Established in 1968, The Potsdam Brass Quintet is the brass quintet-in-residence at The Crane School of Music, State University of New York at Potsdam. The quintet has performed in concert throughout the United States and Canada in such venues as New York’s Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Its versatility has lead to a wide variety of concerts, from recitals to collaborations with international artists including the Canadian Brass and the Greg Smith Singers. The ensemble has been featured at national and international music conferences including appearances at the International Trombone Festival, International Horn Society Workshop, College Music Society Convention, Skyline Brass Music Festival, MENC Nation Convention, and the New England Brass Convention. The PBQ has been featured on radio and television throughout the United Sates, including a special on WPBS. In addition, the quintet is devoted to its role as educating the nation’s young people by presenting clinics and workshops for music educators at regional, state and national music conferences and for younger audiences in elementary, secondary school and university settings.

The Potsdam Brass Quintet has recorded four albums on the Kendor and Mark Recording labels – New York Composers, Music for Brass Quintet, La Réjouissance, and The Art of Brass.

John Ellis, Trumpet

A native of Chicago Illinois, John Ellis has performed as soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. He holds the degree of Doctor of Music from Arizona State University, where he studied with David Hickman. A versatile performer and educator, Dr. Ellis has appeared with a variety of musical organizations and artists including the Canadian Brass, the US Army Brass Band, Studio de Musique Ancienne de Montreal, the Calgary Philharmonic, the Moody Blues, as well as Grammy Award winners Diana Krall, Tony Bennett and Anne Murray. He has been heard internationally in broadcasts by CBC-Radio Canada, and has presented clinics and recitals at prestigious institutions and festivals throughout the world, including The Juilliard School, Cincinnati Conservatory, the National Trumpet Competition, International Horn and Trombone Festivals, Summit Brass, the Banff Festival, and the Raphael Mendez Brass Festival. He is currently Principal Trumpet of the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of Northern New York.  Dr. Ellis holds the position of Professor of Music at The Crane School of Music.  His solo recording, SoloPro, Music for Trumpet, is released on the Summit Records label.

James Madeja, Trumpet

A member of the faculty of the Crane School of Music and the Potsdam Brass Quintet since 1985, James teaches studio trumpet and conducts the Crane Brass Ensemble in addition to teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in research methods, curriculum development and instrumental music education.  He received his B.S., M.S. and EdD. Degrees in Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He currently is Principal Trumpet of the Northern Symphonic Winds, and performs with the Orchestra of Northern New York.

Kelly Drifmeyer, Horn

Kelly joined the Potsdam Brass Quintet and the Crane faculty in 2001. She received her B.M. from the Eastman School of Music and subsequently earned her M.M. from the University of Michigan. Ms. Drifmeyer spent much of the previous decade performing with the Windsor Symphony (Ontario), the Kansas City Symphony and New Ear, a contemporary music ensemble. Ms. Drifmeyer has also performed with the North Carolina Symphony, the New Mexico Symphony, and the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional in the Dominican Republic. Ms. Drifmeyer previously taught at the University of Michigan-Flint, the University of Missouri - Kansas City, and the Bingham Arts Academy. 

Mark Hartman, Trombone

Mark holds degrees from Mansfield University and Arizona State University. He has performed with the Phoenix Symphony, the Vermont Symphony, the Brevard Music Center Orchestra and Summit Brass. He is currently principal trombone of the Orchestra of Northern New York and trombonist with the Skyline Brass Ensemble. Dr. Hartman is active as a soloist throughout the eastern United States and has presented clinics and recitals at the International Trombone Workshop, The Western Massachusetts Trombone Workshop and the New York School Music Association Conference. Dr. Hartman teaches trombone studio, trombone techniques, brass quintet and conducts the Crane Trombone Ensemble.

Charles Guy, Tuba

Before joining the Potsdam Brass Quintet in 2002, Chuck taught at Lawrence University Conservatory of Music. He holds the Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees from Michigan State University and the Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Akron. In 1999 he won the Leonard Falcone International Solo competition for Tuba. His performance experience includes several symphony and opera orchestras as well as various chamber ensembles. In the summers he is the tuba and euphonium teacher at the Interlochen Arts Camp. He is a clinician for DEG Music products.