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The Kameraden
Ken Boggio (trumpet/co-director; brother of Kerry Boggio): Ken is a semiretired music educator  of thirty-six years and is an active instrumental music adjudicator and guest clinician throughout the northwest United States. His trumpet experience includes the Billings Symphony Orchestra, the Red Lodge Music Festival (as its long term director), the Billings Community band and the Alte Kameraden brass band. Ken was a trumpet section player with the Sonny and Cher orchestra, the Bobby Vinton orchestra, and the Mannheim Steamroller orchestra. He first played with the Kansala family band (pre-Kameraden band) in Red Lodge in 1956 and has been a member of the current Alte Kameraden band since its inception.
Kerry Boggio (trumpet/co-director; brother of Ken Boggio): Kerry earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music performance from University of Eastern Washington. For the past thirty-three years, he has been a sound mixing engineer in Los Angeles, specializing in television productions. Kerry’s musical interests are far reaching. He has been playing ethnic music since age twelve and his permanent residence is Red Lodge.
Don Hardy (trumpet; husban d of Becky Hill): After playing in the Cody, Wyoming high school band and later with a United States Navy shipboard band in the Mideast and eastern Africa, and then on a music scholarship at Casper College, Don stowed his trumpet for several decades. Upon moving to Red Lodge in 2006, he was encouraged by old Cody friends Ken and Kerry Boggio and Terry Bartlett to dust off his horn and join Alte Kameraden. Somewhat surprisingly, he says, to some degree both he and his horn still worked. Don and his wife, who met during their many years in Washington, DC., travel extensively, but always find time to play with the Kameraden band -- and to maintain this website. Go to Don and Becky’s personal website here.
Bec ky Hill (oboe & drums; wife of Don Hardy): Becky began playing in Belle Fourche (SD) middle school, and plays Kameraden’s only double-reed instrument, the oboe, and is the backup drummer. She has played piano, drums, or oboe for diverse musical groups ranging from her college jazz band at the University of South Dakota, to a troop of freshly liberated Elvis impersonators in post-communist Eastern Europe. After earning her Masters Degree in International Policy from George Mason University, Becky began playing the oboe again in late-2007, and is a founding member of Mountain Winds, a woodwind chamber ensemble based in Red Lodge under the direction of master oboist Sue Logan. She serves as communications coordinator for Alte Kameraden.
Terry Bartlett (tuba): One of the band's self-described "old duffers," [although younger than several members] Terry drives thousands of miles per year from his home in Cody, Wyoming to Red Lodge, for the enjoyment of playing his tuba. After high school, he attended Eastern Montana College on a music scholarship. In addition to college bands, he was a member of both the Billings Symphony and the Midland Empire Chamber Orchestra. During the Vietnam era, he was a member of the 3rd Armored Division Band based in Frankfurt, Germany. A retired ph ysical education teacher and coach, Terry is pleased to once again be playing on a regular basis.
Steve Hanley (clarinet): Steve began study on the Bb clarinet in Washington DC. under the guidance of the Marine Band’s principal clarinet. In 1964 he studied at the University of Washington and played principal clarinet with numerous university symphonic and small ensemble groups. Steve was principal clarinet for the Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society productions and holds BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Physics from the University of Washington. Currently, he is a member of the Billings Symphony Orchestra, the Billings Community Band, the Billings Community Orchestra, and the Alte Kameraden Band of Red Lodge.
Erika Binando (trumpet): A native of nearby Roberts, Erika played trumpet through high school, and then off and on until joining the Alte Kameraden Band. She also played French Horn for two years in the high school concert band. Erika helped form the Roberts Volunteer Pep Band in 2004, playing music for football and basketball  games for three seasons until the school’s High School Pep Band was back on its feet. A lifelong fan of Red Lodge’s oompah band, Erika is the mother of adorable twin girls who are often seen dancing at the band’s performances.
Bonnie Daniel (drums, wife of Art Daniel): Bonnie plays with Alte Kameraden and other musical groups in the greater Fishtail metropolitan area, usually with her husband, Art. She says that while in the seventh grade in nearby Joliet, she started playing the drums to get the attention of some cute boys in the band. Every year, Bonnie and Art host a party for local musical groups in their airplane hangar, an event popularly called “Live at the Barn.” 
Art Daniel (trumpet; husband of Bonnie Daniel): Few trumpeters love playing as much as Art. Having retired from a career as a Boeing 747 pilot to become a full-time cattle rancher, he quickly became one of the most popular members of Alte Kameraden. He knows the lyrics to a thousand songs written before 1960. Always quick with a joke, Art plays trumpet with Alte Kameraden, the  Community Band and Shrine Jazz Bands in Billings, Montana, and a Dixieland group he formed.
Joe Acciani (clarinet, most reed instruments): Joe started playing in the sixth grade and continued until his children needed good instruments and confiscated his. After teaching instrumental music in schools from elementary to university levels for thirty-five years, he and his wife Sandy retired to Montana where Joe started playing again. The conductor of the Billings (MT) Community Band, Joe, ever humble, says he is “honored to be included in Alte Kameraden and play alongside such fine musicians ”.
Warren Frank (E flat alto horn): Warren started on trumpet in grade school and after graduating from Laurel High School majored in music education at Eastern Montana College of Education (now MSU-Billings). He played in the Billings Symphony and switched to French Horn. After graduation from Eastern, he earned a Masters in Music Education at the University of Illinois in Champaign and played in several university bands and orchestras. Warren taught two years in Villa Grove, Illinois and two in Hardin, Montana. In 1966 he moved to Billings. He directed the Billings West High band and taught in other Billings schools for twenty-eight years. He retired in 1994 and c ontinues to play in the Billings Community Band and the Kameraden Band.
Rick Parmer (trombone, husband of Pat Parmer): Rick was a public school educator in Wyoming for thirty-three years and a low brass instructor at Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming for nine. He started the college annual Trombone Day and Trombone Festival and is a certified band adjudicator in Wyoming. Rick has performed with the University of Wyoming Orchestra, Laramie Civic Concert band, Northwest Civic orchestra, Powder River Symphony, Yellowstone Jazz Band, Northwest College faculty brass ensemble, Buffalo Bill Band, Alte Kameraden,  Sheridan city band, and the Big Horns Trombone Ensemble and Quartet.
Bob Waddingham (trumpet): Bob has played trumpet over 50 years, starting in Mason City, Iowa. In high school in Bismarck, ND, he played first chair in school concert and stage bands, and joined a rhythm and blues show band that toured North Dakota. During high school and junior college, he recorded a "45" and spent a summer in Detroit playing the "Roostertail Nightclub". At the University of North Dakota he played in concert and jazz bands, joined an R&B group based in Winnipeg and toured full time for a year before returning to graduate with a political science degree. Bob played with several Dixieland bands, big bands, combos, symphonies, community bands, brass and dance bands, and Alte Kameraden. He has backed up Doc Severinsen, Ben E. King and Maynard Ferguson, and managed a Billings music store for twenty years. 
Lanny and Sally Hilderman (tenor horn & clarinet): Sally began playing the clarinet with the Flushing, Michigan high school band, while Lanny played tenor horn in the Red Lodge high school band and the Jorgensen Tirolean youth band. Sally moved to Red Lodge, married Lanny in 1976, and together they joined Alte Kameraden in 1991. Sally and Lanny host the physical address for Alte Kameraden, as the group’s “band room” is located at their old family business, Hilderman Gardens. Sally manages the band’s financial accounts and maintains its vast music library. She also serves as primary contact for event arrangement. Lanny is the driver of the “Bandwagon,” and together they help transport Kameraden’s equipment for performances. 
Cassie Keogh (clarinet/seasonal): Cassie is currently in her second senior year at the University of Montana, majoring in Music Education and Clarinet Performance. As a clarinet player, she is active in many ensembles in Missoula, and greatly enjoys keeping her “chops” in shape playing with the Alte Kameraden band during the summers. During rehearsals of a local Dixieland band, Cassie practices her teaching technique. She reports having “no criminal record, yet,” but adds that she is still "young and innocent. ” We will report further developments.
John Havener (euphonium): Beginning in 1960, John played tuba in the band at Billings West High School. After graduation, he joined the US Navy and after his four year tour he spent the next four years earning a music education degree at EMC (now, MSU-B). John became principle tubist in the Billings Symphony during his sophomore year, a position he held until retiring from the orchestra after the 2005-2006 season. During those 38 years, he played in tuba quartets, jazz bands, pit and show bands and orchestras, and various stage bands. John played euphonium for a short while in high school and college, and that is now his primary instrument. Recently, he has been playing in the MSU-B concert band, the Alte Kameraden in Red Lodge and the Billings Community Band.
Millie Marsh (flute/piccolo; wife of Bob Marsh): Millie graduated in 1958, with a degree in music education from Colorado State College, Greeley. While teaching music in Hardin, Montana, she also played cello with the Billings Symphony. Millie and Bob formed a “duo” in 1959 and by 1960 they began commuting from northern Wyoming to Billings to play with the symphony. They moved to Billings in 1963. Millie plays piano, cello, and flute/piccolo, and gives private lessons in flute and piccolo. Her flute teaching activities also includes the Montana Music Institute. Millie retired from the Billings Symphony after 40 years, but continues to perform with her own small group “Millie and Friends” (cello in a string quartet and flute in a trio with violin and cello). In addition to the Alte Kameraden Band, she plays flute with the Billings Community Band.
Bob Marsh (clarinet; husband of Millie Marsh): Bob has played with various musical organizations in Billings since 1960. He has degrees in music education from Colorado State College, Greeley, and a Masters Degree from the University of Oregon. A vocational change occurred in 1982 as Bob became Director of Transportation for Billings Schools. His playing experience includes forty years with the Billings Symphony (clarinet and bassoon). He has played saxophone with the Shrine Jazz Band, bassoon with the Billings Community Band and Montana State University-Billings Concert Band, and clarinet with the Alte Kameraden Band. Bob has also played with other bands in  the area.
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Perry Scheidecker (all brass instruments, keyboard): Perry earned his college degree in music education in Billings and his masters in Bozeman. He he taught fourteen years in Red Lodge and Columbus, Montana. He played first chair french horn with the Billings Symphony for twenty-six years and has played with symphonies in Bozeman, Helena, Great Falls, Kalispell, Powell, Casper and several others towns. Today he gives private lessons on brass instruments and plays with the Billings Community Band as well as Alte Kameraden -- which he first joined in 1968, before it took its present name. Perry still plays some of the instruments he first acquired decades ago.
 Dennis Oltrogge (trombone): Dennis’ first musical experience was on the tonette (a small, plastic, end-blown flute), in the 4th grade in Absarokee, Montana. That led him to the family trombone, which he played until the middle of high school, when he set his horn aside to become a ‘jock.” His impressive musical talents lay dormant until 2003, when he found a $50 trombone in a pawn shop and bought it. That led him to dig out the old higher-quality family horn (long-played professionally by his brother). Good trombone players are always in demand, so Dennis was recruited to play in the Billings Community Band and the Shrine band, and its separate brass group, the “circus band.” In 2004, he was welcomed into Alte Kameraden.
Conrad Elnes (trombone/seasonal); Conrad "Con" Elnes grew up in Havre, MT where he played in the full high school band and its legendary trombone quartet. His post-high school education was as a music education major. He served as the band director and music department chair for the Mercer Island, WA school district for several years. He and his wife Phyllis now live in Scottsdale, AZ, but they cool off in Billings during the summer. Billings' lively music scene has brought them back for seven years. In addition to joining the Red Lodge Alte Kameraden Band, Con plays regularly with the Shrine Jazz Band, their Brass Band, and the Billings Community Band. Con is also a highly regarded music composer.
Loren Marsteller (euphonium/seasonal): Loren graduated from the University  of Southern California with a major in trombone performance. He joined "The President's Own" United States Marine Corps Band in Washington, DC. where he was a frequent soloist on euphonium. He received his Master's of Music degree from Catholic University of America and then was hired by the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra as principal trombone. Since returning to Los Angeles in 1976, he has been a busy freelance performer in both live and recorded music arenas and garnered a coveted nomination by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (the Grammys) for the "Most Valuable Player Award" in 1987. Loren specializes in unusual brass-wind instruments, such as the Alpenhorn heard in Haunted Summer and Mystery Alaska and the Tibetan Temple Horn, heard in Star Trek I II and Seven Years in Tibet. He currently plays Baritone in the Americus Brass Band and the Buffalo Bill Band of Sheridan, Wyoming and is an adjunct professor of trombone and euphonium at California State University, Long Beach.
Michael Bowdren (trumpet): Mike has been playing trumpet since the fifth grade. He took private lessons in high school, learning some basics of jazz improv. He played in the Jazz Ensemble at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA for four years, and also played in musical theater productions and at church services on campus. After moving to Billings in August 2006, he joined the Billings Community Band and was later lured into the Alte Kameraden band in Red Lodge.
Betsy Dane (soprano and alto recorder): Betsy first played the recorder in 3rd grade, then the oboe in high school. She didn’t play in college or graduate school, but realized how much she missed it while passing by a music shop in Munich. She bought her first “grown-up recorder” and now plays five different recorders with several ensembles in Tucson, AZ. Betsy participates in music workshops around the country and upon becoming a summer resident in Red Lodge in 2004, “fell in love with the Alte Kamaraden Band.” She joined after convincing the band that the recorder could be a band instrument. She is also a founding member of the new Red Lodge woodwinds group, M ountain Winds.
Patricia Parmer (Eb alto horn and French horn; wife of Rick Parmer): Pat earned her BS in music degree at the University of Wyoming in 1991. She began at Arlington (SD) High School, where she took up percussion briefly and moved to the French horn. She was chosen as first chair in the SD All-State Orchestra and later in the band as well. She persevered in her quest for the perfect college, playing horn at Dakota State University, Casper College and South Dakota State University. ![Steve_Reitz[1]](../assets/images/Steve_Reitz-1-.jpg "Steve_Reitz[1]") She found a “suitable substitute for perfect music school” at the University of Wyoming. Pat performs with the Northwest Orchestra (Powell), and with the Buffalo Bill Band, Northwest College Brass Quintet, Powder River Symphony, Billings Symphony, and occasionally with Alte Kameraden.
Steve Reitz (trombone): Steve (aka: “wooly”) started on trumpet in the 4th grade at Broadwater grade school in Billings, MT. He moved to the trombone in the 7th grade at Lincoln Jr. High School. He played in the Billings Senior High band and orchestra, and a a senior played in a rock and roll band, focusing on the music of Blood Sweat and Tears and Chica go.
For three years in the early 70s, Wooly played with the Billings symphony. He joined Alte Kameraden in the early 90s.
Jim Blakley (clarinet): Jim points out that he was born before “Ike” was president, and has been playing a clarinet most of that time. He began in the third grade, in Lodge Grass, Montana and played through high school. In 1965 he began playing with the Red Lodge “Finn Band” and continued “off and on” through the 1970s. In 1985, Jim rejoined the band and has played continuously to the present day. He first played during the “Festival of Nations” in 1966, and between 2002 and 2006 h e was a key member of the Roberts community pep band.
Robert Leaverton (tuba) moved to Absarokee, Montana from Arbutus, Maryland, to accept a call as pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Absarokee in 2006.
In 2010 he decided to take up the tuba again. It has been 40 years since he last played one at Plainview High School in Plainview, Minnesota. In May or 2010 he received the King tuba he ordered.
Art Daniel encouraged him to join Alte Kamaraden and he has been practicing and playing during the 2010 season. It has been quite the musical education, but it is a lot of fun to be playing music again.
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