The DANSR Interviews: Get To Know Our Team with Michael Skinner and Richard Brasseale
Date Posted: July 16, 2020
President of DANSR, Inc., Michael Skinner and Vandoren Products Specialist in Chicago, Richard Brasseale discuss their lives in the music industry, their thoughts on the Chicago scene, and finding your sound as a musician.
To view specific topics:
- 1:00 - Richard's start
- 2:25 - Michael's start
- 10:00 - Richard's education
- 14:55 - Michael discusses his love for the music industry
- 17:00 - Richard on products and finding your sound
- 19:42 - Michael's music education
- 25:00 - Michael's time at Berklee
- 30:27 - Michael's concept of music and building a community
- 32:36 - Richard's take on Chicago
- 34:50 - Michael gives us a history lesson on Chicago
- 37:27 - Richard's most influential musicians
- 38:52 - Michael's most influential musicians
- 41:40 - Fast fun facts
About Michael Skinner
Michael received his B.Mus. from Berklee in Music Education and his M.Mus. from the University of Miami in Composition before spending ten years as studio musician in New York City. Michael spent seven years in the D’Addario marketing department and ten years at Yamaha in educational marketing before co-founding DANSR in 2004. Michael continues to enjoy writing music and bicycle riding… although not at the same time.
About Richard Brasseale
Richard Brasseale is a saxophonist based in Chicago. He has played with numerous ensembles, including the Milwaukee Symphony, Madison Symphony, Fulcrum Point New Music Ensemble, Camerata Chicago, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and others. He received his masters and bachelors degrees in Saxophone Performance from DePaul University, where he won both the Wind Symphony and the Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competitions. He also has been to Brevard Music Festival, where he was a member of the ITCH New Music Ensemble and performed with the symphonies there. He has studied with Jeremy Ruthrauff, Susan Cook, and Joe Lulloff. He is currently the classical saxophone instructor at North Park University, where he will play a concerto with their Symphony Orchestra, and is also an Advisor at the Chicago Vandoren Studio.
DANSR, Inc., is the sole importer and distributor of Vandoren products in the United States. Our staff is dedicated to clarinet and saxophone education.