The Great Lakes Duo collaboration began in 2003 when Brian Reichenbach and Rhonda Sider Edgington lived and worked in the near western suburbs of Chicago. Years later, following Rhonda’s tenure in Germany, they reconnected again when their families both attended a Suzuki music camp. This time their partnership extended across the great Lake Michigan, beginning with performances in western Michigan and Illinois. Since then, they have performed together at churches and universities across several states including Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago, First United Church of Oak Park, St. Augustine Cathedral in Kalamazoo, and Park Cities Baptist in Dallas, as well as Middle Tennessee State, Olivet Nazarene, and Calvin Universities. The Great Lakes Duo enjoys bringing new pieces to new audiences and have commissioned composers Hina Sakamoto, Dorothy Gates, Stephen Jenkins, and Brenda Portman. In addition, they recently released an album titled, Music for Trumpet & Organ in the 21st Century, featuring works that had not been previously recorded. Follow us on facebook, instagram, and YouTube.
Rhonda Sider Edgington is often commended for her innovative programming, colorful use of registrations, and exciting playing. Seven years spent studying, working and performing in Bremen, Germany (originally with a Fulbright scholarship), led to her passion for the repertoire and organs of 17th century Germany, as she worked closely with Prof. Harald Vogel.
Edgington has played recitals at venues such as St. Paul’s Cathedral in Pittsburgh, West Point Cadet Chapel in NY, and Arizona State University, as well as on important historic instruments in Germany. She has performed at numerous national and regional conventions of the American Guild of Organists and the Organ Historical Society and has been heard on the radio program Pipedreams.
She has envisioned and realized programs as creative as Music of Japan: for organ, marimba, and Taiko drums; Jazz and the Organ, with Hammond B3 master Tony Monaco; Revelation, withdancers and music of Langlais; and collaborations with many instrumentalists (including tuba, bassoon, and french horn).
Edgington is the Organist and Music Director at Hope Church, and teaches organ at Calvin University, while traveling to perform regularly around the US and in Europe. She also enjoys riding her bike, visiting farmer’s markets, and writing a monthly column in the Holland Sentinel, her local newspaper. You can hear from her occasionally on her blog or on instagram.
Brian Reichenbach lives near Chattanooga, Tennessee where he is Assistant Professor ofTrumpet at Lee University. He performs often with the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra, Lee University Faculty Brass Quintet, and other area ensembles. Before moving to Tennessee in 2021, Brian taught at Trinity International University and Olivet Nazarene University, among other institutions in the Chicago area. There, he was a member of the Elmhurst Symphony and International Chamber Artists and performed with ensembles including the Chicago Sinfonietta, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Quad Cities Symphony Orchestra, and Millar Brass.
Brian has toured throughout Germany three times as a member of Eurobrass and led two tours across Europe with university ensembles. He often presents masterclasses in high schools and returns each year to teach at Csehy Summer School of Music in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. In addition to several performances this year in Pennsylvania and the Midwest with organist Rhonda Sider Edgington, Brian will appear as soloist with the East Tennessee Symphony Orchestra.
Brian holds degrees in trumpet performance from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, DePaul University, and Wheaton College. His trumpet teachers include Charles Daval, Ronald Romm, John Hagstrom, Terry Schwartz, Stephen Burns, and Steve Heitzer. He shares articles and other resources at http://www.BrianReichenbach.com.
Great Lakes Duo 