The Capital City Brass Quintet offers a wide variety of musical repertoire that is appropriate for a church service, a recital, a wedding ceremony, a wedding reception, a Christmas concert, a party, or any other occasion. The CCBQ can cater to a wide audience and is comfortable playing a variety of musical styles. This group brings a wealth of musical experience and talent to the Chamber Music genre in the Midlands of South Carolina.
Members of the Capital City Brass Quintet
Doug Leadbitter, Trumpet
Jason Ortiz, Trumpet
Vince Miles, Horn
John Cell, Trombone
Allen Kaiser, Tuba
Doug Leadbitter, Trumpet, is a native of Columbia, South Carolina. In 1977 Doug began playing trumpet in the public schools of Richland County School District I where he attended Keenan High School. He then attended the University of South Carolina and earned a Bachelor of Music Education Degree with a Performance Certificate in Trumpet. While in college Doug played in every major ensemble at the University. In 1986 he was selected to perform in the All-American College Liberty Band that performed at the July 4, 1986 Centennial Celebration for the Statue of Liberty in New York. After graduation, Doug enlisted in the United States Air Force as a bandsman. He was stationed at Travis Air Force Base near Fairfield, California and was a member of the Air Force Band of the Golden Gate. Doug toured extensively throughout the western United States with the Air Force Band of the Golden Gate. He performed in a variety of musical ensembles including the Concert Band, Marching Band, Commanders Jazz Ensemble, and most notably, the Travis Top Brass Quintet. Doug was also the Staff Arranger for the Travis Top Brass. After his enlistment in the Air Force, Doug moved back to his hometown of Columbia where he maintained a small private music studio for a number of years. Although Doug made a major career move when he decided to become an attorney, he maintains a connection with his musical past. He freelances extensively throughout the State of South Carolina, is an active member in the Palmetto Concert Band, and is the manager of the Capital City Brass Quintet.
Jason Ortiz, Trumpet, was raised in a military family, but has called Columbia, South Carolina home since 1995. Jason began playing trumpet in Killeen, Texas in 1990. His family moved to Columbia in 1995, where Jason attended Ridge View High School. After graduating in 1997, Jason earned a music scholarship to the University of South Carolina, where he majored in Criminal Justice. While at USC, Jason performed with the University of South Carolina “The Mighty Sound of the Southeast” marching band (1997-1999), the University of South Carolina Symphonic band (1998-2001) including the group that played at the American Bandmaster’s Association convention in Biloxi, Mississippi in 1998, the Basketball pep band (1997-2002), Trumpet ensemble (2000-2001) including the group that played at the International Trumpet Guild in Evansville, Indiana in 2001, the Inter-Collegiate Honor Band (2000-2001), and the College Street Brass Choir (2001). Since graduating from USC in 2001, Jason has become a consistent substitute for the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra (2001-present) and a permanent member of the Palmetto Concert Band (2002-present). Jason is also the founder and manager of the Devine Street Brass (2000-present), which performs primarily out of Shandon United Methodist Church. Jason has also performed with the Quintessential Brass (2002-2003) and the Palmetto Brass Quintet (2004). Jason currently resides in Northeast Columbia and is a Supervisor at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina.
Vince Miles, Horn, is originally from the State of Kansas. He began playing the french horn in 4th grade. The following year his father's job brought him to Columbia and he has made Columbia his home ever since. After graduating from Spring Valley High School in 1987, he pursued a music degree at the University of South Carolina. He studied under Bob Pruzin and performed in various ensembles at USC. Vince received a Bachelor of Arts in Music degree with a performance certificate in 1992. He is currently a licensed optician by trade, but manages to hold on to his musical roots. Vince has performed with various orchestras including the South Carolina Philharmonic, the Florence Symphony, Augusta Symphony, and Myrtle Beach Symphony orchestras. He freelances all over the state of South Carolina and is an active member of The Palmetto Concert Band.
John Cell, Trombone, is the newest member of the Capital City Brass Quintet. John has always carried a lot of business cards, continually exploring life in various ways. He has been a computer consultant since 1973, a Portuguese interpreter since 1984, and a nuclear medical technician since 2002. But no matter what else he has been doing, John has always been making music, mostly with his trombone. His elementary years in Detroit, Michigan were spent with The Raiders, playing dances, fairs, and festivals. His junior high years included musical theater, brass quintets, and being a member of the Midland (Michigan) Symphony. His high school years in Greenville, South Carolina included performing with the Crescent Youth Symphony, musical theater, brass quintets, and other music groups throughout the southeast. After a European tour with Americas Youth in Concert, which included performances at Carnegie Hall and Kennedy Center, John attended Furman University, majoring in trombone performance. While a student at Furman playing in as many musical groups as he could in school, John also continued participating in nearly 50 other ensembles including circuses, ice shows, musicals, television, commercial recording projects, and jazz ensembles. John spent the summer of 1973 as a musician at Carowinds during its inaugural year, including conducting the 22-piece pit orchestra at the Magic Theater. In 1977, John began a four-year enlistment in the United States Navy in Norfolk, Virginia performing in the Atlantic Fleet Band, first as a soloist on a tour of Africa and Brazil, then splitting duties between the CinCLantFlt Brass Quintet and being the sound engineer for the rock band, Gale Force, and finally as the soundtrack engineer and arranger for the LantFlt Audio Visual Command. John also continued to perform regularly with civilian groups on nights and weekends playing numerous jazz clubs in the Hampton Roads, Virginia area. In 1982, John came to Columbia South Carolina to continue his music studies at University of South Carolina. He played in the Left Bank Jazz Band, the USC Symphony, and sought as much commercial freelance musician work as he could manage, including groups in Charlotte and Atlanta. In 1984, John won the principal chair in the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra and performed with the Palmetto Brass Quintet. John moved to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1987, but commuted back and forth between Cincinnati and Columbia for nearly 17 years to maintain his chair with the South Carolina Philharmonic. In Cincinnati, John played in many community orchestras, the Queen City Big Band, and the Mt. Auburn Brass Fellowship, as well as various brass quintets and ensembles, dance bands, show bands, and jazz ensembles. In 2004, John decided to focus on teaching, and in 2008, John relocated back to Columbia and currently teaches at St. John Neumann School.
Allen Kaiser, Tuba, is a native of Detroit, Michigan. He graduated high school from the Interlochen Arts Academy. Allen earned a Bachelors and Masters Degree in music performance from the University of Michigan. While studying at the University of Michigan, he performed in every major ensemble including the University of Michigan Symphony Brass that performed concerts in Berlin, Germany. After moving to South Carolina, Allen gained a tremendous amount of professional playing experience as an orchestral tubist. Allen performed as principal tubist with the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, in Greenville, South Carolina for twelve years. He has also performed regularly with the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra, the Augusta Symphony, the Savannah Symphony, and the Charleston Symphony. Allen has extensive experience performing in professional brass quintets. He was a founding member of the Aurora Brass Quintet where he joined that group for a concert tour of Italy. Allen and the Aurora Brass also took on the admirable charge of commissioning new works for that group which adds to the repertoire for the brass quintet. Mr. Kaiser has also been a member of the Palmetto Brass Quintet in Columbia, SC and the Emerald City Brass Quintet, in Greenwood, SC. Allen's teaching experience includes serving as an Adjunct Professor of Music at Columbia College, and as an Adjunct Professor of Music and Artist in Residence at the Governors School of the Arts in Greenville, SC.