Know Your Brigade Staff

     The next staff member in the spotlight is none other than our color guard caption head Todd Neuenschwander.  Todd is one of the funniest people I have ever met and also one of the most talented.  As amazing as he is with everything color guard - he is just as adept at everything musical.  You would think that someone who marched in a drum corps that was world champions both years he was in would have an enormous ego.  Not so with Todd.  If you ask him about his world championship years or what it's like to have two (TWO!!) DCI world championship rings - the most you will get out of him would be something like, "Yeah - we were pretty good those years".

     Todd has brought an extremely high work ethic and desire to always challenge his guard members.  The beauty of it is that all of the girls buy into his teaching style 100% and I wonder if Todd understands just how much his positive attitude also rubs off on the other staff members, students, and parents.  Now on to my Q & A with Todd:

Name:  Todd Neuenschwander

Position:  Color Guard Caption Head

Number of Years on Brigade staff: 6

Marching Band/Drum Corps experience: The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps (2001 and 2002)
 
Current Job: Middle school choir teacher!
 
College degree: Ball State University, K-12 Music Education (instrumental)
 
Main instrument: Saxophone
 
Home Town: Marion, Indiana
 
Birthday: February 23, 1981
 
Favorite Food: I love Italian food.
 
Top Five Favorite Movies: The Godfather, Silence of the Lambs, American Beauty, The Dark Knight, Superman Returns (I need everyone to understand that this was the hardest question on the list)
 
Favorite TV shows: The Sopranos, Smallville, Rescue Me, Simpsons, Star Trek (pretty much all the different versions)
 
Book you are currently reading: Wicked
 
What song is currently playing on your iPod: "I Stand," by Idina Menzel
 
Favorite sports team: COLTS!!!
 
Favorite pig-out food: Nachos!
 
Dream Vacation: DISNEY WORLD!!!!!
 
Worst Habit: Procrastination...oh...and I spend WAY too much money on DVDs
 
Hidden talent you have: I am an innovator of belching technique...but I guess I don't hide it too often
 
Famous person you have met: Ben Folds, Wynton Marsalis, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
 
Famous person you would like to meet: John Mayer, Dave Matthews

Favorite Quote: "Stop wasting so much time remembering what everyone else says, and come up with something clever, insightful, and funny on your own." -Me

Favorite Actor: Al Pacino, James Gandolfini
 
Favorite Actress: Emma Thompson, Meryl Streep
 
Favorite ride at Disney World: Mission Space
 
Add your own personal thoughts about the Lighthouse Brigade:
Working with Brigade over the summer is pretty much the highlight of my year.  I never laugh so much as when I'm hanging out with our staff.  We are probably the most hilarious and brilliant people anyone could ever meet.

Know Your Brigade Staff

     Our next staff member in the spotlight is our new visual caption head, Matt Reichardt.  Matt joined the Brigade staff for our "Dead Men Tell No Tales" tour in 2007 and has been a terrific addition.  He is a very easy going guy who really knows his stuff.  He will probably be remembered best, however, for his involvement in a certain football game that was caught on the 2008 Brigade DVD.  All of us who have seen that footage know what I am talking about and will never forget it.....as for Matt....I think it is something he would like to forget!!

Now on to my Q & A with Matt:

Name: Matt Reichardt

Position:  Visual Caption Head

Number of years on Brigade staff:  3

Marching band/drum corps experience:  Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps ('02 soprano, '03 mellophone), UW-Whitewater Marching Band ('00-'03 mellophone, '04 snare)

Current Job:  AR Analyst

College Degree:  Bachelor of Music - Choral/General Music Education, UW-Whitewater

Main Instrument:  Voice/French Horn

Home Town:  Manitowoc, WI

Birthday:  April 20th, 1982

Favorite Food:  Pistachio Torte

Top five favorite movies:  Shawshank Redemption, The Jungle Book, The Truman Show, Momento, Office Space

Favorite TV Shows:  Seinfeld, The Office, Baseball Tonight

Book you are currently reading:  Songs in Their Heads

What song is currently playing on your iPod:  AIR - How Does This Make You Feel?

Favorite sports team:  Brewers

Favorite pig-out food:  Wings

Dream Vacation:  Germany

Worst Habit:  Eating delicious food all the time

Hidden talent:  Computer programming

Famous person you have met:  Corey Hart

Famous person you would like to meet:  Jerry Seinfeld

Favorite quote:  "These pretzels are making me thirsty!"

Favorite actor:  Tim Robbins, Ed Norton, Steve Carrell

Favorite actress:  Anne Hatheway, Natalie Portman

Favorite ride at Disney:  20,000 Leagues Under The Sea

Add your own personal thoughts about the Lighthouse Brigade:  Lighthouse Brigade is among the hardest working, most dedicated group of students I've ever worked with.  Lighthouse Brigade performs at a very high level, but also does not take itself too seriously.  I appreciate the strong tradition of working hard and having fun and doing the right thing.

Know Your Brigade Staff

    Our next staff member in the spotlight is our music caption head Dan Schmidt.  Dan is simply one of the nicest guys you will ever meet and he is also, like myself, a fan of the wonderfulness that is Starbucks!    Dan is an outstanding musician and teacher but I bet most people don't know that he is really quite adept at computers (especially if they are Mac's).

     Dan has also been the assistant director for the Junior Brigade for the last few years but this year he will only be devoting his time and talents to the Lighthouse Brigade - and we are all very happy to have him working with us again this season!  Now on to my Q & A with Dan:

Name:  Dan Schmidt

Position:  Music Caption Head

Number of years on Brigade staff:  4

Marching band/drum corps experience:  None

Current job:  Instrumental Music Director, Clintonville High School

College Degree:  Bachelor of Music Education - UW-Stevens Point

Main Instrument:  Saxophone

Home Town:  Juneau, WI

Birthday:  July 28th, 1983

Favorite Food:  Steak, Pasta

Top five favorite movies:  any of the Bourne films, The Prestige, Ocean's 11, Dead Poets Society, The Patriot (do you have that one on DVD?)

Favorite TV shows:  Arrested Development, The West Wing, Seinfield, Good Eats, The Daily Show

Book you are currently reading:  Teacher Man, The Audacity of Hope

What song is currently playing on your iPod:  Keith Jarrett: Yesterdays

Favorite sports team:  Does the Chicago Symphony count?

Favorite pig-out food:  Doritos

Dream Vacation:  another European trip

Worst Habit:  Procrastination

Hidden talent you have:  I can fix tractors, sort of

Famous person you have met:  Rex Rukavina

Famous person you would like to meet:  Barack Obama

Favorite quote:  "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.  The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly.  So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." - Teddy Roosevelt

Favorite actor:  Matt Damon

Favorite actress:  This changes on a weekly basis.  This week it is Charlize Theron

Favorite ride at Disney World:  Never been

Add your own personal thoughts about the Lighthouse Brigade:  I'm excited to be back for another great season of Brigade!  I really enjoy being able to do this kind of work and the students and staff are great!

Know Your Brigade Staff

     The next staff member in the spotlight is Steve Lange - one of our percussion technicians.  Steve joined us in 2006, our championship year, and has been a terrific addition to our staff.  Steve can pretty much always be counted on to fix any type of drum using only a rubber band, stick of gum, a penny, or a toothpick!  Steve is an all around great guy and will also "River Dance" for you if you request it of him!  If you are ever having problems in math class - you can also ask Steve for some help!  Now on to my Q & A with Steve:

Name: Steve "MacGyver" Lange

Position:  Percussion Technician

Number of years on Brigade staff: 4

Marching Band/Drum Corps Experience:  14 performing seasons, 6 teaching seasons

Current Job:  Professional Nerd (aka math teacher)

College Degree:  Geographical Quantitative Techniques - UW-Whitewater

Main Instrument:  Kazoo

Home Town:  Atlantis, Lost City of

Birthday:  November 31

Favorite Food:  Gum

Top Five Favorite Movies:  Pulp Fiction, Seven,  The Godfather, Anchorman, Wayne's World

Top Five TV Shows:  South Park, Family Guy, Simpsons, Ali G Show, Ducktales

Book you are currently reading:  The Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson

What song is currently playing on your iPod:  Don't own one......on CD - Stephen Lynch "Voices In My Head"

Favorite Sports Team:  Manchester United

Favorite Pig-Out Food:  Wings

Dream Vacation:  Baghdad

Worst Habit:  Kicking people in the shins randomly on the street

Hidden Talent:  I can drink a half gallon of Gatorade really fast with a sombrero on

Famous person you have met: Vladimir Putin

Famous person you would like to meet:  George Murisan

Favorite Quote:  "It seemed like a really good idea at the time"

Favorite Actor:  Kevin Spacey

Favorite Actress:  Jenna Jameson (yes, she was in House of Wax, I think)

Favorite Ride At Disney World:  Never been

Add Your Own Personal Thoughts About The Lighthouse Brigade:  Where else can a mean spirited individual get power, get paid for yelling, and have people thank him?!  Just kidding, I don't have any power!  The Lighthouse Brigade is the only teaching job I actually like.

Know Your Brigade Staff

     Our next staff member in the spotlight is none other than Matt Koscinski (aka "Satan").  In addition to being one of the funniest people on the planet - Matt has been involved with the Lighthouse Brigade for what seems like forever!  Matt was a marching member in the Junior Brigade when I used to direct it for crying out loud!

     Matt was our visual caption head last year and this year he and Danny Greenberg will be going out west to Oregon for a masters program.  However, he and Danny both agreed to help us out as much as possible until they have to leave!  It is always great to watch young people grow up and become professional musicians and teachers and it has been a true pleasure to have known Matt for so many years and be able to see his progress!  Now on to my Q & A with Matt:

Name: Matt Koscinski

Position:  Visual Consultant

Number of years on Brigade Staff:  9

Marching Band/Drum Corps Experience:  Lighthouse Brigade (5 years), UW Madison (5 years), Phantom Regiment (1 day!)

Current Job:  Director of Bands, Park View Middle School - Mukwonago, WI

College Degree:  Instrumental Music Education - UW - Whitewater

Main Instrument:  Trombone

Home Town:  Racine, WI

Favorite Food: Chipotle Burritos

Top Five Favorite Movies:  Primal fear, Mystic River, Anchorman, Rudy, Caddyshack

Favorite TV Shows:  Heroes, Lost, How I Met Your Mother, The Office, 30 Rock

Book You Are Currently Reading:  The Road

What Song Is Currently Playing On Your iPod:  What's an iPod?

Favorite Sports Team:  UW Badgers

Favorite Pig-Out Food:  Chipotle Burritos

Dream Vacation:  Touring Europe

Worst Habit:  Saying the word, "Ridiculous"

Hidden Talent You Have:  Rock Star at Guitar Hero

Famous Person You Have Met:  Donald Driver

Famous Person You Would Like To Meet:  Barack Obama

Favorite Quote:  Amateurs practice until the get it right, professionals practice until they can't get it wrong   -or-  "It's simple.  Be better"  - myself

Favorite Actor:  Neil Patrick Harris

Favorite Actress:  Angelina Jolie

Favorite Ride At Disney World:  It would have to be around the world in EPCOT (is that even a ride?)

Add Your Own Personal Thoughts About The Lighthouse Brigade:  What can I say.  Where I am right now in life is directly related to my experience in the Lighthouse Brigade.  It's a great way to achieve something greater than yourself while having a blast.  There's a reason that I've stuck around forever.

Know Your Brigade Staff

     Our next staff member in the spotlight is Patrick Coughlin, our percussion caption head and all around great guy.  Patrick has had to deal with my continued razzing about his choices for food whenever the staff is at a restaurant.  Patrick has the unique ability to always choose the wrong food.  Example:  Staff at a steakhouse - Patrick will order some type of pasta dish.  Staff at a burger joint - you guessed it - Patrick is going for the grilled cheese!

     In spite of this major flaw in his personal makeup, Patrick is an amazing musician and teacher and the Lighthouse Brigade is very lucky to have him on staff.  Now, on to my Q & A with Patrick:

Name: Patrick Coughlin

Years on Staff: 6

Marching Experience:  University of Wisconsin Marching Band (2 years), Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps (1 year)

Current Jobs:  Freelance musician; Director of the Green Bay Packer Tundra Drum Line; and multimedia staff at Borders Bookstore in Madison, WI

College Degree:  Percussion Performance - University of Wisconsin

Main Instrument:  Marching Bass Drum

Home Town:  Inukshuk, Alaska

Birthday:  July 14th

Favorite Food:  Corn Dogs

Top Five Favorite Movies:  Shawshank Redemption, Bourne Identity, Dark Knight, Lord of the Rings, Fight Club

Favorite TV Shows:  Mythbusters

Book you are currently reading:  Miley Cyrus autobiography

What is currently playing on your iPod:  4:33" by John Cage

Favorite Sports Team:  Whoever beat the Bears last week

Favorite Pig-Out Food:  Gatorade

Dream Vacation:  Europe.  Again.

Worst Habit:  Narcolepsy

Hidden Talent:  Jim Carrey impression

Famous Person You Have Met:  Donald Driver.  I threw him a pass.  He caught it.

Famous Person You Would Like To Meet:  Brian Urlacher.  I'd kick his butt.  I could take him.

Favorite Quote:  "Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken"  - Tyler Durden, Fight Club

Favorite Actor:  Jim Carrey

Favorite Actress:  Jim Carrey

Favorite Ride at Disney World:  The Lazy River

Add Your Own Personal Thoughts About The Lighthouse Brigade of Racine:  The best thing about Brigade is the booster dinners!

Know Your Brigade Staff

     Really?  Another Brigade staff member and their Q & A??  Really??  Of course this blog entry is on one of our visual consultants for this season - Danny Greenberg.  Danny joined the staff last year and we all really enjoyed his sense of humor and his teaching style and expertise.  We also all went back to our teaching gigs in the fall saying, "REALLY" way too much!  Danny and Matt Koscinski are going out west to Oregon for a masters program and will not be able to be with us for the entire season.  However, they have agreed to help us out as much as possible in the off-season and a part of band camp!  Now on to my Q & A with Danny:

Name - Daniel Greenberg

Position:  Visual Consultant

Number of Years on Staff:  2nd year

Marching Band/Drum Corps Experience:  Rancho Bernardo High School; Esperanza Drum and Bugle Corps; San Diego Alliance (staff); Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps; and Capital Sound (staff)

Current Job: Director of Bands at Merrill Middle School in Oshkosh, WI

College Degree:  Instrumental and General Music Education - UW-Whitewater

Main Instrument:  Tuba/Euphonium

Home Town:  San Diego, California

Birthday:  February 19th, 1983

Favorite Food:  Pasta

Top Five Favorite Movies:  Grumpy Old Men, Ace Ventura

Favorite TV Shows:  Boston Legal, CSI, Simpsons, Chuck, Saved By The Bell

Book You Are Currently Reading:  Reading.....isn't that why they make movies?

What song is currently playing on your iPod:  Lost! - Coldplay

Favorite Sports Team:  Wisconsin Badgers

Favorite Pig-Out Food:  Dots!

Dream Vacation:  Australia - just to see if the toilet water flushes the other direction.

Worst Habit:  Cracking my knucks

Hidden Talent You have:  Poop master extraordinaire

Famous Person You Have Met:  Jason Alexander

Famous Person You Would Like To Meet:  Kate Walsh

Favorite Actor:  Jim Carey

Favorite Actress:  Kate Walsh

Favorite Ride at Disney World:  Space Mountain

Add Your Own Personal Thoughts About The Lighthouse Brigade:  Really!!!!