Every brass group needs someone who not only has acute musical awareness, but iron workhorse chops as well. Matt James is that guy. Matt is a freelance trombonist, instructor, and composer. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in music from Augustana College and completed one year of graduate study at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. In addition to the Westside Trombone Quartet, Matt is a member of Exultate, a local chamber orchestra and choir. In 2004, Matt was honored to have one of his works premiered at the Sioux Empire Trombone Festival in Sioux Falls. Matt and his wife Mary make their home in Maple Grove, MN.

Variety is the spice of life. While you probably wouldn't describe Chris Fulton as spicy, he brings a wide range of experiences to this musical setting. After graduating with a music degree from UW-Eau Claire, Chris toured a good portion of the world with the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Since then he has been a freelance performer and teacher, working in styles such as salsa, dixieland, zydeco, and rock, as well as jazz and orchestral settings. Chris' other musical affiliations include Dick & Jane's Big Brass Band and The Minneapolis Trombone Choir. He also has a habit of blowing into conch shells once in a while. Chris also serves as the quartet's graphic designer and webmaster.

Would you believe that trombone is Lee Dummer's second instrument? An accomplished euphonium soloist, Lee started his musical career at the age of eight, performing with a local drum and bugle corps. After high school, and graduation from Gustavus Adolphus College, he attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y, performing with the famous Eastman Wind Ensemble. Lee was then selected to be a member of the United States Army Band (Pershing's Own) of Washington, D.C., where he served as Euphoniumist and soloist for six years. Lee has appeared one more than one occasion with the Minnesota Orchestra, most recently in January of 2005. He has also logged appearances with the Prairie Home Companion radio program, various community bands, orchestras, brass ensembles, and as soloist with the Medalist Concert Band for the past 21 years. Lee will not accept a title, but is considered the unofficial musical director of the group.

It is very fitting that the heart of this organization is a medical doctor. Since his retirement from the practice of radiology, Dr. Dave Dahlgren has become an active freelance solo and ensemble performer on bass trombone, as well as on tenor trombone. He plays bass trombone in the WTQ, as well as in the Classic Big Band and the Minneapolis Trombone Choir, and tenor trombone in the Normandale Brass Quintet. Dave is a former member of the Minneapolis Brass Ensemble. He continues his studies with Jim ten Bensel and with Scott Moore. He considers it a dream come true to play in a group with players such as Matt, Chris and Lee. Dave serves as the quartet's promoter, librarian, coordinator and guy-who-makes-things-happen.

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