Flushing Band and Orchestra
Laura Ketchum, Director of Bands
Ms. Ketchum is originally from the Kalamazoo area. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music Education from Western Michigan University. Recently, in the summer of 2009, she completed her Master's degree in Wind Conducting at Southern Oregon University. Previous to taking the position in Flushing, she taught high school band, beginning band as well as 5th and 6th grade choir for three years at the Brandon School District (Ortonville, MI). She also worked as the middle school Director in the Big Rapids Public Schools.
Laura is a euphonium player and performs with the Oakland Brass Band (Royal Oak), Dodworth Saxhorn Band (Ann Arbor) and Quintus Brass (Davison). In her spare time, she enjoys non-musical hobbies such as making jewelry, sailing, and playing fetch with her dog.
Ms. Ketchum's School Webpage
Matt Forsleff, Director of Orchestras
Mr. Forsleff has taught music at the Flushing School District since 1998. Before coming to Flushing, he was Director of Bands in the Bendle school district for nine years. As Director of Orchestras, he works with students from the time they begin exploring instrumental music, until they graduate from high school. In addition to spending most of his workdays teaching strings to students, he also serves as music director for Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mt. Morris Township.
As a performer, Matt is a substitute viola player for the Flint Symphonic Orchestra and an accomplished trumpet player. He also performs with other area orchestras. He graduated from Western Michigan University School of Music with a double-major in trumpe and viola. While in college, he was a member of the WMU Honors String Quartet and the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. Matt has also done graduate work in music education at WMU and at Ohio State University.
Eric Fontan, Asst. Director of Bands
Mr. Fontan is currently the Director of Bands at Flushing Middle School and Assistant Director of Bands at the High School. His employment includes Director of Bands at Flushing High School (4 years), staff with the Flint Institute of Music, the Plymouth-Canton Education Park Marching Band, Belleville Schools and the Flint City Schools. He also taught parochial schools as well as teaching in the Rhea County Schools in Tennessee, prior to moving to Michigan.
Eric is an active member of the Flint Symphony Orchestra since 1994 and performs regularly with other groups throughout the region. He earned his Masters Degree in Music at the University of Michigan, graduating with high honors. One of his accomplishments is he was one of the final students of renowned trumpeter, Armando Ghitalla - former Principal Trumpet of the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops. He also studied under the tutelage of Brian Rood (Kansas City Symphony), Charles Decker (Tennessee Technological University), Ralph Pottle (Boston Pops) and Robert Weatherly (St. Louis Symphony).