Alex Krebs (alto sax, director)

Alex has been playing the sax for 18 years, and graduated from Reed College in 1999 with a BA in music. In 2005 he studied with roma brass band musicians in Valjevo, Serbia and attended the brass festival in Guca (www.guca.co.yu). After returning and transcribing the music he had learned by ear, Alex started the "Krebsic Orkestar" in August of 2006.

Jattik Clark (tuba)

Recently hired to be the Oregon Symphony's principal tubist, Jattik Clark holds a
Master of Music degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He was the recipient of the Brevard Summer Music Festival's Most Outstanding Musician Award , and also won its Concerto Competition that same year. He is currently tuba instructor at Portland State University. 1st season.

James M. Gregg (trumpet)

James attended Northern Arizona University from 1986 to 1993, receiving his bachelor's degree in trumpet performance and master's degree in band & orchestra conducting. He was most active in the Jazz department, playing lead trumpet in the top big band for 6 of 7 years there and leading various small jazz groups. He also was active as a composer & arranger; 3 of his original works for marching band were published by Mesa Music Publishers and 2 works for big band appeared on 2 of the jazz band's albums. In 1990 he opened the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl, playing that day with acts such as Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Chick Corea, and the Tonight Show Band. He taught at NAU and at Coconino Community College for 7 years, teaching primarily jazz history, American music, jazz ensembles, World music,and music theory. He also was the Jazz Director for the Sedona Jazz On The Rocks Youth Band for a few years, and has worked in musical theatre as well. For more info on James' projects, check out his website.

Don Rohrbacher (trumpet)

Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1944! Started playing trumpet in high school.Don auditioned for the 4th Armored Division Band in Goeppingen, Germany and played every beer festival the German Government could brew up. He had a blast and met some wonderful musicians, who to this day, is in touch with after 40 years! After giving up the trumpet for about 25 years or so, he started playing again about 9 years ago and joined the Clackamas Community College band.

Ethan Chessin (baritone)

Ethan Chessin began his lifelong relationship with Balkan music in utero, when he learned to kick in 7/8 while being bounced around in a circle at countless folk dances. Tapes of gypsy brass bands were played for him as lullabies, which explain a lifetime of insomnia. Today, Ethan plays trombone and euphonium with numerous misfit brigands in town, including the March Fourth Marching Band, Hora Tzigane, the Oregon Symphonic Band (www.osband.org ), Michael Rockstar (www.michaelrockstar.com), Go Gringo Go, and a few others without names, consistent rosters, or repertoires. As an educator and conductor, he has worked with choirs, orchestras, bands, synagogues, and theater troupes to encourage the development and empowerment of communities and ensembles through music. Ethan maintains a private studio of one trombone student, and by day poses as a mild-mannered environmental educator and erstwhile pirate.

Tim McCarthy (trombone)

Tim has also played trombone most of his life and with many professional bands, and is either rehearsing with, or playing for these bands almost every night of the week.

Mark Kellogg (piccolo trumpet)

Mark has just joined the band recently on piccollo trumpet -- adding another upper layer of harmony to our sound. An OHSU tram driver by day, and gigging musician by night, Mark has played the trumpet most of his life, and with many professional bands.

Andrew Oliver (flugelhorn)

Andrew Oliver is a pianist, trumpeter, and composer from Portland, Oregon. He grew up playing classical piano and took up the trumpet while in high school in order to be able to play a more portable instrument. He studied jazz at Loyola University New Orleans from 2002 to 2005, when he was chased back to Portland by Hurricaine Katrina. He will graduate from Portland State University with degrees in Music and French in June of 2007. He has performed on piano with numerous musicians from New Orleans and Portland, and currently leads his own sextet and plays in fellow New Orleans evacuee Devin Phillips' band New Orleans Straight Ahead. On trumpet, he has toured with the Komenka Ethnic Dance and Music Ensemble, a New Orleans-based dance troupe, at festivals in France and Poland, and will be directing their band for an upcoming tour in Italy and Bulgaria. He was an original member of the Krebisc Orkestar in 2005, but spent the fall of that year studying in Angers, France, and was luckily able to rejoin the band in April of 2007.

Kathy Fors (tenor horn)

Kathy has been a brass band enthusiast since she played french horn in high school and college. She became a real gypsy brass fanatic in the 90s when she first attended Balkan Music and Dance Camp in Mendocino, CA. The pure power and energy of brass infected her so much she picked up the more traditional tenor horn. A graphic artist by trade, Kathy also deejays at KBOO-FM Community Radio in Portland (www.kboo.fm) where she plays experimental and global sounds as well as the music of the Balkans and Middle East. Kathy plays weekly with the 6-piece Balkan band Kafana Klub, where she squeezes out on accordion everything from polkas to paidushkos. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Balkan Festivals Northwest, a non-profit whose purpose is to promote music and culture of the Balkans (www.balkanalia.org). Kathy also performs locally with the cabaret quartet Padam Padam.
Z^iveli trubac^i! (ZHI-ve-li tru-BA-chi) Long live brass players!

Peter V. Piazza (baritone horn)

Peter has played violin since 1962, trombone since 1972, and baritone horn since 1978. He has played violin with the Portland Opera orchestra every year since 1986, was an original member of the salsa band "Pa' lante", and has played in pick-up bands/orchestras of Pavarotti, George Benson, Tom Jones, Lou Rawls, Robert Goulet, Wayne Newton, the Moody Blues, Kenny G, Dionne Warwick, and Red Skeleton.

Chris Nakato (trombone)

Chris has been playing trombone for 15 years, playing in numerous salsa and jazz bands.

Travis McAlister (Sousaphone/euphonium/trombone)

Travis has been studying various brass instruments (trombone, baritone, sousaphone) for the past 18 years.

Lara Triback (goc)

Lara has been studying Middle Eastern/Balkan music and folk dance since 1997 and has performed and/or taught at music and dance festivals around the US and internationally. Combining strong percussive technique, creative musicality and impressive dancing-while-drumming skills, Lara can be found dancing with goc/davul with the Krebsic Orkestar, or remaining in a more sedentary position while accompanying Middle Eastern band Sarab on doumbek. Lara puts her Master's degree in education to good use by teaching popular Middle Eastern drumming classes in the Portland area as well as music and movement classes to children and adults. http://www.laratriback.com

Doug Schafer (darbuka)

Doug has played professional percussion for the past 18 years. Currently he plays with Mizna.

Adam Weiner (snare)

Adam has played percussion all his life, specializing in world music. He has worked as a professional musician for the past 15 years.

Martin DiTomaso (Snare/goc/vocals)

Martin moved back to Argentina in Sept. 2007. No one has ever, or will ever, sing a better version of "Mesecina." You'll be missed, Martin!