The HoodleBug Brass is the brass quintet-in-residence at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and is comprised of the four full-time and one part-time brass faculty within the Department of Music. The ensemble performs regularly on the IUP campus and presents numerous clinics and concerts in public schools and churches throughout the region each year. In 2000 the HoodleBug Brass co-commissioned a new work for concert band and brass quintet by renowned composer Dr. John Cheetham. “Concertino for Brass Quintet and Symphonic Band” was premiered at the 2001 PMEA Conference held in Hershey, PA. The HoodleBug Brass released its first compact disc, entitled “Brass Fac’s,” in March 2004. The quintet performs works of all styles, from the Baroque to contemporary, pop and jazz.

Interested in having the HoodleBug Brass to your school, church, or community event?

Kevin Eisensmith, trumpet

Kevin Eisensmith is Professor of Trumpet at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he also directs the IUP Trumpet Ensemble and the IUP Jazz Ensemble.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (1978), a Master's degree in Music Performance from Georgia State University (1982), and a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Performance degree from Temple University (1994).  Dr. Eisensmith has studied with John Head, former principal trumpeter with the Atlanta Symphony and with Seymour Rosenfeld, former second trumpeter with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Dr. Eisensmith served as the solo trumpeter with the U.S. Army Forces Command Band (FORSCOM'S OWN) in Atlanta, Georgia from 1979 through 1984 and performed over 700 concerts through 26 states and the Virgin Islands during this period.  As a free-lance artist, Dr. Eisensmith has worked with Carol Channing (Hello Dolly!), Richard Harris (Camelot), Barbara Eden (Woman of the Year), Judy Collins, Andy Williams, The Osmond Brothers, Bob Hope, Bernadette Peters, Julio Iglesias, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Doc Severinson, Shari Lewis, Peabo Bryson, Aaron Neville, Roberta Flack, Melissa Manchester, the Lettermen, the Moody Blues, Natalie Cole, Olivia Newton-John, LeAnn Rimes, Marvin Hamlisch and Peter Nero.  He has performed as principal trumpeter with many regional orchestras in the Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia areas and frequently served as an extra trumpeter with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.  Since 1998 Dr. Eisensmith has served as the principal trumpeter with the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra.

He has published numerous articles in such magazines as The Sinfonian (official magazine for Phi Mu Alpha Professional Music Fraternity), The Instrumentalist, The International Trumpet Guild Journal and the Bluegrass Music News (official magazine of the Kentucky Music Educators Association).  For fourteen years (1991-2005) Dr. Eisensmith served as compiler and editor for the "Trumpet and Brass Programs" issue of the ITG Journal.  He is a member of the Board of Directors for the National Trumpet Competition and is currently the Secretary of the 7,000-member International Trumpet Guild.

His students have established themselves as successful educators and performers.  Many teach in the public schools in Pennsylvania and surrounding states, while others have gone on to instruction at the university level.  Still other former students have achieved success as performers, and serve as members of military bands and symphony orchestras throughout the United States.

Dr. Eisensmith is a clinician for the C.G. Conn Corporation and performs on the Conn Vintage One B-flat and C trumpets and flugelhorn.  He presents numerous clinics and guest appearances annually throughout the eastern and mid-western states.

David Ferguson, trumpet

David Ferguson is a native of Illinois, having received a B.M. in Music Education with Jazz Emphasis from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, an M.M.E. in instrumental music education and an Ed.D. in Music Education from the University of Illinois.

Before joining the IUP faculty, Dr. Ferguson was Director of Bands at Stephen Decatur High School in Decatur Illinois where he taught Marching, Symphonic, Concert, Pep Band, and Jazz Bands for 6 years. In addition to these duties, Dr. Ferguson taught elementary band and strings at several district schools. During his tenure with the Decatur schools, Dr. Ferguson also taught high school orchestra as well as 7th grade general music. Dr. Ferguson has additional experience directing church handbell choirs and vocal ensembles.

Dr. Ferguson has extensive experience as an adjudicator and clinician. He has presented at several regional conferences in Illinois, and has worked with numerous bands in both Illinois and Pennsylvania. Articles under his authorship have been published in the Illinois Music Educator, School Band and Orchestra, The Instrumentalist and the Journal of the National Band Association. He is also listed as a contributing author in the recent MENC publication, Strategies for Teaching: Technology. Several of Dr. Ferguson’s original compositions for brass have also been recently submitted for publication.

Dr. Ferguson has maintained an active trumpet studio throughout his career, having taught privately in Decatur and Champaign, IL and as an instructor in the preparatory department at Millikin University. Likewise, Dr. Ferguson remains active as a performer with experience from Dixieland to Bebop, to Orchestral and chamber music. Locally, he has performed with the Johnstown, Westmoreland, and McKeesport symphonies, the IUP faculty brass quintet, and with a jazz combo fronted by his wife, Laura (also an IUP music professor).

At IUP, Dr. Ferguson teaches Trumpet, High Brass Methods, Music for the Elementary Classroom, and Student Teacher observation. When not teaching or performing, Dr. Ferguson enjoys spending time with his family- in particular with his daughter, Ella and new son, Xavier.

Jack Scandrett, horn

Jack Scandrett joined the IUP faculty in 1980 as a part-time instructor in horn. In 1981 he was appointed to a full-time permanent position teaching horn and music theory. A pioneer in using computer technology in teaching, he established the first computer lab in the Music Department in 1984 with software for aural skills and composition. Over the past two decades, Jack has been involved in many areas of the University and Music Department and served as department chair from 1996-2000. He is a member of both the IUP Woodwind Forum and the Hoodlebug Brass. He is also a member of the Keystone Wind Ensemble with whom he has recorded almost a dozen CD's.

Jack is a graduate of Wittenberg University and the University of Wisconsin where he studied with John Barrows. He played horn in the Indianapolis Symphony and New Jersey Symphony before returning to his native Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he continued his studies with Forrest Standley. For the past 30 years he has been a leading freelance performer in the Pittsburgh area playing everything from pop to Grand Opera and performing with artists ranging from Rod Stewart and Tom Jones to Joan Sutherland and Luciano Pavorotti. He has been principal horn for the Pittsburgh Opera and Ballet Orchestras as well as the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera Orchestra, the Johnstown, McKeesport and Westmorland Symphony Orchestras. For 25 years he was a member of the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble and a soloist for that group on many occasions both in Pittsburgh and New York. Presently he plays third horn in the Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra and recently completed an Ed.D. in Instructional Design and Technology at the University of Pittsburgh.

Christian Dickinson, trombone

Dr. Christian Dickinson has taught at IUP since 1985. He holds degrees from Florida State University and the Catholic University of America, studying trombone with William Cramer, Matty Shiner and Milton Stevens. Dr. Dickinson has performed as soloist with the University Symphony Orchestra, the Percusssion Ensemble, Wind Ensemble and the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra. He has appeared as soloist at the Eastern and International Trombone Workshops. In 1996 Dr. Dickinson performed the world premier of Konowalski's Victoria Regis for solo trombone, chorus and orchestra at the Eastern Trombone Workshop at Ft. Myer, Virginia. He has recorded works for trombone and organ with the late Dr. Carol Teti, former professor of organ at IUP.

Zach Collins, tuba

Zach Collins earned his Bachelor of Music in Tuba Performance from Texas Christian University (2003), his Master of Music (2005) and Doctor of Musical Arts (2007) in Tuba Performance from the University of Southern California. While at TCU, Zach’s primary studies were with Richard Murrow, a freelance musician in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. At USC his teachers were Jim Self and Tommy Johnson, both studio musicians, and Norm Pearson, principal tubist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Zach has had numerous performing opportunities as a freelance musician in Texas and California. He has performed with ensembles such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Pacific Symphony, Festival Orchestra of the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival, Riverside County Philharmonic, Santa Barbara Symphony, Monterey Symphony, Texas Chamber Orchestra, and the Texas Wind Symphony. In these ensembles Zach has performed under the baton of conductors such as Bramwell Tovey, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and Helmuth Rilling. In Los Angeles Zach performed on several motion pictures including Spider-Man 3, Pirates of the Carribean: At World’s End, X-Men 3, Bobby, Next, Rocky Balboa, and Live Free or Die Hard. In 2007 he performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno with the band Korn.

Zach has also been successful as a soloist and chamber musician. He placed 2nd in 2005 and 3rd in 2003 at the Leonard Falcone International Euphonium and Tuba Festival. Zach won first prize at the 2005 Pasadena Showcase House Instrumental Competition. In 2006 as a member of the Metroplex Brass Quintet he performed as a semifinalist in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.

Zach has been an active teacher in both Texas and California. In Texas he taught in the Keller, Grapevine/Colleyville, and Birdville Independent School Districts. In California Zach taught at Cerritos College and in the Walnut Valley School District.

At IUP Zach teaches applied lessons to all tuba and euphonium majors, leads the IUP Tubaphonium Ensemble and teaches Introduction to Music. Zach performs with the Hoodlebug Brass Quintet, Keystone Wind Ensemble, Keystone Chamber Winds, and the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra. In June 2008 Zach performed as a guest artist at the International Tuba and Euphonium Conference in Cincinnati, OH.