The Natural State Brass Band
Conducted by Russell Morris

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Personnel

Conductor
Russell "Rusty" Morris is conductor of the Natural State Brass Band and a two-time University of Arkansas graduate (B.S.E., 1985; M.Ed., 1987). Rusty is president of the North American Brass Band Association (NABBA) Board of Directors. He is warehouse manager for RichSmith Development, LLC, and lives in Little Rock with his wife, Nadine. Rusty plays trumpet with the Ozark Point Brass Quintet and the North Little Rock Community Concert Band. Hometown: Arkadelphia, Arkansas

Cornets
Courtney Swindler is a mechanical contractor and graduate of the University of Arkansas. His wife, Kim, works with children with learning disabilities. They have twin sons, Alex and Andrew. Hometown: Little Rock, Arkansas

Georgine Brite Gantz is a trainer and operates the help desk for the law firm of Wright, Lindsey, & Jennings LLP. She has two daughters and three grandchildren. Georgine plays trumpet with the Quapaw Brass Quintet and the North Little Rock Community Concert Band. Hometown: Sapulpa, Oklahoma

Paul Smith is a contractor. He earned a bachelor's degree in music education from Mississippi State University and a master's degree in music education from Delta State University. Hometown: Kassuth, Mississippi

Chris LaCerra is a band director at Conway Public School. He received a bachelor's degree in music education and a master's degree in music education from Henderson State University. His wife, Traci, is an attorney at the Hilburn Law Firm, and they have one daughter, Caitlin.  Hometown: Bryant, Arkansas

Rick Wilson is a welder. Rick and his wife, Tina, live in Sardis. He plays trumpet with the North Little Rock Community Concert Band and enjoys running. Hometown: Sardis, Arkansas

Dan Case is director of engineering/MIS for Citadel Broadcasting Company. He and his wife, Sharon, have one daughter, Sara, who teaches German to elementary students. Dan plays in the worship band at Parkway Place Baptist Church. Hometown: Erie, Pennsylvania

John Harrison is an executive with IBM Corporation. He earned a bachelor's degree in computing science from Texas A&M University. John and his wife, Lourdes, live in Little Rock. Hometown: Tyler, Texas

Addison Anderson is a student at North Little Rock High School. Addison also works at Saied Music Company. Hometown: North Little Rock, Arkansas

Eb Soprano Cornet
Stephen G. Cross is a music teacher at Pine Haven Elementary in Bauxite. Steven received a bachelor's degree in music education from Henderson State University, where he studied trumpet with Don Kramer and Jim Buckner. Steve has two sons, Thomas and Ray. Hometown: Little Rock, Arkansas

Repiano Cornet
Wes Hall has worked in the mortgage finance industry for the past 20 years, mostly in large secondary market transactions. He also owns a couple of small businesses in Little Rock, including Hangers Cleaners. Wes and his wife, Sue Ann, have two sons and a daughter-in-law and are expecting their first grandchild in November 2007. Wes studied trumpet at the University of Central Arkansas under Ron Fox and Larry Jones and continues to study privately with Larry Black of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. He plays in the worship band at Fellowship Bible Church and is a substitute trumpet player for the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. Hometown: Little Rock, Arkansas

Flugelhorn
Larry Crenshaw is an electrical contractor and co-owner of Harvill-Byrd Electric. Larry and his wife, Donna, have a daughter, Jamie, and a son, Michael. Larry plays trumpet with the Immanuel Baptist Church Orchestra and Immanuel Brass. Hometown: Lubbock, Texas

Tenor Horns
Robert Herring is a brass instrument technician. He earned a bachelor’s degree in piano performance from Henderson State University. Robert’s wife, Melinda, designed the Natural State Brass Band logo.  Hometown: Hot Springs, Arkansas 

Clyde Snider is an audio producer, director, and engineer. He earned a bachelor's degree in music education from Ouachita Baptist University. He spent several years as a high school band director. Clyde is a past board member of the Little Rock Wind Symphony. His wife, Joyce, is a big supporter of the band and travels to all of the concerts and competitions. Hometowns: Smackover and Camden, Arkansas

Jimmy Dugan is a contractor. He is a founding member of the Little Rock Wind Symphony. Jimmy plays french horn with the South Arkansas Symphony, Pine Bluff Symphony, Capitol Brass Quintet, and Hillcrest Woodwind Quintet. Hometown: Little Rock, Arkansas

Tom Reynolds earned his bachelor's degree in music education in 1970 from Arkansas Tech University and serves on the alumni board of that institution.  He is owner/operator of a screenprinting and embroidery business in Sherwood.  Hometown: Fort Smith, Arkansas

Trombones
Larry Vaught is a judge with the Arkansas Court of Appeals. He earned a bachelor's degree from Washington University. He is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Bowen School of Law. Larry and his wife, Sheila, have two daughters and two grandchildren. Hometown: Little Rock, Arkansas

Steve Greer is employed with Arkansas Cardiology. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Arkansas, a master's degree in medical management from Carnegie Mellon University, and a medical doctorate from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Steve and his wife, Pam, have two sons. Wes is a pre-med/biology major at the University of Arkansas, and Rob is an accounting major at Ouachita Baptist University. Hometowns: Little Rock and Camden, Arkansas

Robert Fleming is budget director at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Bowen School of Law. He received a bachelor of arts degree in music from Arkansas Tech University, a master's degree in education from the University of Arkansas, and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Robert and his wife, Rita, have two grandchildren, Bekah and Zac. Hometown: Benton, Arkansas

Bass Trombone
Paul Taylor is assistant band director at Conway High School and is a graduate of the University of Central Arkansas. He assists with the Conway High School marching band, is co-director of the Conway High School jazz bands and is low brass instructor at the beginner and intermediate level. Paul plays trombone with the Immanuel Baptist Church Orchestra, where he also is a member of Immanuel Brass and the Immanuel Praise Band. He plays bass trombone and tuba with Jubilation Jazz, a Christian big band group. Paul and his wife, Judy, have one daughter, Mary Elizabeth (M.E.) who is a beginning woodwind player. Hometown: Helena, Arkansas

Baritones
Franklin Washburn is retired after careers as a band director and professional photographer. He is a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University. Frank and his wife, Lyda, have one daughter and three grandchildren. Frank plays euphonium with the North Little Rock Community Concert Band. He also plays in the Geyer Springs First Baptist Church Orchestra. Hometown: Little Rock, Arkansas

Judyth Swingen is a professor of accounting and taxation at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She earned bachelor's and master's degrees in music education at the University of Wisconsin - Platteville, a master's degree in accounting at the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater and a Ph.D. in accounting and taxation at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Judyth and her husband, Richard, live in Maumelle.

Euphoniums
Tina Hall is internal communications senior specialist for Heifer International. She earned a bachelor's degree in English from Henderson State University and a master's degree in journalism from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Hometown: Pearcy, Arkansas

Dick Miller is a field consultant with Subway Corporation. He played with the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command Band. Dick and his wife, Peggy, have three children and five grandchildren. Dick plays euphonium with the North Little Rock Community Concert Band. Hometown: Maumelle, Arkansas

Bb Basses
Scott Bishop is an account manager with Corporate Express. Scott received a finance degree while playing in the Razorback and Hog Wild Bands at the University of Arkansas. He plays tuba with the Immanuel Baptist Church Orchestra and Immanuel Brass. Scott lives in Maumelle with his wife, Robin, and son, Taylor. Hometown: Little Rock, Arkansas

Kevin Sanders is low brass instructor at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith. He received a bachelor's degree in music from Indiana University and a master's degree in music from The Juilliard School. Kevin also performs with a large brass ensemble, Brass Engine, based in New York City. Hometown: Bryant, Arkansas

Eb Basses
Matt Jamison is a software developer at Acxiom Corporation. He received a bachelor's degree in computer science from Henderson State University. Hometown: Conway, Arkansas

Rico Belotti is a retired band director and graduate of Arkansas Tech University. Rico directs the North Little Rock Community Concert Band. He is immediate past president of the Arkansas Bandmasters Association. Rico and his wife, Ginny, have a daughter, Leah. Hometown: North Little Rock, Arkansas

Percussion
J.B. Cross is a lawyer with degrees from Hendrix College and the University of Arkansas Law School. J.B. and his wife, Debby, have a daughter, Sarah, and a son, Bracy. J.B plays percussion with the North Little Rock Community Concert Band and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Community Orchestra. Hometown: Little Rock, Arkansas

Richard Hawthorne is an accountant for ALLTEL. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting from Hendrix College. Richard performs with the chancel and handbell choirs at First Presbyterian Church in Conway. Hometown: Tulsa, Oklahoma

Richard Stein is a choir and band director with Perryville Public Schools. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees in church music. Richard performs with the Little Rock Wind Symphony and Pine Bluff Symphony. Hometown: Toledo, Ohio

Kevin Noble is a pharmaceutical sales representative. He received a percussion degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Kevin participates in the music ministry of St. Mark Church. His grandfather won a Grammy Award for gospel quartet music. Hometown: Little Rock, Arkansas