Band Director
Kevin Fuhrman has been instructing at Coon Rapids High School for the Marching Band and the Drumline for the past 7 years. Since his first season, the drumline has enjoyed the success of being recognized as "Best Percussion" each fall season. The winter season also has seen dramatic increases in their awards and standings. Even with this success, this is not the test of a truly successful program; what matters is what is accomplished throughout a season and what members take with them on in life.
In this endeavor, Mr. Fuhrman strives to find innovative and, more importantly, highly effective ways to reach musical and personal goals with the group. He is an unceasingly force of service and integrity with these
goals.
His background includes: 20 years of instruction in the marching band and drumline setting, 17 years of private percussion instruction, 15 years of professional performance with his own band, 33° North (steel drum band), along with appearances with other artists that range from Sheri Lewis to the Moody Blues.
Mr. Fuhrman is a clinician for Sabian Cymbals, Vic Firth and Aquarian Drumheads. He continues his performing career in the Twin Cities with many of the top artists in the area. He can be seen playing steel drums, drumset, percussion along with arranging and composing music for organizations. Recently, Warner Bros. published a drumset method book he helped write and was voted #5 of the best drum books by a Modern Drummer poll. He also has written a Mallet Percussion Sightreading book that will train anyone to be able to read music on the instrument.
He currently resides in Coon Rapids with his wife, three daughters and one son.
Contact Kevin at: KFuhrman @ FuhrmanMusic.com
Band Director
Scott Vogel is in his fourth year as Director of Bands at Coon Rapids High School, where he instructs the three daily concert bands, directs the co-curricular jazz ensemble, pep band, and marching band. Scott also serves on the Minnesota State High School League Region 4AA Board of Directors as the Region Music Representative.
Mr. Vogel is in his fourteenth year as a music educator and is also a member of the Music Educators National Conference, the Minnesota Band Directors Association, the National Band Association, and the International Association of Jazz Educators.
Previously, Mr. Vogel was Director of Bands for the Mahnomen, MN. Public and Parochial Schools and Director of Bands at Princeton High School, Princeton, MN. He grew up in Brooklyn Park, MN and attended schools in the Osseo Public School District #279.
After graduating from Osseo High School in 1981, Mr. Vogel began coursework in liberal education at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, as well as North Hennepin Community College in Brooklyn Park. He received an Associate of Arts Degree in 1984 and began his music education coursework at Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN. Later that fall Mr. Vogel received a Bachelors of Science Degree in Secondary Music Education, with a double major in Band K-12, and Orchestra K-12. He graduated with honors, receiving the distinction of Magna Cum Laude.
Mr. Vogel currently resides near Princeton, MN with his wife, Kari, and his three children: Tristan, age five, and two year old twins Carli and Collin.
Assistant Director
Jacob Morris. This is Jake's first year as Assistant Director of the Coon Rapids Marching Cardinals!
Mr. Morris currently teaches middle school band at Watertown-Mayer Middle School in Watertown, MN. His marching experience has included 4 years in the Maple Grove Marching Crimson from 1997-2000, Madison Scouts Bugle Corps in 2001, and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Blugold Marching Band from 2000-2005. Jake has also taught marching band since 2000 including the Assistant Director at St. Michael Albertville High School Marching Knights of St. Michael, MN, Assistant Director of Maple Grove Marching Crimson, Maple Grove, MN, Visual and Brass Coordinator with the Chippewa Falls Marching Cardinals of Chippewa Falls, WI, and Brass Instructor for the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Blugold Marching Band.
His primary instruments are brass, specifically trumpet. World music has been a passion of his for many years having studied many genres including Latin, Jazz, Classical, Afro-Cuban, African, and Indian musics.
Jake's hobbies include running, practicing many instruments, conducting, score study, listening to jazz (perhaps transcribing some solos), and spending time with family and friends! In the summer, you'll find him either up north at a family cabin or on the street with a marching band. During the school year, you'll find him teaching band or spending time with his wife, Sara. They just got married on April 22, 2006! Congratulations!
Mr. Morris looks forward to a great season with the Cardinals...
"If I had a choice between BA (Bad Attitude) and BO (Body Odor), I'd go for the BO!"
Batterie Instructor
Michael S. Neimeyer is enjoying his 4th year at Coon Rapids as the Marching Cardinals Percussion Assistant and the Assistant Winter Drumline Instructor. He began teaching winter drumline at Coon Rapids starting with the 1999-2000 season and added the fall marching band instruction in 2001. Before joining the Coon Rapids music staff, he spent 2 years at Simley High School in Inver Grove Heights.
Michael is an active member and snare drummer of Minnesota Brass Inc. Drum and Bugle Corps where he received Rookie of the Year Award for Percussion in 2000. He also gained experience with the U of MN Marching Band where he marched 5 years (1994-1998) playing snare drum and was Head Stick and Rank Lieutenant for 2 years, 1997 and 1998. He received the Red McLoud Marching Band Scholarship and Outstanding Musician Awards in his final year. After graduating, Michael acted as Assistant Drumline Instructor for 2 years where he wrote show music and cadences.
Michael "Nedge" Neimeyer began his marching career with the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps, from Dubuque, Iowa, where he played snare drum at the young age of 15! After performing across the county with the Colts in 1991 and 1992, he marched with the crowd pleasing and exciting Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps from Madison, WI. He marched two years with the Scouts (1993-1994) where he learned a lot about dedication, hard work, mental toughness and teamwork which have influenced his teaching and performing methods to this day.
Michael's hometown is Racine, WI where he attended Washington Park High School. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1999 with a degree in Geography. Today, he works for a small research and mapping company, Ameregis, in Minneapolis where he studies cities and makes maps. In his free time he likes to run, go bowling, hang out with friends and play cards.
Frontline Instructor
Hope Grover
Hope Grover is excited to be part of the growing music program at CRHS. As a teacher (band, orchestra, and choir) across the parking lot at CRMS, she has the unique opportunity to work with both energetic beginners and successful intermediate performers. Hope helped teach the winter drumline at CRHS last winter.
Hope's background includes a wide variety of musical experiences. In the marching realm, Hope was fortunate to get to do both three years of high school drumline and three years winter guard (Valley Pride) as well as four years of marching band. Outside of her school experience she has also marched five years (1995-1999) with Chops Inc. Drum and Bugle Corps and two seasons with the DCI World Finalist Colts Drum and Bugle Corps (2000, 2001). While marching in drum corps, Hope placed well as a keyboard percussion soloist at the Drum Corps International World Championships and won the Drum Corps Midwest scholarship. In addition to the marching idiom, Hope has been a member of several successful concert ensembles as well as performed on a Leigh Howard Stevens master class.
Hope has taught the winter drumline and percussion ensemble at Minnetonka High School, the winter drumline at Sauk Rapids High School, and Chops Inc. Drum and Bugle Corps. Hope currently teaches both in the marching band and drumline programs at CRHS, writes/designs for the drumline at Sauk Rapids High School, is the director of the Fridley High School winter drumline, and is a recent addition to the percussion staff for the division one Capital Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps from Columbus, Ohio. Her professional affiliations include: Golden Key, MMEA, PAS, and the Vic Firth Education Team.
Visual Instructors
Brian Melland
Eric Merriman. The 2006 season is Eric's third on staff as the Marching Cardinals Visual Caption Head. As a marching member, Eric participated in summer, fall, and winter marching programs at Irondale High School on trumpet and cymbals. In 1998, he marched with The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps on soprano, and then went on to march cymbals and snare drum with Minnesota Brass Drum and Bugle Corps in 1999 and 2001.
Eric attended the University of Minnesota, where he marched two seasons on snare drum. He graduated in December of 2002 with a degree in mechanical engineering.
Marching Band
Matthew Schilken
Matthew Schilken has served as the Marching Cardinals Visual Caption Head for the last four years and has served as the drill writer for the Marching Cardinals in 1999 and 2000. Matthew has marched with the St Cloud All-City Marching Band (93',94') and the Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps (95', 97'). He has served as drill writer for Sartell High School's fall marching band band and winter drumline, as well as a volunteer visual instructor for Minnesota Brass Drum Corps.
Daniel Fitzsimmons
The 2003 season will be Dan's second year with the Coon Rapids Marching Cardinals as the music assistant. Prior to joining the Marching Cardinals, he spent four years on the visual staff at Eden Prairie High School. Dan also spent time on the staff at Knoxville High School in Knoxville, Iowa.
Dan's career as a performer began at Eden Prairie High School where he played the trumpet in all of the top ensembles at the school. Starting in 1991, he joined the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps from Dubuque, Iowa, where he was a member of the mellophone section through 1994.
Dan holds a degree from Music Tech in Minneapolis. He also studied Music Education at Moorhead State University. Dan currently works for a real estate title company and lives with his wife Susan and their Chihuahua, Thor, in a palatial Shakopee estate.
Randi Wielinski
Randi Wielinski was born on a dark and stormy night in an old cabin somewhere in the Midwest, with Sasquatch as midwife. Local legend has it that she was raised by wolves. At the age of 3 she ran away from the den to join the circus, where she learned, then refined, her drum major and fire eating skills. She spent her childhood traveling by boxcar with the circus. She accumulated her vast knowledge of marching bands during stopovers in small towns and cities around the world.
When she was a teen-age werewolf the train derailed in Coon Rapids where, through the witness protection program, she was unceremoniously deposited into the Wielinski household. Randi was a member of the CRHS Marching Cardinals for 4 years, 2 of which were spent as Drum Major. Some of these years were also spent with the Winter Drumline under the tutelage of the infamous Kevin Fuhrman, where she played Bass 1. Upon graduating in 2000 she went underground with the CIA as a trained Ninja. Her cover has been working as Visual Assistant for the Marching Cardinals and Winter Drumline. Randi loves Little Smokies, bowling, and walks in the rain (in that order).
Respectfully but anonymously submitted with apologies to Mary.
Marlene Kvitrud
Marlene participated in the Irondale Marching Knights for four years and the Irondale Winter Drumline for five years. Marlene was the percussion captain for two years and Irondale. She taught the Marching Cardinals Frontline during band camp. In 2006, she played vibes in Minnesota Brass Inc. Drum and Bugle Corps. Marlene will be attending Gustavus College, in St. Peter, in the fall of 2006. She plans to continue to participate in music at Gustavus.
Hana Dehtiar
(Percussion)
Color Guard
Sara Harpestad
Sara Harpestad is an Elementary Education student at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities where she has marched for three years. She graduated from St. Peter High School where she marched for four years. This is also Sara's first year instructing the guard at Coon Rapids.
Becky Musolf
Becky Musolf is a Public Relations student at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and has been a member and instructor of the U of M marching band colorguard for four years. She graduated from Elk River High School in 2000, where she marched for four years and taught for one year. Becky also marched with Minnesota Brass Inc. in 2001 and Avid winterguard in 2002 and 2003. She has taught colorguard at Coon Rapids High School since 2001 and she is also a colorguard member of the Colts Drum and Bugle Corp.
Melissa Wistrom
Melissa Wistrom is currently attending the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities were she is double majoring in History and Criminal Sociology. She was an Elk River Area High School graduate and marched three and a half years with her high school marching band and Winter Guard program. Melissa has also marched two seasons with Minnesota Brass Inc., two seasons with Avid Winter Guard, one year with the University of Minnesota Marching Band and the 2003 season with Colts drum corps. Her past instructional experiences include two years with Elk River Winter Guard program, two seasons with Anoka fall marching band , and Coon Rapids this past winter and fall.
Emily Merriman
Emily Merriman is very excited to be working on the color guard staff this year! Her experience with the Marching Cardinals began this past winter by helping with drill for the winter show. She will now expand her involvement with the program by becoming involved with both the fall and winter programs.
She started out her marching career with the Irondale Marching Knights (1991 - 1995) in the band (3 seasons), drumline (2 seasons), and color guard (6 seasons, and color guard is the only one that stuck). She continued to march in college at the University of Minnesota (1995, 1996) and subsequently in Minnesota Brass Senior Corps (5 seasons), and the Colts Junior Corps (1997). Her winter experience includes marching with Royal Guard Independent Open (1997, 1998) Seneca Independent Open ('99, '00, & '01) and, most recently, Chimeras World Class Color Guard (2003) out of Nashville, TN.
Her main teaching experiences reside with Avid Independent (2002, 2003) and Champlin Park High School (1998 - 2001), where she was co-caption head for three years. Emily holds a degree in Human Resource Development from the University of Minnesota.
