About Us

CBA members share their backgrounds, musical and otherwise.

Jeff Johns

Jeff Johns grew up in Jeannette, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. He started playing trombone in 4th grade, picked up tuba in 6th grade and continued playing both through high school. Graduating from Jeannette High School in 2000, he attended West Virginia University where he earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education in 2004.  In 2011-2013, Jeff attended the American Band College of Sam Houston State University where he earned a Master of Music with a concentration in Wind Band Conducting & Pedagogy.

In 2004, Jeff began his teaching career with Montgomery County Public Schools as assistant band & orchestra director at Walter Johnson High School. In 2005 he became director of instrumental music at Northwood High School where he continued until spring of 2013. Later that year, Jeff began at Farquhar Middle School where he continues teaching.

When not performing or teaching, Jeff has a full studio of private students on trombone, euphonium, and tuba.

Jamin Morden

Jamin Morden started playing horn in 4th grade, and by 8th grade was certain he would pursue a career in music. He attended Northwestern University, earning a Bachelor of Music in Music Education, and then Yale University, earning his Masters in horn performance.

Jamin came to teach in Montgomery County, Maryland in 2014, and works with beginning students on woodwind, brass, and string instruments. In addition to the Chesapeake Brass Authority, Jamin performs with the Washington Metropolitan Gamer Symphony Orchestra, the Symphony of the Potomac, and the Maryland Band Directors Band. 

Len Morse

Len Morse began trumpet in 4th grade and studied trumpet at Baltimore’s Towson State University, where he performed in various ensembles. Before graduating with a degree in Geography he also began freelancing and formed his first brass quintet.
 
During his years in the Rockville Concert Band and the Rockville Brass Band, Len stepped in to conduct when needed. He is a founding member of the Fugitive Brass Quintet and the Chesapeake Brass Authority.
 
Len has performed in the Columbia Jazz Band at various local venues and on five European tours, including the Montreaux Jazz Festival, has attended the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s Academy, and has traveled with Indiana’s South Shore Orchestra on two tours of China.
 
Len constantly strives for the highest quality in all facets of his life, musical or otherwise. He is a published author and blogger, and is currently writing a book about community concert bands, titled More Than Marches: Following Your Musical Passion in a Community Band.

Ryan Petersburg

Ryan Petersburg grew up in Cary, North Carolina, and began playing trumpet in 6th grade. While in high school, Ryan was principal solo cornet in the Triangle Youth Brass Band, performed with 2010 Honor Band of America, and was awarded first chair of both the NC Eastern Regional Honors Orchestra and the NC All-State Honor Band.

Ryan then attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a Kenan Music Scholar where he majored in both music performance and physics. While at UNC, he studied under Professors Jim Ketch and Mike Kris, performed with numerous university and community music ensembles, and attended Eastern Music Festival in 2012.

Ryan immediately followed up his undergraduate education by completing a Ph.D. in Physics at Yale University in 2021. While at Yale, Ryan performed with the Yale Concert Band, including their 2016 tour of Italy and Greece, and the Yale Symphony Orchestra, including their 2017 tour of Russia, as well as many other university and community music ensembles throughout New Haven.
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Ryan moved to Montgomery County in 2021 to pursue a career in space science and has begun performing with some community orchestras, including the Washington Metro Gamer Symphony Orchestra and the Symphony of the Potomac. Ryan joined the Chesapeake Brass Authority in 2022.

Chris Rehagen

Chris Rehagen began playing trombone in the 6th grade in the small town of St. Elizabeth, Missouri. He served four years in Marching Mizzou and Mini Mizzou at the University of Missouri and was awarded "Outstanding Veteran Member" of the trombone section, while earning a degree in Computer Engineering.

Chris relocated to Maryland to pursue a career in aerospace and engineering, as well as a master’s degree in electrical engineering from The Johns Hopkins University.

He has performed with the Rockville Concert Band and Rockville German Band since 2007 and the Chesapeake Brass Authority since 2018.