Ralph Schweigert, conductor
Mr. Schweigert retired in 1998 after a long and distinguished career as Director of Bands for Gaylord Community Schools. Under his leadership, the Gaylord Symphony Band developed an international reputation for excellence in performance, earning praise from such distinguished conductors and adjudicators as Dr. Harry Begian, Professor emeritus of the University of Illinois, Larry Rachleff of Rice University, and Col. George Evans, Music Director of the Royal Military School of Music in London.
Mr. Schweigert and the Gaylord Symphony Band consistently earned the highest First Division (Superior) ratings at district, state and national festivals. In 1993, they won the Prize of Honor of the City of Vienna as the "Best Band of the Festival" at the 22nd International Youth Music Festival in Vienna, Austria. In June of 1995, they were invited to perform a concert of original Russian music for band on the stage of famed Carnegie Hall in New York City under the auspices of Mid-America Productions. They have also been chosen to perform at the Midwestern Conference on School Vocal and Instrumental Music at the University of Michigan on two separate occasions with the 1990 performance consisting of a complete performance of Hector Berlioz's Grande Symphonie funebre et triomphale.
A graduate of Central Michigan University, Mr. Schweigert has served on the conducting faculty at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, as a Guest Conductor of both the Just Brass Ensemble and the Honors Brass Ensemble programs at Central Michigan University, and as a trumpeter with the United States Continental Army Band at Fort Monroe, Virginia. He is currently very active as a concert band clinician and MSBOA Adjudicator throughout Michigan.
In addition to being a founding member and conductor of the Northern Michigan Brass Band, he is also conductor of the Gaylord Community Band and a founding member of the Sine Nomine Brass Quintet. He holds professional memberships in the International Trumpet Guild, the American School Band Directors Association, and the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association. Ralph and his wife Linda have been married 50 years and have two children, an oboist and a trumpeter, who are both professional musicians, and two grandchildren.
David Martin, Assistant Conductor
David Martin, Assistant Conductor, has enjoyed a lifetime of music. Beginning with piano lessons at age 9, followed by
trumpet and then tuba lessons at age 10, Dave has thoroughly enjoyed all things music. He got his first taste of
conducting in his HS Band where he conducted the Basketball Pep Band!
Dave grew up in St. Louis, MO and went on to major in music education at the University of Michigan which began a very
successful 18-year career as a public schools band director in both the Reed City (MI) and Jackson Northwest (MI) band
programs. Dave received his Masters of Music in Wind Conducting from the University of Colorado where he studied under
Alan MacMurray. Under his direction, the Jackson Northwest HS Symphonic Band performed in Hill Auditorium at the
Midwestern Conference on School Music and his jazz band twice performed at the Detroit Montreux Jazz Festival. His High
School Bands were consistent First Division recipients at both the District and State levels. Dave was the Artistic
Director/Conductor of the Encore Winds from 2003 through 2008.
Dave enjoys living in northern Michigan and playing tuba and conducting alongside the wonderful people of the Northern MIchigan Brass Band.