Kevin Robertson – Band 1, Band 2
Kevin Robertson earned his Bachelor’s of Music in Music Education (Instrumental) K-12 and a life-time certification for Instrumental Music Education (K-12) in 1989. While waiting to begin his career in the US Army as a euphonium player, he worked a short time working in a musical instrument repair shop – repairing low brass instruments.
Over a 23 year career, Kevin performed on euphonium, trombone, and tuba with six different US Army Bands. During that time, he also sang, conducted, and arranged music for the various ensembles in those Army Bands. The ensembles he performed with included: Concert band, Marching band, Brass quintet, Tuba-Euphonium quartet, Big band, Salsa band, Small jazz groups, Rock/country/soul/pop groups, Acapella vocal groups (for which he wrote many of the arrangements), Trombone quartet, Trombone octet, as well as numerous performances as a euphonium soloist.
In 2008, his adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” in the style of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, was the highlight of Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s 4th of July celebration.
He retired from the US Army while serving with the 56th Army Band at JBLM. At that time, Kevin was: euphonium section leader, Chief arranger (a position created because of his work with the band), leader of the tuba-euphonium quartet, trombone player in the unit’s Big Band, tuba player with the marching band, and Chief of the music library (senior advisor to the conductor of the band, in music selection).
Shortly before retirement from the Army, Kevin spent a season conducting the Capital Area Concert Band. During that time, he was hired to be the American Legion Band director for the state of Washington. He has been conducting the Legion band since January of 2011. Also in early 2011, Kevin was recruited to be the principal trombone player for the Olympia Chamber Orchestra. In his tenure with that group, he has played trombone, euphonium, and tuba in performance as well as arranged chamber works for the brass section.
Kevin has been an adjunct instructor at Saint Martin’s University for band conducting, low brass instruction, and music theory since 2012. He was also a master class instructor for a single class session of a class in “Music and Physics” focused on the physics of playing brass instruments. During which he demonstrated the physicality of playing: trumpet, trombone, euphonium, and tuba, and the physics of each of those brass instruments. He has also been a guest lecturer at South Puget Sound Community Community College for music theory and band history.
For over 10 years, Kevin has played with the Polished Brass Quintet. Depending on the piece, he alternates between trombone and euphonium. The Polished Brass Quintet is an outreach ministry of the New Beginnings Bible Fellowship in Tumwater since 1992.
He has, also, been performing, as a freelance musician on trombone and tuba in the South Puget Sound area since 2011. In early 2024, performed as the only trombone player in the orchestra for the World Premiere of Maria Thomas Corley’s Pianos Concerto in C. The work was commissioned by the Orchestral Recital Series of Tacoma Washington, under the direction of Tigran Arakelyan.
Kevin started playing brass instruments at the age of 10 – on trumpet. At the age of 16, he deserted the “dark side” of brass playing (trumpet), and switched to tuba, as his primary instrument. In college, euphonium (tenor tuba) became his greatest musical love (1985). This was also the year that he started playing trombone. Each of these low brass instruments have been his passions, in terms of playing and teaching, ever since.
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Josh Goering – Guitar 1 & 2 & Ukulele
Hello, my name is Josh Goering and I teach Guitar and Bass Guitar at Lakewood Music & Arts. I’ve been playing for 28 years, and have been teaching for 22. I began teaching while still in High School and went on to study Music Theory at Berkeley and University of South Carolina before moving to Washington to pursue performing.
When I started taking lessons at age 12 it changed my life. I hope to be able to bring that same experience to my own students.
I love working with absolute beginners because witnessing them discover playing an instrument for the first time is the most rewarding experience I have as a teacher and as a musician. I tailor my lessons to each student and their individual goals. I’m more than happy to take it slow with an adult student who might not have much time to practice, or really push when I have a young student who shows real potential. I can also teach beginning Ukulele, combining singing with playing, Music Theory and help prepare students for Jazz Band. I have extensive recording and performing experience and can guide students through their own first experiences through yearly recitals and other performance opportunities.
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Thomas Morisada, Choir 1 & Choir 2
THOMAS MORISADA is a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University with a BA in Music and hails from Honolulu, Hawaii. He can be found directing music in the Tacoma area at community theaters and schools. He comes to TAHB with eleven years of choral experience under his belt as well as over three years of music directing for musical productions.
Some fun facts: while Thomas loves teaching music, he also finds just as much joy being onstage himself.
Besides music, his second passion is cooking and is quite the foodie.
Whenever he gets the chance to visit his family in Hawaii, Thomas likes to spend his downtime fishing.
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Eli Connolly, Violin 1
My name is Eli Connolly and I’m entering my senior year as an undergraduate violinist studying with Maria Sampen at the University of Puget Sound. I currently participate in the school orchestra and am active in multiple chamber groups on campus. Along with my love for performance, I’m a passionate musical educator who values my role in furthering student engagement while making classes and lessons as educational and enjoyable as possible. During the summers between school, I have attended many summer festivals including the Interlochen Arts Academy Summer Program, the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, and the Brevard Summer Music Institute.