Melissa Primavera
Musician and Music Educator
Euphonium/Trombone
Melissa attended New Mexico State University where she earned her B.A. in Music Education and studied (euphonium) with Dr. Jim Shearer and Steve Haddad. She performed with the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble, and the NMSU Pride Marching Band.
Melissa continued her education at Illinois State University earning her M.M. in Music Performance. She studied trombone, euphonium, and tuba with Andy Rummel and Mark Babbit. While attending ISU: Melissa taught individual music lessons, coached chamber groups, conducted the pep band, and devoted her time studying and researching brass pedagogy and literature. She performed with the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, Wind Symphony Tuba-Euphonium quartet, Tuba-Euphonium ensemble, and Jazz Band.
On top of the various ensemble and solo performances as a student, Melissa was chosen to perform with the ITEA Intercollegiate Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble in 2010, participated in the Low Brass Boot Camp 2011, performed with Star United DCA, and the Brass Band of Central Illinois. Melissa has performed music extensively throughout the United States and Japan, as well as South Korea and Columbia, South America.
Marching Arts Experience: Four years of Melissa's life was devoted to being a dedicated member of the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps from Denver, CO. As a DCI participant, summers were spent traveling the USA rehearsing, competing, and performing shows combining music and movement, Melissa also performed with the Blue Knights' low brass ensemble and earned a gold medal with her solo performance at the annual DCI I&E competition in 2007. Her experiences and the education she received at Blue Knights highly motivated, inspired, and paved the way for the career path Melissa has chosen to take today. She deeply appreciates her involvement and is sincerely grateful for everything she learned as a marching member.
Music Teaching Experience:
After aging out of DCI, Melissa had the privilege of joining the brass staff for the Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps. She was the baritone/euphonium technician for 3 years (2008-2010). A big part of Melissa's time at ISU was spent with the Big Red Marching Machine-she was the teaching assistant for the 250 member marching band and pep band. Her duties included acting as visual instructor, music instructor, drill writer, and conductor. In 2013, she joined the Oregon Crusaders brass staff leading breathing exercises, warm-up/down procedures with the hornline and assisted the baritone/euphonium section. In 2014 Melissa was appointed as the Brass Caption Head for Coastal Surge in Myrtle Beach, SC. Currently Melissa serves as an Ensemble Specialist and Brass Consultant for the Battalion Drum and Bugle Corps based in Salt Lake City, UT.
Melissa provides individual and group music lessons, master-classes, clinics, marching band instruction (visual and music) for students of all ages from beginners to college level players.
Professional Musician:
Melissa has performed professionally on trombone, bass trombone, euphonium, and baritone with Min-On's stage show Odyssey 'Brass Angels'. Melissa was also a cast member in the Tony and Emmy Award Winning Broadway Show Blast! playing euphonium, baritone, and trombone.
She has performed with the Miami Wind Symphony, the Ivanhoe Brass, Bill Muter and The Sharp Shooters, Boss Street Brass Band, and Cedar Park Winds.
Currently Melissa resides in Austin TX and serves as the assistant band director at Manor High School.
If you have any questions, comments, or are interested in hiring Melissa: Please her!
Email: primaveramelissa@gmail.com
