WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. — The Delta Brass Quintet is set to perform at Williams Baptist University on Thursday, September 10. The guest recital will take place in WBU's Manley Chapel at 7:00 p.m. and is open to the public free of charge.
The ensemble includes five brass players and a percussionist. The group is composed of John Bartelt, Robin Dauer, Eric Jackson, Zachary McCullough, John Long, and Ross Kerley, all of whom have extensive backgrounds in music performance and education.
John Bartelt, a founding member of the ensemble, graduated from Arkansas State University with a degree in music education in 1978. He taught public school band for six years before earning a law degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1987. Bartelt has practiced law in Jonesboro for over three decades and now resides in Sharp County.
Robin Dauer retired in 2018 as a professor of horn from Arkansas State University, where he served for 30 years. A versatile performer, he continues to play with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Delta Brass Quintet, and other regional groups. He also specializes in tenor horn with British brass bands.
Eric Jackson, a Northeast Arkansas native and 2017 Arkansas State graduate, began teaching band at Buffalo Island Central High School in 2013. He is an active trumpet performer in the Jonesboro area.
Zachary McCullough is currently in his fifth year of teaching with the Paragould School District. He holds a music education degree from the University of Memphis and has served as a clinician for regional jazz and band camps.
John Long, a Newport native, has been an educator with the Walnut Ridge School District for 35 years. An Arkansas State alumnus, he has also taught at Kansas State University and Coffeyville Community College in Kansas. Long has been a member of the Delta Symphony Orchestra for over 40 years and joined the Delta Brass Quintet nine years ago.
Ross Kerley, an electrical engineer specializing in satellite power supplies, studied under Gail Robertson at the University of Central Florida. He has performed with ensembles across the country, including the Glenn Miller Orchestra and the Salt River Brass. Kerley is now based in Jonesboro and performs with local groups such as the Delta Brass Quintet and the Jonesboro Community Wind Ensemble.
Williams Baptist University, located in Walnut Ridge, is a private, Christian institution. Community members are invited to enjoy the upcoming recital in the historic Manley Chapel.