"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.”  -Arthur O’Shaughnessy

Chris Tenney 
​Trombone ​

Chris Tenney is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist who began his musical training by performing and touring nationally and internationally with The Tucson Boy's Chorus at the early age of 8. After dedicating his secondary and post-secondary training to music, he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and was selected as the University of Arizona School of Music’s Outstanding Senior. After several years of teaching in the secondary setting, he pursued and received Highest Honors in his Graduate studies, graduating with a Master’s Degree, also in Music Education, from Boston University.
Prior to his appointment at YC, he spent five years as the Director of Bands at Bradshaw Mountain High School in Prescott Valley, receiving multiple Excellent and Superior awards for his ensembles there. He has also served as the Arizona Band and Orchestra Director’s Association (ABODA) Northwest Region Band Chairperson and Site Host.
Along with his passion for instrumental music, he enjoys musical theatre, and has served as Musical Director for several musicals staged at Prescott’s Center for the Arts, serving as a founding member of the theatre’s Teen Summer Stock Ensemble Program. He currently serves as the PCA Scholarship Program’s Musical Theatre Chairperson and as the adjudicator for the Winds Brass and Percussion section of the program.
In his spare time, he also plays trombone and performs locally in the High Desert Brass, a brass quintet he co-founded in 2018.
While not teaching and performing, Professor Tenney enjoys participating in triathlons and spending time with his lovely wife and fellow arts educator Layla and his three beautiful children.

Luis Esteban Morales
​Lead Trumpet & Flugel Horn

Bio Coming Soon.

​Dakota Rutt 
Tuba

​Dakota is an instrumental music instructor by trade. Prior to becoming a full time father to his new beautiful baby boy, he was Director of Bands for six years at Franklin Phonetic School. While director, he was fortunate enough to have grown the junior high instrumental program to over 80 music students. During his time, he gave the students the opportunity to perform throughout the state of Arizona, performing in Phoenix, Prescott, Page, Kingman, and Flagstaff. Dakota enjoyed giving his students the opportunity to perform at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California.

Currently, Dakota is serving his third year as the Arizona Music Educators Association (AMEA) Northern Arizona Band Chairman in which he helps organize a festival for the best of Northern Arizona’s band students.

As a multi-instrumentalist, he has performed with many local Prescott groups including: Prescott Pops Symphony, Prescott Chamber Orchestra, Prescott Chamber Players Society, Yavapai College Brass Quintet, Yavapai College Orchestra and Concert Band. He currently performs with the Central Arizona Concert Band, Yavapai College Symphonic Band, and the High Desert Brass.

While not playing his instruments, Dakota enjoys photography, technology, home improvement projects, and spending time with his family.

Leah Cheri Morales 
French Horn

Leah is a singer, actor, artist and hornist who started her career as a musician at the age of 12, earning the first of several instrumental, classical voice and musical theater scholarships. After graduating high school, Leah auditioned for and was accepted to the United States Marine Corps as a bandsman.  She graduated Recruit training from Parris Island, South Carolina in August 2005 and then Marine Combat Training at the School of Infantry at Camp Lejune, North Carolina the following month. Leah then attended the Basic Musician Course at the Armed Forces School of Music in Norfolk Virginia.
After graduating from the School of Music, Leah shipped out to Okinawa Japan, where she served in several capacities, including French Horn section leader, featured vocalist, assistant enlisted conductor, music librarian and small ensemble leader.  During her time in Okinawa, Leah met her wonderful husband Luis and performed all over the region, including the Philippines, Guam, Thailand, mainland Japan and South Korea.
In 2008, Leah returned to the Armed Forces School of Music to undergo the Unit Leader's Course, and was then stationed at Parris Island until her discharge in 2010. 
Leah earned a degree in Agricultural Technology and Equine Science in 2012 from Yavapai College, and returned in 2019 to complete a performance degree.  She is slated to graduate in the winter of 2020.
Leah currently works as a vocalist and instrumentalist and is a frequently seen face on local stages, performing in multiple groups, orchestras and theatrical productions, both on stage, back stage and in the orchestra pit.

Dean Mickelson 
​2nd Trumpet & Flugel horn

Dean Mickelson graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1977 with a Bachelor’s in Science Degree in Pharmacy.  His 41-year pharmacist career involved Pharmacist Manager of Smith’s Food & Drug for 10 years in Taos, New Mexico, while serving as consultant pharmacist for Casa Corazon (rehab for girls home) from 1996-1998.  Being licensed in 3 states, he worked as relief pharmacist for stores in Colorado, while maintaining full-time work in Taos. 
  Dean began his musical journey with piano lessons at six years old, trumpet at eleven years old, and singing first tenor in numerous church and community choruses and orchestrated chorales throughout his life. In Taos, for 8 years he played trumpet and sang with the Sangre de Cristo Liturgies Mariachi group directed by Dr. Arsenio Cordova.
While in Taos, in the mid 1980’s,  under the tutelage of tuba/trumpet player Gary Sherman, retired and relocated from the Minneapolis Symphony (that Dean “accidently” met at his pharmacy window!) Dean started his Kick In the Brass Quintet with numerous charts provided by Gary. It was the beginning of an intense passion for quintet playing.      
While in Oregon, Dean played with the University of Oregon’s Symphonic Band and with the Cascade Winds Symphonic Band as 2nd principal trumpet, as well as the Cornucopia Brass.     
On the southern Oregon coast, he was principal trumpet for the Del Norte/Curry County Orchestra  (Symphony by the Sea) for 4 years, member of the Lincoln Pops Big Band and Yachats Big Band, and principal for the Central Oregon Coast Chamber Orchestra in Florence, OR.       
​Retiring in Prescott, AZ, in 2018, he plays with the Central Arizona Concert Band and comes to the High Desert Brass with a 135+ Quintet library.
The High Desert Brass Quintet:
​
Chris Tenney - Trombone
Luis Esteban Morales - Lead Trumpet and Flugel Horn
Dakota Rutt - Tuba
Leah Cheri Morales - French Horn
​Dean Mickelson - 2nd Trumpet and Flugel Horn
Please join us December 11th 2020 for Acker Music Festival, Downtown Prescott, Arizona!