Clendenin Brass Quartet

The Clendenin Brass Quintet

The Clendenin Brass Quintet is a scholarship ensemble, funded by the generosity of the Clendenin Family of Boulder, Colorado. Dr. W. Ritchie Clendenin served as the trumpet professor and previous director of the group. He retired from teaching in 2002 after 28 years at Fresno State. Selected by audition, the group performs several concerts a year, along with serving in a ceremonial and entertainment capacity on campus and throughout the community.The group is directed by Associate Professor of Music, Dr. Michael Caldwell.

The members of the quintet include:

Scott Dean (Trumpet, Senior, Music Education)

Scott is a graduate of Clovis High School. He also performs with Jazz Band "A," Wind Orchestra and the Fresno Jazz Composers Orchestra. He has been the lead trumpet in the California Institute for the Preservation of Jazz All-State Collegiate Jazz Ensemble for the last three years. Scott maintains a large private trumpet studio with students of all ages.

Gavin Torgerson (Trumpet, Junior, Music Performance)

Gavin has performed in all of the top ensembles at Fresno and has been awarded numerous scholarships. While attending Clovis West High School he earned seats in the National Honor Band, as well as state and local honor bands. He also played principal trumpet and was a soloist with the Fresno Youth Orchestra. He was also selected to perform with California Institute for the Preservation of Jazz All-State Collegiate Jazz Ensemble in 2007

Elisha Wells (Horn, Graduate Student, Horn Performance)

Elisha completed her Bachelor of Arts in Music as a horn performance major in May 2007. She is the Music Alumni Chapter Scholarship recipient for the 2007-2008 academic year and was a member of the President's Quintet from 2004-2006. She also served as Drum Major for the Bulldog Marching Band. Elisha currently performs as Principal horn of the Tulare County Symphony and adjunct horn section member with the Fresno Philharmonic. She traveled around the nation in the Tony Award-winning Broadway show, BLAST! from 2002-2004 , as a horn soloist and a dancer prior to attending Fresno State.

Ryan Terronez (Trombone, Senior, Music Education)

Ryan Terronez in a graduate of Buchanan High School and has studied with many teachers including Tom Ashworth, Wayne Solomon, Bob Bergstrom and Steve Trapani. He spent two years at the University of Minnesota before becoming a student at Fresno State in the Spring of 2007. He currently has a private teaching studio in the Fresno area.

Mark Judd (Tuba, Senior, Music Education)

Mark is a graduate of Liberty High School in Bakersfield. He has studied with Scott Choate and Ed Hull. He has participated in the Wind Orchestra, Jazz Band "A" and is in his third year with the Clendenin Brass Quintet. Mark has also performed with the Tulare County Symphony.