Arica Inglis (Alto Sax) - Arica has played alto sax since 5th grade. Her most favorite place to play was on the football field at half time with the Golden Wave Marching Band (Farmington, IL), and the Marching Illini (University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, aka The Best Band in the Land, right Susan?). She even had her license plate personalized to show her love for band, but let's not talk about that.
Arica now spends her time working with fun people from 9-6 (give or take a couple hours) at Intel where she solves the world's problems one day at a time. Afterwards she can be seen playing with RC Swing, singing loudly at the displeasure of her lucky, newly acquired husband, playing softball in the lowest co-ed division Folsom allows, being a yoga master, and generally enjoying the perks of California.
Arica now spends her time working with fun people from 9-6 (give or take a couple hours) at Intel where she solves the world's problems one day at a time. Afterwards she can be seen playing with RC Swing, singing loudly at the displeasure of her lucky, newly acquired husband, playing softball in the lowest co-ed division Folsom allows, being a yoga master, and generally enjoying the perks of California.
Beth Schoenknecht (Alto Sax) - Beth began her musical career at age 8, playing violin at James Caldwell School in Springfield, New Jersey. After many years and many different instruments (including voice), she finally settled on saxophone during her junior year of college. She obtained a Music Education degree from Kean University in Union, NJ, and kicked around for a couple of years, teaching marching band and picking up any substitute job she could. She performed with the Rutgers Marching Scarlet Knights during their Big Ten debut season and with Fusion Core, a top 5 corps within the DCA circuit.
In 2017, Beth picked up and moved across the country to California, where she is now the music director at Mills Middle School in Rancho Cordova (alma mater of several RC Swing members!). She is excited to be making music in the same community as her students. In her non-music-related time, Beth enjoys knitting, reading, exploring California with her fiancé, and following competitive drum corps as fiercely as a middle-aged man follows football.
In 2017, Beth picked up and moved across the country to California, where she is now the music director at Mills Middle School in Rancho Cordova (alma mater of several RC Swing members!). She is excited to be making music in the same community as her students. In her non-music-related time, Beth enjoys knitting, reading, exploring California with her fiancé, and following competitive drum corps as fiercely as a middle-aged man follows football.
Cassie Brokken (Bass) - Cassie Brokken is a Sacramento native and grew up in a non-musical family. After developing an interest in punk rock and heavy metal, she began playing electric bass at age 13, looking up to bassists such as Tim Commerford (Rage Against the Machine), Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), and Steve Harris (Iron Maiden). In the spring of 2013, she played in the band for her high school's production of "The Wizard of Oz", where she discovered an unexpected love for playing in pit orchestras. After graduating high school in 2014, she attended the Sacramento State School of Music, where she graduated with a BA in Spring 2018. It was during her time at Sac State that she began to learn upright bass, which she quickly discovered was a wise choice. In addition to RC Swing, she has played with jazz quartet Debop and local rock band The Fallout Kings, as well as with theatre companies such as Roseville Theatre Arts Academy, The Woodland Opera House, and Rocklin Community Theatre for numerous musicals. She is grateful for every opportunity to perform and understands it is a gift, not an entitlement.
Chris Long (Trombone and Vocals) - Chris started playing trumpet in the 4th grade and switched to trombone as a junior in high school. In college, he played in big bands, combos, pit orchestras, concert bands, chamber groups, and symphonies. Chris also sang and led a band or two. He enjoyed music and musicians so much that when he graduated from college he went to work for a record company and then spent decades as an A & R manager (artist and repertoire) and producer.
His trombone sat mostly undisturbed for three decades and then recently, Chris found the time to enjoy playing and performing again. He says he was drawn to RC Swing because he believes that big band jazz should be fun for both the performer and the audience.
His trombone sat mostly undisturbed for three decades and then recently, Chris found the time to enjoy playing and performing again. He says he was drawn to RC Swing because he believes that big band jazz should be fun for both the performer and the audience.
Glenn Lewis (Trombone) - Glenn saw his first big band in 4th grade when the Cordova High Jazz Band came to his elementary school. The next year there were reports in the White Rock neighborhood of a red-headed kid who would ride on top of a baritone horn case which was strapped to a skateboard down the overpass on the way home from school. (Glenn will neither confirm nor deny these reports.)
In junior high, Glenn began doubling on trombone at the urging of Mr Teresi (see Scott's Bio); then made the Cordova High Jazz Band; and finally completed two years of performing music studies at American River College. After a 30-year hiatus from performing music, he joined the Shriners Big Band in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he was mentored by accomplished Jazz Trombonist Dick Bowman.
In junior high, Glenn began doubling on trombone at the urging of Mr Teresi (see Scott's Bio); then made the Cordova High Jazz Band; and finally completed two years of performing music studies at American River College. After a 30-year hiatus from performing music, he joined the Shriners Big Band in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he was mentored by accomplished Jazz Trombonist Dick Bowman.
Julie Gustafson (Bari Sax) - Hi, Bari the Sax here. Julie and I became partners in 1981. Before that time, Julie started playing my smaller cousin, the alto sax in the 5th grade at Franklin Elementary School in Loomis, CA. During Julie’s freshman year of high school at Del Oro, there were too many altos in the concert band, so Julie switched over to Bari Sax. Ever since then it has been “all about the bass” for Julie. I was a high school graduation present from Julie’s father, Richard Howard (An avid trumpet player himself). Julie credits her love of music to her father, as he was always practicing at home and was a dedicated member of the Sacrament Traditional Jazz Society for many years. Since Julie and I met, I have been dragging her around to play with several different groups over the years: Sierra College Concert Band, Sierra College Wind Ensemble, Sierra College Jazz Band, DeAnza College Concert Band, Foothills College Concert Band and William Jessup Wind Ensemble. Julie is currently playing with the Nevada County Concert Band, the Blended Metal Saxophone Quartet, and, of course, RC Swing.
Karl W. Fitch (Trumpet) - Karl retired from the Poway Unified School District in 2004 where he was the music teacher at Twin Peaks Middle School for thirty two years. Mr. Fitch received both his Bachelors and Masters of Arts degrees from San Diego State University. During the years 1964-1966, he served in the United States Army as a bugler and performed at many state occasions throughout the country.
Karl Fitch is in high demand as an adjudicator for the Southern California Band and Orchestra Association as well as being an active professional musician and recording engineer. In 2005 Mr. Fitch conducted the SCSBOA All-Southern Junior High School honor band and received the SCSBOA highest honor by being distinguished with an Honorary Life Member Award. Mr. Fitch keeps active by performing with the RC Swing Band and the Pioneer Band.
Kel Karoly (Trumpet) - Kel has been playing trumpet since he was in the fourth grade and got his Bachelor of Music Performance at Sac State.
Scott Hermansen (Trombone) – Scott started playing trombone during the summer of ’76, right before his 6th grade year. Much to everyone’s surprise, he continued to play through junior high (where he was taught by old man Joe Teresi of Northridge Music fame), Cordova High School (where he was on the field when the band won its first ever Field Sweepstakes), studied under Les Lehr, and Sacramento State (where he earned a Music minor to go with his Business major). While at Sac State, Mr. Teresi sold Scott the Bach Stradivarius, originally ordered for Dr. Ernie Hills, that he currently plays with Rancho Cordova River City Concert Band and RC Swing. This trombone is rather unique in that it is a tenor trombone with a bass trombone bore.
After taking time off for career and starting a family, we come to the milestone year of 2010 when Scott and his son, Ryan, moved back to the Sacramento area. Ryan was enrolled at Cordova high school and Scott started to exercise his alumni rights to march with the Cordova band during July 4th and Homecoming parades. In 2012, Scott joined the River City Concert Band when it relocated to Rancho Cordova and jumped at the chance to play big band music when the project now known as RC Swing started. Scott is excited to be playing in the group with friends from high school.
After taking time off for career and starting a family, we come to the milestone year of 2010 when Scott and his son, Ryan, moved back to the Sacramento area. Ryan was enrolled at Cordova high school and Scott started to exercise his alumni rights to march with the Cordova band during July 4th and Homecoming parades. In 2012, Scott joined the River City Concert Band when it relocated to Rancho Cordova and jumped at the chance to play big band music when the project now known as RC Swing started. Scott is excited to be playing in the group with friends from high school.
Stephanie Solomon (Trumpet) - Stephanie's love of music was handed down from her Mom, Donna who played accordion as a young woman and sang to Stephanie and her two sisters throughout their childhood. Mr. Teresi of Mills Jr. High School, then cultivated that love of music and inspired Stephanie to continue to grow and learn as a musician. Mrs. Schoenholtz of Cordova High School, challenged Stephanie to become not only become a better horn player but also gave her an opportunity to develop leadership skills and encourage other younger players. Stephanie went on to graduate from CSUS with a BA in music and enjoyed playing in several local groups including her church, First Covenant in Sacramento CA and subsequently with Adventure Christian Church in Roseville, CA. After a long hiatus from playing her horn, Stephanie has recently returned to music and is thrilled to be playing alongside her bandmates in the RC Swing Band!
Stephen Brooks (Guitar) - Steve is a transplant from New York City; moving to California at age 9. Growing up listening to his father’s Frank Sinatra albums, Steve developed an apprecation for the big band sound. Steve pestered his parents for a guitar at age 11 after being insprired by rock and folk artists. The Sears and Roebuck Stella accoustic-finger-pulverizer started the the life-long musical obsession. Making his career in graphic arts he continued learning and playing music along side his day job. Mostly a self-taught guitarist with occassional short stints at lessons, a smattering of classes, and hundreds of barely studied books, Steve continues to persevere in his love of music and jazz.
Susan Boring (Tenor Sax) – Susan came by her love of swing music early in life. Her dad played tenor in and was bandleader of a group called The Sentimental Moods for many years and she always loved hearing his group play. Susan started playing saxophone in the 6th grade and continued throughout school. During college, she joined the “All-American” Marching Band and concert bands at Purdue University. Upon graduating from college, Susan took a few years away from music to join the circus….ahem….Peace Corps in Nepal and to navigate through her 20s. After realizing how much she missed making music with a group, she joined the Rancho Cordova River City Concert Band. A couple of years later, she and some friends decided to start a swing band and the rest is history (in the making)!
Tim Geach (Piano) - Tim started playing piano at age 11, and spent his early years playing solo classical piano. Listening to his dad play trumpet in big bands in the Sacramento area influenced him in the direction of jazz, and he joined his dad playing in the Cosumnes River College jazz band in 2013. An alto sax player in that band then invited him to join the newly formed RC Swing. He's been having tons of fun swinging with these 17 talented musicians ever since. Besides RC Swing, he plays in the CRC jazz band and the occasional solo piano gig whenever he can pick one up.
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