Eric Rombach-Kendall is Professor of Music at the University of New Mexico where he has served as Director of Bands since 1993.  Prior to his appointment at UNM, Mr. Rombach-Kendall held conducting positions at Boston University, Carleton College and taught in the Washington State Public Schools for six years.  Mr. Rombach-Kendall’s bands have received national acclaim through their performances at the College Band Directors National Association National and Southwest Division Conferences, the MENC National Conference, the New Mexico Music Educators Conference, and through recordings with Joseph Alessi and Philip Smith of the New York Philharmonic. 

An advocate of contemporary music, Mr. Rombach-Kendall has commissioned and premiered a number of works for wind ensemble and concert band.  Works he has commissioned have been performed by such prestigious organizations as the New York Philharmonic on Live at Lincoln Center, and the United States Marine Band (The President’s Own).  He has been a guest conductor and clinician throughout the United States and Canada and has published articles in The Instrumentalist, New Mexico Musician, and Teaching Music Through Performance in Band.  He currently serves as President of the Southwest Division of CBDNA.   Mr. Rombach-Kendall is an alumnus of the University of Michigan where he studied conducting with H. Robert Reynolds, Larry Rachleff and Elizabeth Green.

Chad Simons recently joined the faculty at the University of New Mexico. His duties as Associate Director of Bands include directing the Spirit Marching Band, Soundpack, Symphonic band, and teaching various courses in music education.

From 2001-2005, Mr. Simons was the Associate Director of Bands at Idaho State University, where he directed the ISU “Bengal” Marching Band, taught courses in music education, theory, student teacher training, and music appreciation.  He also directed the basketball band, jazz band, and the concert band. During his time in Idaho, the Bengal Marching Band nearly tripled in size. Before going to ISU, Mr. Simons taught in the public schools in Forsyth, Montana, where both his middle school and high school bands consistently received superior ratings at local, district and state music festivals.

Active as a clinician and guest conductor, Mr. Simons has given marching band clinics and conducted concert bands throughout the country. In March of 2004, he was a guest conductor with the ISU wind ensemble at the CBDNA Northwest Division Convention. Mr. Simons was also the university coordinator for the Mountain West Marching Competition, one of the largest marching competitions in the northwest United States.

 Mr. Simons holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Montana, where he graduated with a president’s recognition award, and a Master of Music in Wind Conducting from Oklahoma State University. Mr. Simons’ conducting teachers include Dr. Joseph Missal and Dr. Steve Bolstad. Pedagogical influences include Dr. Michael Raiber, and Mr. Bill Ballenger. His percussion instructors include Dr. Robert LedBetter and Prof. Wayne Bovenschen.
Jennifer Macke is a first year graduate student in saxophone performance. She earned her undergraduate degree at Idaho State University. Her duties include conducting Soundpack at all women's basketball games.
George Schrader is a first year graduate assistant majoring in Music Education. His primary duties are to assist with the Spirit Marching Band and act as co-conductor of the Campus Band. He originally hails from Michigan and is a graduate of Spring Arbor University.
Zane Meek is also a first year graduate student pursuing a master's degree in Music Education. He conducts Soundpack at all men's basketball games,co-conducts the Campus Band, assists with Youth Band, and acts as librarian for the Wind Symphony. He has most recently taught elementary music in Oregon and holds his bachelors degree in Music Education from Mesa State College in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Susan Brake is the Administrative Assistant for the UNM Bands. She performs a broad range of tasks for the bands. She holds an MA degree in Modern European History from the University of Chicago. In her frequently limited free time, she is the bassoonist with the Canyon Winds woodwind quintet and performs with and is secretary of the Bosque Bassoon Band.
Copyright UNM Bands 2006