Previous Marching Cardinals Staff
Marching Band Director: Kevin Fuhrman
Kevin
Fuhrman has returned after a one year absence from instructing at Coon Rapids High School for
the Marching Band and the Drumline.
In Mr. Fuhrman's previous tenure he instructed for the eleven years and led the Drumline to a state
championship in 2008.
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, drum set, percussion along with arranging and composing music for organizations.
Recently, Warner Bros. published a drum set 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 Sight reading book that
will train anyone to be able to read music on the instrument.
He currently is a part of the Vic Firth Education Team and the Sabian Education Team. He also
endorses Aquarian Drumheads and HQ Percussion.
Contact Kevin at:
Batterie Instructor
Michael S. Neimeyer
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.
Drumline Director
Matt Kettelhut
Matt Kettelhut is currently an active freelance percussionist, composer and educator in the Twin Cities
area. While maintaining a full load of private percussion students, he also serves as the brass caption
head and arranger for Minnesota Brass, Inc., drum and bugle corps having also taught in similar capacities
with Rochester John Marshall, Burnsville High School, Falcon Ridge Middle School, Rosemount High School,
Eastview High School, Bloomington Public Schools, Buffalo Public Schools, Eden Prairie High School, and
South Saint Paul High School. A graduate of the University of Minnesota and a member of the 1994 DCI
World Champion Concord Blue Devils, Matt has studied with several noted percussionists and has earned an
applauded reputation giving clinics and concerts throughout the US and Europe as part of the Penumbra
Percussion Duo. Matt serves as a judge for the Minnesota Percussion Association, solo/ensemble contests,
and local marching band competitions. He is Treasurer for the Minnesota Percussive Arts Society, a member
of Chamber Music America as well as the Twin Cities Musicians Union.
Band Director
Scott Vogel
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!"
Visual Instructors
Brian Melland
No information available.
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 Staff
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)
Colorguard Staff
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.
Anne Schwalbe
Anne Schwalbe is beginning her second year as colorguard instructor for the Marching Cardinals. She
joined the Coon Rapids staff in 2005 for the fall season and also instructed the guard this past
winter. Anne is pleased to be a part of the staff for the 2006 fall season.
Anne started out her marching experience performing with the Marching Knights at Irondale High
School. She competed with the colorguard for a total of 12 seasons (summer, fall and winter) from
1996-2000 and also played in the concert and jazz bands. Anne also competed with the Seneca
Independent Open Winterguard in 2000.
Her teaching experiences include working with the Waconia and Maple Grove Marching Bands as well
as Coon Rapids.
She currently lives in White Bear Lake, MN and teaches second grade at Lakeaires Elementary
School in White Bear Lake.