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 and 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, and the New Mexico Music Educators Conference.  Mr. Rombach-Kendall is the conductor and co-producer of four recordings with the University of New Mexico Wind Symphony on Summit Records:  Fandango, featuring Philip Smith, Principal Trumpet of the New York Philharmonic, and Joseph Alessi, Principal Trombone of the New York Philharmonic, Illuminations, featuring Mr. Alessi, and Classic Solos for Winds, featuring woodwind faculty members at the University of New Mexico and Fascinating Ribbons with tubist Sam Pilafian.

An advocate of contemporary music, Mr. Rombach-Kendall has commissioned and premiered many 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 Vice President of CBDNA.   

Mr. Rombach-Kendall is an alumnus of the University of Michigan, where he studied conducting with H. Robert Reynolds and Larry Rachleff.

Chad Simons joined the faculty at the University of New Mexico in 2005. His duties as Associate Director of Bands include directing the Spirit Marching Band, Soundpack, Symphonic Band, and teaching various courses in music education. He is also the co-Director of the Zia Marching Band Fiesta, one of the largest independent marching competitions in the southwest.

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.  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.

 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.
Adam Kehl is a first year graduate assistant majoring in Wind Conducting. He will be assisting with the Spirit Marching Band, conducting Soundpack at women's games, assisting with the undergraduate conducting class and co-conducting Campus Band in the spring He spent the last 5 years teaching high school band in southern California. His undergraduate degrees are in music education and percussion performance from the University of Oregon.
Ben Ordaz is a second year graduate assistant majoring in Tuba Performance. His primary duties are to conductor Soundpack at men's basketball games and to act as Wind Symphony librarian. He acted as the assistant director at Cibola High School in Albuquerque during the last year. He is a graduate of Indiana University.
Doug Doerfert is a first year graduate student in Wind Conducting. He will be assisting with Marching Band and co-conducting the Campus Band. He was the assistant director at Manzano High School for the last three years. He holds a bachelors degree in Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado.
Sebastian Lopez is a second year graduate student pursuing a master's degree in percussion performance. He is the drumline coordinator for the Spirit Marching Band and runs marching percussion rehearsals, writes exercises and cadences, and recruits for the SMB. Sebastian was the drumline coordinator for the Stephen F. Austin State University Lumberjack Marching Band for the 2006 and 2007 seasons. He has been on faculty with the SFA Percussion Symposium since 2005. He holds a bachelors degree in Music Education from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX.
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, plays second bassoon with the Albuquerque Philharmonic Orchestra and performs with and is secretary of the Bosque Bassoon Band.
Copyright UNM Bands 2006