Greg DeGier
A native of Starbuck, MN, Greg DeGier attended
the University of Minnesota, Morris, where in 1986, he received a Bachelor of
Arts degree in Instrumental Music Education.
In the fall of 1998, Greg
accepted the position of Associate Band Director at Jefferson High School in
Alexandria, MN, where Todd Blaser and he direct the award-winning Jefferson
High School Marching Band. In 2000, Todd and Greg took the marching band to
the Fiesta Bowl Parade in Phoenix, Arizona, and took 1st place in their class
and 2nd place overall. During Christmas 2003, Todd and Greg took the JHS
Marching Band to Orlando, Florida, and participated in the Capital One Citrus
Bowl Parade and Disney World’s Torchlight Parade.
Greg’s duties at Jefferson
include directing the Symphonic Band, the Red Concert Band and Pep Band, as
well as being the Head Jazz Band Director and Assistant Marching Band
Director.
Before Greg started teaching
in Alexandria he taught at the Clinton-Graceville Schools in Graceville, MN,
from 1989 to 1998 and the Grant-Deuel Schools in Revillo, SD, from 1987 to
1989.
Currently Greg is working on
a Masters Degree in Instrumental Conducting from St. Cloud State University.
Greg is also active in teaching private lessons and adjudication.
Todd Blaser
Todd Blaser is originally from Norfolk,
Nebraska, where he graduated from Norfolk High School in 1983. At Norfolk
High School he was involved in band, intramurals, golf, and served as drum
major of the award winning Norfolk High School Marching Band. After high
school, he attended Northeast Technical Community College, the University of
South Dakota, and eventually graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music
education from Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa. During his early
musical career, he marched in Drum and Bugle Corps spending 5 summers with the
Crimson Cadets of Norfolk, and one year with the Phantom Regiment of Rockford,
Illinois which placed 4th at the 1984 DCI World Championships.
Prior teaching and performance experiences
includes:
-
1988 Ruthven – Ayrshire Community Schools -
Iowa (5-12)
-
1989 to 1992 - Anthon-Oto Community Schools -
Iowa (5-12)
-
1992 to 1997 - Cherokee Washington High
School – Iowa (9-12)
-
1997 to present at Alexandria Jefferson High
School
1987 to 1998 - served as camp
director/clinician at the Reggie Schive Summer Jazz Camp on the campus of the
‘University of Okoboji’
1989 to 1996 - member of the Clark Terry ‘Big
Bad Jazz Band’ of Westmar College in LeMars, Iowa
Currently Todd’s teaching duties at Jefferson
High School since 1997 include directing the Wind Ensemble, White Concert
Band, Jazz II, Head Marching Band Director, and sharing pep band duties. He
recently received his Master’s of Education from the College of St.
Catherine’s. Todd also maintains an active judging schedule working with
marching bands, concert bands, jazz bands, and solo ensemble throughout the
Midwest.
He is married to Rhonda, a band director at
Discovery Middle School in Alexandria, and has two daughters - Alex and Ki - and
one dog named Cleo.
