THE PLAYERS
SAXOPHONES
TROMBONES
Chris Allen
Chris Fulton
Eric Johnson
Shawn Lidberg
TRUMPETS
Patrick Gonsalves
Tim Hoffman
Tim Martin
Jeff Nordquist
RHYTHM
Patrick Adkins, piano
Ryan Lodgaard, drums
Keith Schweitzer, bass
Lindy Pederson, guitar
and FEATURING
Jen Burleigh-Bentz, vocals
THE FOUNDERS
TIM HOFFMAN
Trumpet & Artistic Director
Timothy Hoffman is the Instrumental Music Director at Totino-Grace High School in Fridley, MN. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, with a degree in Music Education with a major in trumpet and minors in piano and percussion. Responsibilities at Totino-Grace include directing the Symphonic and Concert Bands, Chamber Percusion, Jazz Ensemble I, Trumpet Ensemble, Pit Orchestra Conductor, as well as combo director and arranger for the varsity show choir, Company of Singers. He also serves as the fine arts coordinator for Totino-Grace High School and the Totino-Grace Fine Arts Academy. In his tenure, the Totino-Grace Bands have toured domestically and internationally, including Vancouver, Germany, Norway, Costa Rica, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico in 2015. Mr. Hoffman holds memberships with NAfME, MMEA, and MBDA, and in 2003 he was awarded the ASBDA Distinguished Young Band Director Award. In addition to teaching private trumpet and composing/arranging lessons, Mr. Hoffman is also a professional freelance trumpet player and composer/arranger in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. He has performed for Disneyland, Mall of America, and with such notable musicians as The Temptations, Sam Moore, Bobby Vinton, Bob Florence, Matt Harris, Sammy Nestico and Allen Vizzutti.
PATRICK GONSALVES
Trumpet & Personnel Manager
A native of California’s Bay Area, Patrick Gonsalves grew up in the Twin Cities before moving east to study music. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in trumpet performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin, Ohio, and a Master of Music degree in trumpet performance from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
An active freelance musician and arranger, Patrick has performed with the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, the Bach Chamber Players of St. Paul, the St. Cloud Symphony, and the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, in addition to various musical pit orchestras. He is currently performing across the upper Midwest with the show “I Am, He Said,” featuring Matt Vee and the Killer Vees, a celebration of the music of Neil Diamond.
Patrick is also a veteran of the Minnesota Army National Guard, retired after twenty-two years of service that included two tours to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During his last tour in 2009, Patrick was staff arranger and assistant conductor of Echoes of Liberty, the ceremonial band element of the 34th Infantry “Red Bull” Division Band of the Minnesota Army National Guard, which performed throughout the country of Iraq.
JOE RODRIGUEZ
Trombone Emeritus
A refugee from Southern California, and 35 year resident of Saint Paul, Joe Rodriguez’ educational experiences are varied and diverse. Joe earned his B.A. from the University of California at Riverside in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Music, and M.A. in Physical Education from San Diego State University. Currently, Joe is a Physical Education Teacher at Totino-Grace High School as well as an (very) Adjunct Faculty member in the music department directing Low Brass Ensembles as well as supporting both Jazz I and Jazz II ensembles.
As a professional free-lance trombone player, Joe has performed with illustrious ensembles such as the Just Friends Big Band, the Chaska Community Big Band, Bellagala Big Band, the Adam Bestler Sextet, Hague Avenue Small Group as well as backing up artists such as Sal Nistico, Ashley Alexander, Bill Richenbach, Bill Yeager, Bruce Paulson, Jim Linnehan, Kathy Jensen, Jim TenBensel, Russ Peterson, Kenni Holmen, Bob Baca, Scott Agster, Grace Kelly, Geoff Senn, and Tim Houlihan.
Joe’s proudest moment in his “jazz world” may have been accidentally walking in on Horace Silver as he was changing clothes; some would say it was life changing. Although his copying skills were poor to begin with, Joe has grown into his current Librarian position, and relishes the challenges associated with copying onto 11 X 17 paper.