About Us
Musicians
Current members of Occasional Brass and Strings all hail from New England, and enjoy playing weddings and events in the Boston area. Get to know them here.
Brass
Ami Fields - French Horn
A native of Raleigh, North Carolina, Ami holds her Bachelor and Master Degrees in Horn Performance from the University of North Carolina Greensboro and the University of New Mexico, respectively. You may have heard her playing from behind the scenes in local productions such as 'A Little Night Music' at the Lyric Stage (Back Bay), or 'Into the Woods' at the New Repertory Theatre (Newton). She currently splits her time between the Boston and New York City music scenes. Ami's life ambition is to be immortalized in print on the inside of a Nantucket Nectar's lid.
ami@occasionalbrass.com
Bryan Hilliard (aka Deeb) - Trumpet, Piccolo Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Bryan grew up in Brockton, MA, then studied with Jeff Holmes and the late Walter Chesnut while attending the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He found the funk in 1991 and joined Rippopotamus, a Boston-based funk/rock band. During his tenure with Rippo, he opened for a variety of national acts, including Queen Latifah, Phish, Fishbone, De La Soul, and the Beastie Boys. Bryan can be heard around town playing weddings, musicals, funk, rock, big band, dixieland, salsa, merengue, and even a circus gig or two. He is a featured artist for Sonare Winds, and plays their trumpets exclusively.
bryan@occasionalbrass.com
Neil Godwin - French Horn
Neil holds a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music in Conducting from the University of Mississippi. He also holds a Master of Horn Performance from Boston University, where he studied with Eric Ruske (Cleveland Symphony, Empire Brass Quintet). Neil has a wide range of experience as an orchestral, chamber, and solo performer, and has appeared with the Arlington Street Chamber Players, New World Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic, Mississippi Symphony, Meridian Symphony, and Monroe Symphony. He is an active teacher and performer in the New England area.
neil@occasionalbrass.com
Russell Bogartz (aka Roof) - Trombone
Russell graduated Cum Laude from UMass Amherst with a B.A. in Music Education. He planned to audition for Orchestras but joined the Rock Band Rippopotamus instead, taking on the alter ego "Roof". Rippopotamus went on to win a Boston Music Award for Outstanding Funk Band, licensed a song as the theme song for MTV's Singled Out with Jenny McCarthy, won a WFNX award for Best Jam Band and has played around the country and the Montreal Jazz Festival in Canada. Russell has played with numerous ensembles from Orchestral to Jazz and from Dixieland to Funk.
russell@occasionalbrass.com
Stan Johnson - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Stan has been performing professionally for 22 years. In addition to his work with us, he has been performing for weddings, holiday celebrations, and sacred music and is currently on staff with Entertainment Specialists and Groove Entertainment agencies. Stan has performed at music festivals in Montreaux, New Orleans, Chicago, Memphis, and Detroit. Recently, performances included a Western US tour with Mighty Sam McClain, sideman with guitarist Rick Russell and organist Ron Levy, and trumpet for the Sweet Willie 'D' Band. He also performs with his own jazz trio.
stan@occasionalbrass.com
Tom Haggerty - Tuba
Tom Haggerty's recent performing highlights include performances with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, Boston Pops Esplanade, Boston Philharmonic, and the Hot Tamale Brass Band. He was recently appointed to the tuba chair of the Orchestra of the Indian Hill (Littleton, MA). Previously, he earned Bachelor's Degrees at Northwestern University (B.M. tuba performance and B.S. applied mathematics) while establishing a freelance career in Chicago, including performances with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra. Tom currently studies with Mike Roylance, Principal Tuba of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
tom@occasionalbrass.com
Strings
Barbara Zdravesky - Cello
Barbara Zdravesky began playing the cello at the age of eight in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She began her college cello studies at the University of New Mexico with Joanna DeKeyser, and finished with George Mack at Rhode Island College. Barbara received her degrees in music and anthropology from Rhode Island College. Barbara has performed with several orchestras in the area including the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra, the Rhode Island Civic Chorale Orchestra, Musica Dolce, and has held the principal cellist seat in the Rhode Island College Symphony Orchestra since 1993. She has also performed with numerous small ensembles, regional community theater groups, and in several local establishments and churches.
barbara@occasionalbrass.com
Jeanne Drumm - Violin, Viola, Piano
A native of Seattle, WA, Jeanne received Master of Music degrees in both piano and viola from the University of Washington before moving to Boston to pursue a Doctorate in viola at New England Conservatory with Carol Rodland, Marcus Thompson and Kim Kashkashian. She frequently performs with many area orchestras, including principal viola with the Cape Ann and Brockton Symphonies. Over the past three decades, Jeanne has been heard in theater pits, as part of a jazz ensemble, playing chamber music in Jordan Hall, as a concerto soloist in Seattle's Meany Hall, performing in Swiss chapels, and at many windy weddings. She hopes to one day be a college professor.
jeanne@occasionalbrass.com
Meghan O'Connor - Violin
Meghan O'Connor began studying the violin at the age of six. A 2002 graduate of Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY, Meghan received a BA degree with honors in music and mathematics. She is a private violin instructor and freelances throughout Southern New England. She has performed with the Eastern Connecticut Symphony, the Rhode Island Pops, and the Rhode Island College Symphony Orchestra. Meghan is a member of the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra, Musica Dolce, and is concert master of the Newport County Community Orchestra. In the spring and summer she manages the Box Office for the Newport Music Festival.
meghan@occasionalbrass.com
Susan Kirchhausen - Viola
Susan Kirchhausen grew up in Baltimore, MD and began studying music at any early age. A graduate of Florida State University (Music Performance - Viola), she went on to earn her Masters in Music Education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She is a member of PiKappa Lambda, the Music Honor Society there. Susan is a freelance teacher and violist in the New England area. In addition to her work with Occasional Brass & Strings, she can be heard in many local concerts and shows.
susan@occasionalbrass.com
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