Adirondack Brass is a five-member ensemble formed in 1994.  The group has performed for many organizations in northern New York and southern Quebec.  Its annual performance calendar includes concerts in schools, formal recitals, and musical support for weddings, church services and the like.  In August 1996 the group played for over 80,000 attendees of the “Clifford Ball” concert given by Phish, and in November 1999 the group played with the Canadian Brass.

 Trumpeter Matthew Pray  is a recent graduate from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam.  He has studied trumpet with Dr. John Ellis, Pace Stertavin, Don Boucher, Arthur Falbush, and Patrick Hession.  In 2003 Pray founded the Adirondack Jazz Orchestra, a Big Band made up of local musicians and teachers. Pray plays lead trumpet with AJO and performs frequently with other musical groups in the area.
Pray teaches 4-12th grade instrumental music at Moriah Central School. He recently
got a husky puppy who follows him everywhere.

Trumpeter William Long was born in Mahwah, NJ and grew up in Saranac, NY.  He is frequently heard performing in local groups including the Adirondack Wind Ensemble, Strawhatters, North Country Christian Brass, the PSU Symphonic Band, Brass Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble and in pit orchestras for musicals produced by local high schools. Long is employed as a machinist at Plattsburgh State University and is an  EMT with the Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department.

Hornist Janet Geldert, founding member of ADK Brass, is adjunct instructor of horn at Plattsburgh State University where she has also taught courses in the psychology and counseling departments.  She has performed with the Plattsburgh Community Orchestra, the Adirondack Wind Ensemble and the PSU Symphonic Band and Brass Ensemble.  Born in Indianapolis, IN, she performed with the Des Moines (IA) Symphony , the Madison (WI) Symphony and several midwestern  chamber ensembles prior to moving to Plattsburgh.  Geldert retired as school counselor at Elizabethtown-Lewis Central School and was a board member of Behavioral Health Services North for 20 years.

Trombonist Andrew West, founding member of ADK Brass, is a graduate of Mount Assumption Institute and the United States Merchant Marine Academy.  He has performed in several jazz and blues ensembles in this region and in Atlanta, GA.  He recently spent studio time recording Latin compositions by Rick Davies with Salsa Picante. West has performed leading roles in local productions of The Music Man, Brigadoon, and The Sound of Music and has played in the pit orchestra for several productions as well.  West is a Doctor of
Chiropractic in Champlain.

Tubist JoLee Yeddo grew up near “The Heart of the 1000 Islands” in Alexandria Bay, NY where she actively participated in several vocal and instrumental ensembles.  She received a degree in Music Education from Houghton College and is currently teaching instrumental music in the Beekmantown Central School District.  In her spare time, Yeddo enjoys many musical endeavors as well as biking, reading, and spending time with her husband and two dogs.