Southern Minnesota's REAL Big Band

Kim Cosens has taught instrumental music for more than 20 years. His bands earned numerous honors in the Midwest and nationally through the years. He graduated from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion where he majored in secondary instrumental music education. His teaching experience includes Director of Instrumental Music Studies for the high school band programs of Mitchell, SD, Spirit Lake, IA, North High School in Sioux City, IA and Waseca, MN. Mr. Cosens has served on the Minnesota Music Education Association State Board and was the Jazz Education Chair for the State of Minnesota for two years.

He is frequently called on as a guest conductor and clinician and is a well respected adjudicator in Jazz, Marching and Concert Bands as well as solo and ensemble contests throughout Iowa, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Nebraska. Kim currently works as a Financial Advisor for Edward Jones Investments in Owatonna, MN. Kim and his wife Shelly are the proud parents of three children; Candice, Joshua and Kyle. 

Erin Holmes is originally from Faribault, MN. She attended high school at Bethlehem Academy and continued her education graduating from Minnesota State University, Mankato with the Honors of Magna Cum Laude in secondary Music Education with an emphasis on saxophone. While at school, she had numerous tours with the concert bands and an unforgettable experience in Europe with the MSU,M saxophone quartet. Erin attended Saint Mary's University working towards her Master's Degree in Education. Erin and her husband Jon have a son named William and are expecting another baby this fall.

Erin launched her career at the beginning of the millennium by attaining a teaching position for the Farmington School District. While in Farmington, Erin has a host of responsibilities that range from conventional band and jazz instruction to being a devoted staff and team member of several building leadership positions. Her jazz ensembles have appeared in many prestigious festivals and honor bands. Erin also loves to give private lessons, spends free time working as an adjudicator, and teaches master classes for middle level saxophones in the metro and surrounding areas. Along with the Big Band Erin performs in the Owatonna Community Band, performs at church and in a saxophone quartet.

Another association Erin is involved with is the Minnesota Jazz Education Association -- mnjea.org.  She is co-founder of this group emphasizing in the significance of jazz education in the state of Minnesota.

Mark graduated from Owatonna high school and went on to MSU-Mankato where he studied art and music. He is an original member of the RBB. He is a farmer in Owatonna and has one son.Mark graduated from Owatonna high school and went on to MSU-Mankato where he studied art and music. He is an original member of the RBB. He is a farmer in Owatonna and has one son.

Frank graduated from Mary D. Bradford High School and went on to MSU-Mankato where he studied public administration. Frank joined RBB in 2002 and is a business executive in Mankato. Frank and his wife Jackie have two children.

Adrian Barnett has been an avid participant in the music program at MSU, Mankato. As an undergraduate student he has studied with Dr. Paul Moxness, and participated in the wind ensemble and various jazz groups. In the spring of 2005 he competed in the University of Eau Claire, Wisconsin Jazz Festival where he received an award for outstanding soloist, and his jazz group took first place in the Jazz Combo division. After graduating with a B.S. in Music Education and a B.M. in Music Performance he has returned to MSU, Mankato in pursuit of an M.M. degree in Woodwinds.

Tom graduated from O'Gorman High School in Sioux Falls (SD) and went on to Augustana College where he studied trumpet with Dr. Harry Krueger. He also studied with Gerard Schwarz of the New York Philharmonic and William Scarleti of the Chicago Symphony. Tom has been with RBB since the beginning and is the band director at Mankato Loyola Catholic High School. He also played with the Northeast Nebraska Jazz Education Big Band in Norfolk. Tom and his wife Lisa have four children.

Aaron graduated from Mankato West high school and went on to MSU-Mankato and Rasmussen College where he studied computer science/networking. Aaron joined RBB in 2004 and is employed as an IT support specialist in Mankato. He marched with the 77 Lancers and is currently in the Govenaires Drum and Bugle Corps.

Tim graduated from South Haven (Michigan) High School and went on to Arizona State University where he studied instrumental music education. Tim joined RBB in 2005 and is an elementary band director in Austin. He has taught band since 1985 and is the founder and host of Southeastern Minnesota Middle Level Honor Band. This event is held for top musicians if grades 6-9. He is married to Louise and has 3 children.

Brian graduated from Mankato West high school and is currently a student at MSU-Mankato where he majors in civil engineering. Brian joined RBB in 2006.

Deron Jimmerson is in his third year as the Director of Instrumental Music at Waseca High School. Under his direction, the band program has continued to uphold its tradition of excellence in all areas of instrumental music. Prior to coming to Waseca, he taught for five years in southwest Iowa, the last three of which were spent at Atlantic High School. His concert, jazz, and marching ensembles in Atlantic were consistent recipients of Division I ratings from the Iowa High School Music Association. He also averaged having over twenty students selected for the Southwest Iowa Bandmasters Association High School Honor Band, as well as having two or three students selected each year for the prestigious Iowa All-State Music Festival. He served as an Iowa All-State Audition Site Manager for three years, Chairperson for the SWIBA Honor Band for two years, and Trombone Director for the Southwest Iowa Honor Marching Band which travels to Phoenix every other year. In the summer of 2001, Mr. Jimmerson was the Jazz Band Director for Celebration Iowa, a group of high school singers and instrumentalists which tours throughout Iowa for the summer. During the spring and summer of 2003, he was Brass Caption Head (and backfield conductor) of Chops, Inc. Senior Drum and Bugle Corps out of Minneapolis, MN.

Deron is a second-generation band director from Manson, Iowa, where his father recently retired after 38 years of teaching. He graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. While in college, Mr. Jimmerson studied trombone and piano, performed in several instrumental and vocal ensembles, as well as student opera productions, and accompanied many recital students. During his senior year, he served as the Undergraduate Assistant in Instrumental Music under former Simpson band director, Ross Leeper. Upon graduation he was awarded the Simpson College Board of Trustee's Award which goes to the senior with the highest cumulative grade point average.

Deron has continued to perform professionally as a trombonist the Southern Minnesota REAL Big Band of Mankato, Minnesota, and the Karl L. King Municipal Band of Fort Dodge, Iowa. He has also performed in several community and church groups as a pianist and a vocalist. He is currently a member of the Minnesota Band Directors Association, Music Educators National Conference, the Waseca and Minnesota Education Associations, and the Iowa Bandmasters Association. Outside of teaching, Mr. Jimmerson tries to spend as much time as possible with his wife, Ruth, and their son, Jonah.

Josh Cosens graduated from Waseca HIgh School and attended the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire. He lives in Mankato and is employed as an electrician.

Ryan has been playing with the Real Big Band since 2003. A graduate of Mankato West High School where he also marched with the 77 Lancers, he continued playing while at MSU-M graduating with a major in physics and minors in music and math. Currently employed by Carlson Craft, he continues to play trombone for several area bands including RBB, The Bass Brand Brass Band, Minnesota River Valley Wind Ensemble and The Echos. He also plays baritone and does some arranging for the Govenaires Senior Drum Corps.

Craig Kopetzki is a graduate of Mankato East HIgh School and studied music at St John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota. He has taught at Waseca junior high, Jordan and is currently director of bands at Mankato East. He lives in Waseca with his wife and children.

Angie Braunwarth, piano, studied music at Minnesota State University-Mankato. She is the director of choral activities at United South Central Schools in Wells and lives in Mankato. She joined RBB in 2002.

Brad Holmberg has been playing guitar all his adult life concentrating on jazz the last three years. Originally from St. Paul he has lived in the Mankato area since 1981 with his wife and three children. Along with music he enjoys fishing, watching a good game and jogging. A graduate of the University of Minnesota he is a practicing dentist in Eagle Lake.

Originally from Sanborn, MN, John has been performing with various rock, country, blues and jazz bands since he was 15. He holds degrees in Music Education and Applied Music from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and works as an educator in the Mankato area. John also plays guitar in the 10-piece, Mankato-based R & B band, "Powerhouse". John and his wife, Louisa, are blessed with two wonderful children, Katie and Matthew.

Tedd Gullickson has been director of bands at Mankato West High School since 1984 and also directs the 77 Lancers Marching Band. His groups have traveled to Hawaii, Florida, New Orleans, Washington DC and Canada. The West Concert and Jazz bands have appeared at MMEA.

Originally from Moorhead, Gullickson earned a BA from Concordia College and an MA from the University of Minnesota, both in Music Education.

He has played with the Frank Scott Big Band, Fargo Moorhead Symphony and Opera, Southwest Minnesota Symphony, Minnesota River Valley Winds, Mankato Symphony Orchestra, University of Minnesota Concert Wind Ensemble, Walt Disney World All American College Marching Band and numerous ensembles while at Concordia. He has studied percussion with Morris Alan Brand, Elliott Fine, Marv Dahlgren and Owen Clark. Other influences were Russ Pesola, J. Robert Hanson, Frank Bencriscutto and Rik Hansen.

Professionally, Gullickson served as MENC On-Line Band Mentor, serves on the MSHSL Music Advisory Committee, was MMEA Band Vice President in 1999-2001, Secretary of MBDA 1995-1997 and serves on several committees at West and for MMEA. He is currently Region 2AA president for Minnesota Band Directors Association.

Gullickson has been nominated for several awards and earned the Mankato Area "Spirit of Youth" Award in 2004 and MMEA Music Teacher of the Year in 2005.

Tedd and his wife Lori have two sons, Dan and Matt.