Instrumental Music Faculty
Brett Martinez, Assistant Professor of Instrumental Music
316.322.3117, bmartinez11@butlercc.edu Office BOE 724
Prior to coming to Butler, Mr. Martinez spent fourteen years as a school band director. For the past twelve years Mr. Martinez served as the Director of Bands for Douglass Public Schools. He was responsible for all aspects of the band program, including Fifth Grade Band, Sixth Grade Band, Seventh and Eighth Grade Band, and Middle School Drum Line. At Douglass High School he was responsible for the Marching Band, concert Band, Drum Line, Select Ensembles and individual performances, as well as team-teaching Music Theory.
Under the direction of Mr. Martinez, the Douglass Bands consistently earned Superior Ratings at League and State Festivals, as well as at Marching Festivals including the Kansas State Fair and Arkalalah. The Douglass High School Band also earned invitations for featured performances at the Arkalalah Marching Festival, the Kansas Music Educators Association Inservice Workshop and at Wichita State University. Mr. Martinez has served as an adjudicator for area music festivals, as a guest teacher for Instrumental Music Methods Class at Wichita State University, and as a clinician for the Kansas Bandmasters Association.
A native of Kansas, Mr. Martinez earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1999 from Wichita State University and a Master of Music Education degree in 2008, also from Wichita State University. He was named Teacher of the Year for Douglass Public Schools in 2007. Mr. Martinez maintains memberships in the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA), and Kansas Bandmasters Association (KBA). Mr. Martinez served as the South-central District Representative for KBA from 2008 - 2013 and is currently serving as KBA President-elect. He is an elected member of the Phi Beta Mu International Bandmaster Fraternity.
At Butler, Mr. Martinez directs the Concert Band and Jazz Bands, as well as teaching applied lessons and Music Appreciation.
Mr. Martinez is an active participant in community service projects in Douglass and Rose Hill, as well as through his local church. Each summer Mr. Martinez enjoys playing trumpet with the Senseney Community Band along with colleagues and students. Additionally, each summer he participates and encourages his students and community members to participate with the Drums Across Kansas Drum and Bugle Corps program.
Mr. Martinez and his wife Sharlet reside in Douglass with their cat, Boo.
Joel Knudsen, Professor of Instrumental Music
316.323.6924, jknudsen@butlercc.edu Office BOE 730
Mr. Knudsen has been an instructor of music at Butler since 1998. He teaches First Year Music Theory and Applied Piano, along with other music courses. Mr. Knudsen leads a five-piece combo that accompanies the Headliners, and he also accompanies Chamber Singers, Concert Choir and Jazz Band. In addition, Mr. Knudsen has been the pianist for the Wichita Symphony since 1984, and maintains an active private studio of piano students.
His wife Lori is very supportive of the Butler music department, and Mr. Knudsen is the proud father of three boys who are musician's, and the proud grandfather of three awesome grandchildren. "I am at Butler Community College to do my part in making it the best music department it can possibly be. I love working with our students; watching them grow as people and as musicians. At the same time I am grateful for the growth in my own musicianship over the years I have taught at Butler. This is a direct result of working alongside of, and learning from, my wonderful colleagues and our talented students."
John Templin, Adjunct Instructor and Pep Band Director
jtemplin@butlercc.edu
John Templin is a retired band director after 33 years of service to the public school system. He taught instrumental music in the Wheatland, Smith Center, Bluestem and El Dorado school districts. In 1983, he was awarded the Master Teacher for the Bluestem schools. He has been a member of the El Dorado Municipal Band since 1961 and has directed half of the concerts for the last twenty five years. After retiring from public schools in 2002, John received a telephone call in 2003 from the Fine Arts Dean, Larry Patton to join the Butler team and teach the pep band and Fundamentals of Music. John and his wife Barbara have two sons, Trey (married to Noreen, a professor at Butler) and Gabe. Together they follow their three grandchildren that participate in soccer, basketball, dance and music. John’s hobbies include golf, woodworking and photography.
Charles Davis, Adjunct Instructor of Woodwinds and Music Theory
cdavis64@butlercc.edu
Charles G. Davis was born in Dallas, Texas in 1951. He attended high school in Garland, Texas, graduating in 1969. Mr. Davis received a Bachelor of Music and Masters of Music from Midwestern University in Wichita Falls, Texas between 1969 and 1975 and a Masters of Liberal Arts (History) from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas in 1984. Charles has taught music and/or history at various Texas colleges including Coastal Bend College, Howard Paine University, Stephen F. Austin University and Lon Morris College. He worked as a field researcher at Texas Tech University for The Handbook of Texas, and published numerus articles for that publication. Mr. Davis has also been historical music director for various motion pictures including Gone to Texas, North and South, The Rough Riders, Alamo, Price of Freedom, and Glory.
Charles moved to Kansas in 2014 and is a member of Kansas Music Educators and Kansas Bandmasters associations. He is married to Joni Matthews Davis, his bride of 30 years, and resides in Augusta, Kansas.
Scott Strecker, Adjunct Instructor of Instrumental Music
sstrecker1@butlercc.edu
Scott Strecker's impressive career spans several decades and, in addition to performances all over the US, has lead him to such places as Mexico, Guam, Canada, France, Portugal, Spain, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand to perform for thousands of people.
While he was in the United States Air Force band, he performed as lead trumpet and featured soloist in various groups that performed for such events as the Dedication of Mount Rushmore, the Reagan Library Dedication, and former President Richard Nixon’s funeral. During this time, he was also part of six different Air Force recordings, one of which also featured Grammy Award winner Arturo Sandoval.
Since leaving the Air Force, he has been a successful freelance musician and has worked as a sideline musician in various movies including In the Line of Fire, starring Clint Eastwood; Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story; That Thing You Do, written/directed/starring Tom Hanks; Walt Disney's Fantasia 2000, and more. In addition Scott’s trumpet playing can be heard on motion picture soundtracks for 100 Mile Rule, Player 51/50, The Cooler, and The Big Short.
Scott has recorded with Jack Sheldon, Lou Rawls, Deborah Harry, Isaac Hayes, and other celebrities and artists. He has been a voting member of the Recording Academy (the Grammy’s) since 2003. He has also performed with acts such as Keely Smith, The Brian Setzer Orchestra, Barry Manilow, Toni Tennille, Nancy Wilson, Mary Wilson, Connie Francis, Joe Montegna, Jack Jones, Rosemary Clooney, Fred Travelino, Steve Allen, The Andrew Sisters, The Inkspots, The Temptations, Peter Marshall, and many more.
He has performed for names like George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon, Prince Andrew (the Duke of York), Bob Hope, Jimmy Stewart, Charlton Hesston, Jack Lemmon, and Robert Wagner.
Roberto Bernardinello, Adjunct Instructor of Instrumental Music
rbernardinel@butlercc.edu
Roberto began to play in 1991, under the guide of Piero Orsini (Gipsy Kings - Lisa Hunt). In 1992, he began his first experiences, performing in top 40 and rhythm & blues bands. In 1993, he joined a jazz quartet, playing around the Milan (Italy) area in clubs and venues. From 1993 to 1995, he played in various fusion and funk band projects.
In 1996, Roberto joined "Diatriba," a flamenco-jazz band lead by virtuoso guitarist Marco Porcu. With the same band, he played the following three years on TV channel (Mediaset-Odeon TV), as well as, major clubs in all of Italy. In 2003, he moved to London to study at the prestigious Trinity College of Music.
Currently Roberto is based in Wichita, Kansas. He leads many ensembles and is a staple of its night scene. Recent collaborations include artists: , Harry James Big Band, The Fabulous Flippers, Gary Foster, Earl Dumler, Christian Howes, Jay Daversa, Denny Jiosa, Jerry Hahn, Philippe Bertaud, Joseph Vincelli, Mike Longo, Tom Fowler, Bill Caldwell, Roger Lewis, Scott Strecker & Richard Johnson.