Chamber Series
Musaeus performs a wide variety of repertoire ranging from masterpieces of the Baroque, Classical and Romantic eras through to Twentieth Century classics and arrangements of jazz and popular music. Every season, Musaeus presents approximately forty public performances. These include Lethbridge Symphony`s Chamber Music Concert Series and the Musaeus At Noon series performed at the Lethbridge Public Library.
Musaeus helps to keep the Mission Statement of Lethbridge Symphony Association "in tune" as they provide entertainment while educating, through a comprehensive program of concerts in many schools. Musaeus is Norbert Boehm, violin I; Maria Geppert, violin II; Graham Tagg, viola; and Mark Rodgers, cello.
Photo: Shannon Nesbitt
Trudi Mason - Trumpet
Currently the professor of Trumpet at the University of Lethbridge and
Principal Trumpet of the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra, Trudi is a graduate of
the University of Lethbridge and holds a Master of Music Degree from the
University of Louisiana (Trumpet Performance). She has held positions at
the University of Louisiana and West Virginia Wesleyan College. She has
performed with numerous groups throughout Canada and the United States
including the Appalachian Brass Quintet, West Virginia's premier Brass Quintet,
the Louisiana Brass Quintet, Fairmont Festival Chamber Orchestras, Acadiana
Symphony Orchestra, Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra, and the Wednesday Night Big
Band. Trudi recently performed a recital on the University of Louisiana’s
Chamber Series and has appeared as the featured soloist with the Fairmont
Festival Chamber Orchestras, Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra and the Musaeus
String Quartet. As a Kindermusik and studio teacher for the University of
Lethbridge Conservatory of Music, as well as an active clinician, Trudi works
with young children and musicians of all ages and has spent the majority of her
life as a music educator.
Keith Griffioen - Trumpet
Keith Griffioen graduated with a Bachelor of Music in 1996 from Western
Washington University and also holds a Bachelor of Education (2007) from the
University of Lethbridge. A former University of Lethbridge and
Conservatory of Music trumpet studio teacher, Griffioen currently teaches his
own private studio and performs with the University of Lethbridge Faculty
Brass. Until last year, Keith spent nine seasons as principal trumpet of
the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra from which he has taken leave due to an
increasing family. Keith has also performed in the past with the Seattle
Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as four seasons as principal trumpet of the
Collegium Musicum of Bellingham (WA), a position which included two extensive
European tours as a soloist and section leader. Formerly the director of
bands and choirs at Immanuel Christian High School, Keith currently teaches
band, choir and Social Studies at Wilson Middle School in Lethbridge.
Thomas Staples – Horn
Thomas Staples is Professor of Music and Director of Bands at the University of
Lethbridge. He holds degrees from the University of Saskatchewan, James
Madison University, and earned his DMA at University of Iowa, where he studied
horn with Paul Anderson and conducting with James Dixon. Now in his 22nd
year at the University of Lethbridge, Thomas Staples is in his 12th year as
Director of Bands.
In addition to regular performance as a horn soloist at the U of L, Dr. Staples
has been soloist with several bands and orchestras in Western Canada, most
recently as horn soloist with the Lethbridge Symphony in 2007, and at The Call
of the Wild Horn Festival in 2006. A keen advocate of music for chamber music
and brass ensembles, Staples has a lengthy background with groups such as The
University of Lethbridge Faculty Brass, The Commonwealth Brass, The New West
Brass, The Saskatoon Brass and The Southern Alberta Brass. He has been
principal and section hornist with several orchestras in North America and has
been principal horn with the Lethbridge Symphony for the past twenty years.
Gerald Rogers - Trombone
Gerald is principal trombone in the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra, lead
trombone in the Lethbridge Big Band, and has played in all New West Theatre
productions requiring trombone since 1998. He has also performed in
numerous musical theatre orchestras, dance bands, jazz and brass ensembles in
southern Alberta for more than thirty years.
Nick Sullivan – Bass Trombone
Nick returned to Lethbridge after graduating from the University of Victoria
Master of Music degree program in 2007. While in B.C., he had the opportunity
to study with distinguished tuba performer and instructor Eugene Dowling, as
well as work with Canadian trombone legend Ian McDougall. Nick has also
studied with John D. Rojak, of the American Brass Quintet and the Juilliard
School of Music, at the Aspen Music Festival and School. Currently, Nick
is the professor of Low Brass at the University of Lethbridge.
Nick has a strong passion for brass chamber music, and has performed in
numerous chamber music settings. While in Victoria, his brass quintet gave
several recital performances, including a benefit for the Kidney Foundation of
Canada. In 2007, his quintet was featured in the Canadian premiere performance
of Eric Ewazen’s Shadowcatcher,
a concerto for brass quintet and wind orchestra. Additionally, he has
studied brass chamber music and performance under the guidance of the American
Brass Quintet.