Mission Viejo Staff

Ted Weed - Store Manager

Born and raised in San Diego, Ted started his musical career at a young age, beginning with piano lessons at age 7. He started playing trombone in 7th grade at Lewis Jr. High School and instantly knew that trombone was the instrument for him. He attended Patrick Henry High School, gaining a true love and passion for performing of any kind under the esteemed director, Warren Torns. Ted also participated in All-Southern and All-State Honor Bands throughout his time there.

After high school, Ted attended SDSU and studied trombone while beginning to work professionally with a local brass quintet known as Brasszania, made up of other young musicians from around San Diego County. Brasszania, (later known as Pacific Coast Horns) began working summers and special events for Sea World in the mid 1980’s and eventually auditioned for Disneyland. Working with various Performing groups at Disneyland from 1989 – 2009 and also gigging as a freelance musician, Ted was lucky enough to travel the world, work with many famous musicians and even play for a Presidential dinner at the White House in Washington D.C. with the Brian Setzer Orchestra.

Ted joined the Bertrand's team in 2009 and also enjoys working with several local High School Marching Band and Jazz Band programs in the Orange County area.

Corey Leitch - Education Relationship Manager

Corey was born and raised in Orange County. He played violin and saxophone in elementary school before moving onto the guitar, eventually setting on the double bass. He earned a B.S. in Business Administration with an Entrepreneurship Emphasis from the Chapman University Argyros School of Business and Economics in 2010 where he studied in the Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship.

EHe studied the bass with David Black, of Pacific Symphony, and Jazz with Albert Alva at the Chapman University Conservatory of Music. Corey is equally comfortable in the concert, Jazz and folk worlds, able to adapt to and improvise in many situations. He has led bands with long term residencies and has performed at Catalina Jazz Club in Los Angeles and Segerstrom Hall in Costa Mesa. He studied fretted instruments, (guitar, mandolin, ukulele,) under Randy Wilhite for six years.

Corey joined Bertrand's Music in 2011 and plays as a bass section member in Symphony Irvine in his free time.

Keith Ransons - Sales Associate

Although born in Fullerton, Ca, Keith spent the beginning part of his childhood in Woodinville, Washington. In the summer of 2000 he moved back to California. Inspired by the unique music he experienced in Washington, he enrolled in band at Pioneer Middle School in Tustin Ranch, Ca. This is where his love for music and the trumpet blossomed. After attending Foothill High School for one year, he became one of many to be the first to attend the then new Arnold O. Beckman High School. There he was heavily involved in the music program. In the spring/summer of 2006 he was a member of the division III drum corp Yamato Drum and Bugle Corp.

Starting in Fall 2006 he sat Associate Principal in the Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra for three years. In the OCYSO found a new love for classical music, which ultimately led him to choose a major in trumpet performance. In 2007 he attended California Baptist University on a music scholarship, but left the school is 2008 because the music program wasn’t a fit for him. This brought him to Irvine Valley College to study music under Dr. Stephen Rochford. In the fall of 2008 he began working for Bertrand’s Music. In his free time Keith enjoys travel, scuba diving, camping, hiking, disc golf, movies and live music.

Ben Hunter - Sales Associate

Ben Hunter grew up in Mission Viejo and is now living in Costa Mesa with his wife Allison. Ben started playing trumpet in 5th grade and has loved it ever since. He attended Capistrano Valley High School and learned a lot from the director of instrumental music at the time, Andy Waldukat. During high school, Ben played in the concert band, wind ensemble, marching band, jazz band, brass quintet, musical pit orchestra, the combined symphony orchestra and even sang baritone in the school’s Camerata his senior year.

After high school Ben taught as a music coach at Capo for three years and helped with the marching band, concert band and wind ensemble. Ben began his college education at Saddleback College and played in the wind ensemble, symphony orchestra and jazz combos. Ben began to study trumpet privately with Rich Chasin. He has now transferred to Concordia University in Irvine and is still studying trumpet with Rich Chasin. Ben has been the principal trumpet in the school’s Wind Orchestra and Sinfonietta for two years while also playing in the Concordia Trumpet Ensemble and Concordia Brass Ensemble. Ben is student leader of the Concordia Jazz Combo, tenor section leader and Vice President of the Concordia Choir and he has also participated in Chapel Bells (One of Concordia’s Handbell Ensembles). Ben is graduating from Concordia University this May with a Bachelors in Arts with double emphasis in Music Education and Trumpet Performance.

Ben began working as a sales associate with Bertrand’s Music in November of 2011. Ben is currently still working with Bertrand’s Music and is teaching trumpet privately with Bertrand’s Music as well

Laura Doumad - Sales Associate

Laura began her music career on Alto Saxophone in 4th grade studying privately with Daniel Dolan. In her freshman year of high school she switched to Tenor Trombone. In high school Laura was accepted as a California Ambassador of Music and toured in Europe performing in 7 countries as well as accepted on scholarship to studied at Idyllwild Arts Academy during the summers of 2011 and 2012. Laura has been studying with Micheal Hoffman, Principal of Pacific Symphony Orchestra for six years. She frequently performs with the Fullerton Trombone Ensemble, Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra, JCM Brass Quintet, and many other ensembles. Currently Laura is studying music at Irvine Valley College in hopes to transfer to USC, CSULB, or Mannes.

Rob Haudenschild - Sales Associate

Rob Haudenschild grew up in Smithtown, New York and is now currently living in Laguna Niguel. Rob started playing trombone in 5th instantaneously fell in love with it. Continuing through middle school, He then attended Smithtown High school where he furthered his love for music. During his high school/ college years, he studied the art of jazz improvisation under the direction of Tim Cassera. In sophomore year of high school, Rob auditioned and made a select brass ensemble consisting of the top high school brass players on Long Island, SMI (Students of Music Inc.) While playing with the SMI ensemble Rob earned the honor to play at the Main Chapel at West Point Military Academy. Also was given the opportunity to play the National Anthem on the field at Shea Stadium before a New York Mets Game. He performed both in the Concert and Honor Symphonic band. Honor Jazz Band and sung in Choir and Jazz Choir in high school as well as Music theory where he passed his AP After high school, he attended Suffolk Community College where he began studying Music. In 2009 Rob packed up his belongings and moved westward to California in search of sunshine and to leave the snow behind him. He entered Saddleback College to study music from Trombonist Joey Sellers and faculty to further his jazz knowledge. He now currently plays Bass Trombone in the Laguna Concert band, Bones West (a 40-50 piece trombone ensemble) small combo groups at Saddleback College as well as the Irvine Valley College Jazz Ensemble. Rob began working as a sales associate with Bertrand’s Music in August of 2012.

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