professor of Low Brass at Eastfield College in Mesquite, TX, and directs both the 4 O’Clock Lab Band and the U-Tubes Jazz Trombone Ensemble at North Texas.  Jason is also active within the marching arts community. Currently he teaches with Marcus High School, the 2006-2010 Texas State Marching Band champions, and was formerly on the staff of Capital Sound (2004-2006) and the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps (2008-2009).  He is very excited to become part of the Spirit of Atlanta staff.

Patrick Hinton - Low Brass Coordinator/Tubas: Patrick is currently a freelance musician in the greater Atlanta area and tubist with the Delta Brass, a performance and educational based brass quintet which works closely with Spirit of Atlanta.  Recently, Patrick served as the Adjunct Instructor of Tuba and Euphonium at Mississippi State University in Starkville, MS, where he was Principal Tuba in the Starkville Symphony Orchestra and tubist with the Golden Triangle Brass. Prior to his time at MSU, Patrick completed a Master of Music in Tuba Performance from the University of Alabama where he studied with Dr. Demondrae Thurman. While at Alabama, he was active in numerous performing ensembles including the Alabama Wind Ensemble and Huxford Symphony Orchestra, performed regularly with the Alabama Faculty Brass Quintet, assisted with The University of Alabama Million Dollar Band, and held a Graduate Assistantship within the School of Music.  In addition, Patrick holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Jacksonville State University. Patrick's drum corps experience includes three years as a marching member with Spirit Drum and Bugle Corps from 2002-2004. Having first taught with the corps as a visual instructor in 2005, he was reconnected with the corps in 2008 as a member of the brass staff, a position he has held ever since. Patrick is looking forward to continuing his duties as a teacher with Spirit of Atlanta.

Clark Hunt - High Brass Coordinator/Trumpets: Clark is currently working on his Masters in Trumpet Performance/Jazz Studies at Georgia State University, where he is the recipient of the Lead Trumpet Graduate Assistantship for the top jazz ensemble. He also teaches Jazz Combo and the Super Sax Ensemble there as well.  Prior to his graduate studies, Clark received a Bachelors degree in Music Education from Jacksonville State University. A SPIRIT alum, Clark was a marching member and soloist from 2001 to 2005, and was also a soloist for the Atlanta CorpsVets in 2009 and 2010. Clark was on staff as last years Trumpet Instructor.  In 2006, Clark was selected as a member of the inaugural cast of INergy out of Indianapolis, where he served as a featured trumpet soloist. In addition to his activities at GSU, Clark remains active as a freelance trumpeter in and around the Atlanta area and works with the Rialto Youth Jazz Orchestra.  Clark is the trumpet teacher at Greater Atlanta Christian School, teaching private lessons and working with their marching band.

Professionally, Clark has performed with jazz greats, Loe Lovano, Wycliffe Gordon, Carl Fischer, Steve Houghton, Terrell Stafford, Joe Gransden, and Vince Gardner.  Clark is the band leader for the Drive-By Big Band out of Atlanta, Ga.  Clark is also a member of the Georgia Brass Band, Salsa great Orquestra MaCuba, The Usual Suspects and Spirit of Atlanta's own Delta Brass.  He is excited to return to SPIRIT of ATLANTA to share his talents as a teacher and performer.

Andrew Putnam - Brass Caption Head: Andrew is currently pursuing a DMA in Wind Conducting from the Conservatory of Music and Dance at the University of Missouri Kansas City where he studies conducting with Steven D. Davis and is active as a graduate teaching assistant in all areas of the wind-band program. Prior to arriving in Kansas City, Mr. Putnam completed a Master of Music in Education from the University of Michigan where he studied conducting with Michael Haithcock, assisted in instructing courses in secondary instrumental methods, oversaw student teacher observations, was on staff of the Michigan Marching Band, directed the Women’s Basketball Band, and is a member of the graduate wind-conducting studio. Additionally, Mr. Putnam holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Currently in his twelfth year of teaching in the drum corps activity, Andrew is the former Director of Bands at Whitnall High School in Greenfield, WI and former performing member of the Madison Scouts and Capital sound. Active as an arranger, his credits list numerous marching bands and drum corps including the Madison Scouts, Glassmen, Spirit of Atlanta, the University of Michigan, and the University of South Carolina.

Justin Robinson - High Brass: Justin is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Trumpet Performance from The Pennsylvania State University where he studies with Langston Fitzgerald and is active as a graduate teaching assistant. Prior to his current appointment, Justin attended Mississippi State University, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education. As a marching member Justin has performed with Memphis Sound from 2004-2006 and later with the Phantom Regiment in 2008. Active as a teaching clinician and performer, he is frequently in demand with high school bands and maintains a private lesson studio. Justin is excited to be returning for his third year on the brass staff at Spirit of Atlanta.

Jonathan "G-Jon" Thomann - Baritones/Low Brass: Mr. Thomann received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Eastern Michigan University and is currently the Associate Director of Bands at Plymouth-Canton High School in Plymouth, Michigan. Prior to his current appointment, Thomann served as the Director of Choirs and the Assistant Director of Bands at Novi High School in Novi, Michigan, where he additionally served a one-year appointment as the Interim Director of Bands. As a clinician, Mr. Thomann has been actively involved with numerous marching bands and indoor drum lines throughout the state of Michigan. As a performer, Mr. Thomann was a marching member of the Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps from 2002 to 2003, and later served as a member of the instructional staff at Southwind from 2004 to 2006. Now in his fourth year with Spirit of Atlanta, “G-Jon” is excited to be returning to the brass staff for his second season.