Who is ContraBand?

Cartoon of a Violin Fiddler and arranger John Cochrane has taught public school orchestra in Idaho for more than twenty-five years. He has a Bachelor’s Degree from Middlebury College in Vermont, a Master’s Degree in Music from Boise State University, and a Professional Artist’s Diploma from the Westchester Conservatory of Music in White Plains, New York. John plays viola in the Boise Philharmonic and is a founding member of Mariachi Sol de Acapulco.

Our second fiddle player is Bailey Burns. Bailey attends college and is majoring in music education. She also plays cello, violin, piano and marimba, and has been an Irish Dancer.
Cartoon of a Flute Our guitarist, Joe Baldassarre, has been teaching full time at Boise State University since 1975. Joe has a Bachelor's in Music Education from Baldwin-Wallace College, a Master's degree from Kent State University, and a doctorate from Case Western Reserve University / Cleveland Institute of Music. He plays classical, historical, and pop styles of guitar.

Robert Gustafson has a Bachelor of Science in Music from Jamestown College, Jamestown, N.D. After two years of Master's level Vocal Performance at the University of Minnesota-Bemidji, he was enlisted director of the U.S. Army Chorus in Heidelberg, Germany for several years. After which he extended his tour to create and direct the Chorus' first training program and recruit/train a new director from the Washington D.C. Army Chorus. During these years, he studied with the lead tenor of the Heidelberg City Opera and performed at the Heidelberg Castle. Here in Boise, Robert co-founded two Scandinavian folk bands and the Scandinavian Family Dancers. He organizes all their performances for local Scandinavian activities as well as public events. He also plays and sings in several local folk dance bands including the Harvest Moon String Band for the monthly Idaho Folklore Society dances.

Cartoon of a Manager Laurie Kayler is a native of the Treasure Valley. She has been adjunct faculty at Boise State University since 1997, teaching private bass guitar lessons and String Techniques. She also maintains a studio teaching bass guitar and double bass. With her husband Don on drums, they are involved in the music ministry at Holy Apostles Catholic Church. When not doing music, Laurie enjoys snow skiing with her family.

Joe Wax plays the electronic drums. Joe is an electrical engineer who teaches high school pre-engineering. Joe was born and raised in North Dakota, and has been involved as a church musician since 1980.