Compass Rose Brass Ensemble
April 25th, 2026
7:30 PM

Christ United Methodist Church​
Featuring 
Compass Rose Brass Ensemble
Trumpet: Ben Alle, Josh Cameron, Dean Heller, Patrick Gonsalves
Horn: Matthew Renz
Trombone: Zach Gingerich, Christian Howard, Felix Regalado
Bass Trombone: Chris Allen
Tuba: Trygve Skaar


Program

Giovanni Gabrieli (1556-1612) - Sonata pian' e forte
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) - Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) - Music for the Royal Fireworks
Edward Elgar (1857-1934) - "Nimrod" from the Enigma Variations
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) - Brandenburg Concerto No. 3
    I. (Allegro)
    II. Adagio
    III. Allegro

INTERMISSION

Giovanni Gabrieli (1556-1612) - Canzon Septimi Toni No. 2
Franz Biebl (1906-2001) - Ave Maria
Chris Hazell (b. 1948) - Three Brass Cats
    I. Mr. Jums
    II. Black Sam
    III. Borage
Andrew Lloyd-Webber (b. 1948) - Pie Jesu
Queen (est. 1970) - Bohemian Rhapsody
We welcome the return to Rochester of the Compass Rose Brass Ensemble. Their brilliant sounds will close the season with a varied program featuring works from the 17th century to the present times. 

Ben Alle

Ben Alle is a freelance trumpet performer in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Minnesota School of Music, where he studied with David Baldwin. Prior to his graduate studies, Ben studied with Terry Schwartz at the Conservatory of Music at Wheaton College. Ben is the principal trumpet of the Wayzata Symphony Orchestra, assistant principal trumpet of the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, and a member of the Minneapolis-based Compass Rose Brass Ensemble. He has performed with the Thunder Bay Symphony, as well as a number of Minnesota-based ensembles, including the Mankato, and Kenwood Symphony Orchestras, the Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis, VocalEssence, and the Edina Chorale.

Josh Cameron

A graduate of Anoka High School, Josh Cameron, trumpet, earned his Bachelor of Music Degree at St. Olaf College, under the tutelage of Dr. Martin Hodel, and his Master of Music at the University of Minnesota where he studied with Dr. David Baldwin and Gary Bordner, formerly with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Josh has also studied jazz/commercial styles as well as other performance techniques with trumpeters Kelly Rossum, Eric Jacobsen, and opera vocalist Audrey Stottler.
Widely known as a versatile freelance performer in the Twin Cities and Upper Midwest, Josh also spends many of his evenings getting his high note workout in, playing lead trumpet with the funk/soul group High and Mighty. On the other side of the horn, he has appeared with several regional orchestras and chamber ensembles such as the Wisconsin Philharmonic, Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra and Minneapolis Civic Orchestra. 
Josh is also a dedicated and passionate educator, formerly teaching at MacPhail Center for Music and Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, and currently maintaining a home studio including students of all ages and ability levels. He welcomes the challenge of meeting each student where they are and helping them develop and achieve their goals. Josh is an active clinician in the Midwest and offers sectional coaching and masterclasses covering a wide array of topics from his broad, diverse career in music.

Dean Heller

Dean Heller, trumpet, earned degrees in music education and trumpet performance from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam in New York before moving to Minnesota and completing his Master of Music degree in trumpet performance at the University of Minnesota. 
Outside of Compass Rose Brass Ensemble Dean can be heard performing as principal trumpet with the Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis, with the 20th century chamber music group Neoteric Chamber Winds and with the JB Brass Quartet.
In addition to his performing Dean has a strong commitment to music education and teaches private trumpet lessons at Laurel School of Music in Saint Paul.

Patrick Gonsalves

​A native of California’s Bay Area, Patrick Gonsalves, trumpet, grew up in the Twin Cities before moving east to study music. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in trumpet performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin, Ohio, and a Master of Music degree in trumpet performance from The Ohio State University in Columbus.
An active freelance musician and arranger, Patrick has performed with the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, the Bach Chamber Players of St. Paul, the St. Cloud Symphony, and the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, in addition to various musical pit orchestras.
Patrick is also a veteran of the Minnesota Army National Guard, retired after twenty-two years of service that included two tours to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During his last tour in 2009, Patrick was staff arranger and assistant conductor of Echoes of Liberty, the ceremonial band element of the 34th Infantry “Red Bull” Division Band of the Minnesota Army National Guard, which performed throughout the country of Iraq.

Matthew Renz

Matthew Renz is a versatile horn player with extensive experience in orchestral, chamber, and musical theater settings. He currently performs with the Rochester Symphony and Minnesota Winds, and has previously served as principal horn of the Mankato Symphony. He has performed with the La Crosse Symphony and Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra and also at the Guthrie Theater, Chanhassen Dinner Theaters, and with Mannheim Steamroller and the 2005 Disney Collegiate All-Star Band in Orlando. He also is a founding member of Compass Rose Brass Ensemble and the Minnesota Horn Quartet.
Matthew studied horn performance at the University of Minnesota under Charles Kavalovski and Michael Gast.

Zach Gingerich

Zach Gingerich, trombone, is an active freelance musician and teacher. He teaches low brass at
Bethel University, Laurel School of Music, and The Blake School. He maintains a diverse
performance schedule subbing with groups such as the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra,
Rochester Symphony, and Mankato Symphony Orchestra, as well as playing lead trombone in
Hornucopia, a Twin Cities-based rock band that pays tribute to the many horn bands of the rock
era. Originally from Conway, Arkansas, he moved to Minnesota in 2009 where he obtained a
Bachelor of Music in Trombone Performance from St. Olaf College. He went on to earn his
Master of Music from The Boston Conservatory and a Doctor of Music Arts degree from the
University of Minnesota. He loves spending time outdoors with his wife and two young children.

Christian Howard

Christian Howard is a trombonist and low brass artist based in the Twin Cities. As an orchestral musician, Christian has performed with the Minnesota Orchestra, New York City’s LoftOpera, and the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, and currently holds the position of second trombonist with the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra. He has been a finalist for
positions with The Orchestra Now and the United States Premier Military Bands. 
Mr. Howard is also a sought-after chamber musician. He is a regular member of the Tamalpais Brass Quintet, a frequent performer with the Friends of the Minnesota Orchestra Kinder Konzerts, and a member of the Compass Rose Brass Ensemble. While pursuing his master’s degree at the Mannes School of Music, he toured the United States with the Mannes Trombone
Quartet. 
As an educator, Mr. Howard has taught privately for over a decade, with students going on to study music at institutions across the United States. He currently serves as visiting lecturer of trombone and euphonium at the University of Minnesota and adjunct instructor of low brass at the University of Northwestern, St. Paul. His students have continued their studies at institutions such as the Eastman School of Music, Rice University, Carnegie Mellon University, and Harvard University.
Mr. Howard received his Bachelor of Music in Performance from the Boston Conservatory and his Master of Music from the Mannes School of Music. He is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Minnesota. His primary teachers include Thomas Ashworth (University of Minnesota), Steve Lange (Boston Symphony Orchestra), and Weston Sprott (Metropolitan
Opera).

Felix Regalado

Trombonist Felix Regalado recently completed a Minnesota Orchestra Fellowship. He is a
graduate of Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music, where he earned his Master of
Music degree. While living in Chicago, Felix was a regular member of the Civic Orchestra of
Chicago, the training ensemble of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Felix now freelances
around the country and teaches trombone at Macalester College and Gustavus Adolphus College.

Chris Allen

Chris Allen is a trombonist/bass trombonist in the Minneapolis area. ​He studied at the University of Minnesota and Gustavus Adolphus College. His primary teachers included Scott Moore, Larry Zimmerman, and Tom Ashworth.
Chris regularly performs with the Mankato Symphony, The Paper Clips, Century Jazz Ensemble, Star of the North Jazz Orchestra, St. Croix Jazz Orchestra, and Metro Brass. He is a performing artist for Michael Rath Trombones.

Trygve Skaar

​Trygve Skaar, tuba, grew up in Cambridge, Minnesota and is an active music educator and performer in the region. Trygve studied music at Bethel University and the University of Minnesota. His teachers include Ross Tolbert, David Fedderly, Rex Martin and Charles Olson. 
An active freelance musician, Trygve has performed with the Minnesota Orchestra, Minnesota Opera, VocalEssence, and the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra. He is a member of the Minneapolis-based Compass Rose Brass Ensemble. Trygve has been a featured soloist at the Great American Brass Band festival in Danville, Kentucky and at the Minnesota Music Educators Association Mid-Winter Convention. While serving in the 8th Infantry Division Band, United States Army, in Germany, he performed in brass bands throughout Europe having performed at the Swiss National Championships with the Appenzellerland Brass Band.
Trygve currently teaches tuba at the University of Saint Thomas and is the assistant conductor of the Saint Paul-based Grand Symphonic Winds, which recently was selected and performed at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Convention in Chicago. He has served on the faculty of Saint Olaf College, Gustavus Adolphus College, Augsburg College, Bethel University, University of Northwestern – St. Paul, Crown College and Macalester College. Trygve retired from the United States Army after 25 years of service, having served on active duty and with the Minnesota Army National Guard. His military service took him all over the world from Germany to Alabama to Norfolk, Virginia and throughout Southwest Asia. As Commander of the 34th Infantry Division Band, based in Rosemount, he led 45 Soldiers on deployment to Iraq in 2009 where they performed 450 times and traveled over 70,000 miles. His proudest professional moment occurred when all 45 Soldiers returned home safely in 2010. Trygve has three children, Meira, Josiah and Cadence and in addition to his musical endeavors, works for the Department
of Veterans Affairs in Minneapolis, serving veterans.
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