The Moonlight Serenade Orchestra

Personnel

Paula McLaughlin

Paula has been singing for 35 years in some of Kansas City’s most prestigious events, including: The headline act for the 2001 Country Club Plaza Thanksgiving Day Lighting Ceremony. The Country Club Plaza Summer Series. Zona Rosa Summer On The Square. The Plaza Art Fair. The Village West Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Paula has enjoyed being a member of the Prince Of Peace church choir for 24 years. In addition to singing with The Moonlight Serenade Orchestra, Paula sings with a 6-piece variety band, and a 5-piece jazz ensemble in the KC area.

Rudy Amato

Rudy has been singing for 51 years. Originally from Buffalo, N.Y. Rudy has been performing in Kansas City now for 24 years. He has performed locally and nationally for various Italian festivals, including most recently in West Virginia with Joe Piscapo of “Saturday Night Live” fame. In addition to singing with The Moonlight Serenade Orchestra, Rudy has performed nationally with many other big bands.

Nick Rowland

Nick has been performing since 2005, and is finishing his Bachelor's degree in Music Education at Ottawa University. Nick has recorded with Tony Award nominee Mary Bridget Davies and The Good Foot. In addition to the MSO, Nick performs with most of the best jazz combos and big bands in Kansas City!

Brad Gregory

Brad has been performing for 49 years, starting his musical career in Edmonton, Canada. He earned his Jazz Performance degree at The University Of North Texas, and then moved to New York. This allowed Brad to perform with acts such as Bob Crosby, Myron Floren, and Les Elgart. In addition to The Moonlight Serenade Orchestra, Brad performs with several other big bands and combos in the KC area.

Mark Howard

Mark has been performing for 39 years, and studied music at Kansas University. Mark performed around the world for 4 years on the Princess Cruise Line. During this time he performed with Pete Christlieb, Ernie Watts, Robert Klein, and John Davidson., to name a few. Mark has performed in numerous Broadway shows around KC. In addition to The Moonlight Serenade Orchestra, Mark continues to perform with various blues, jazz, and concert bands.

Marlin Cooper

Marlin has been performing for 60 years. He graduated from Ottawa University, Pittsburgh State University, and the Conservatory of Bordeaux in France. Marlin’s music teaching career spanned 43 years throughout the KC area. Marlin was given a lifetime membership in The Kansas City Musicians for 40 years of continued membership, and has been recognized by the Jazz Museum as an “Elder Statesman” for his work in the KC area. In addition to The Moonlight Serenade Orchestra, Marlin has performed with many other big bands in KC.

Jim Neiburger

Jim has been performing for 37 years, and comes from a long line of family musicians. Jim studied music at Roosevelt University/Chicago Musical College. He performs with several other big bands in KC in addition to The Moonlight Serenade Orchestra.

Jeff Hamer

Jeff has been performing for 40 years. He attended the Conservatory Of Music at UMKC, and has been one of most sought after trombonists in the area. Jeff has performed with many notable artists, including Natalie Cole, Debby Boone, and the Glenn Miller, Jimmy Dorsey, and Guy Lombardo orchestras. In addition to The Moonlight Serenade Orchestra, Jeff can be heard as a featured soloist on more than a dozen CD releases from many big bands in the KC area.

Brad Burchstead

Brad has been playing playing trombone all over the Midwest for over 35 years. Brad studied music at the UMKC Conservatory Of Music and Johnson County Community College. In addition to the Moonlight Serenade Orchestra, Brad works with a wide variety of classical, rhythm & blues, and Top 40 bands in the Kansas City area.

Chris White
Chris has been performing for over 28 years. He holds a Bachelors in Music from University of Central Oklahoma, and a Masters in Music from the UMKC Conservatory of Music. He has shared the stage with artists such as The Temptations, Byron Stripling, Kanye West, Sandy Patty, Point of Grace, and Michael W. Smith. In addition to The Moonlight Serenade Orchestra, Chris maintains and active teaching a freelance performance schedule.

Bob Koester

Bob has been performing for 60 years. He received his Bachelor Of Music from Curtis Institute in Philadelphia. Bob performed and recorded with the Philadelphia Orchestra. He has performed on the Las Vegas circuit in the Tropicana, Desert Inn, and Union Plaza hotels. His commercial and recording history includes: Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr., Juliet Prowse, Frankie Avalon, The Spinners, and The Ojay’s. Bob has performed with just about every big band in the KC area in addition to The Moonlight Serenade Orchestra.

Steve Molloy

Steve has been performing for over 42 years. He holds a Bachelor Of Music from St. Cloud University, and a Masters degree in trumpet performance from the University Of Kansas. While at KU, Steve taught studio trumpet, directed the Jazz Ensemble II, and performed as a member of the Kansas Brass Quintet. Steve is currently an Artist In Residence at Missouri Western University, where he teaches various jazz and brass ensembles. He also teaches applied brass at Kansas City Kansas Community College. Steve is a former lead trumpet player with the Glenn Miller Orchestra. In addition to the Moonlight Serenade Orchestra, Steve performs regularly at Starlight Theater, the Kansas City Rep, the Music Hall, and with the Fountain City Brass Band.

Jay Sollenberger

Jay Sollenberger has been performing for over 50 years. His music degrees are from Wichita State University and North Texas State University. Jay was a member of the jazz/rock group "Chase" in the 70's. He was the lead trumpet player for the Woody Herman Orchestra, the Stan Kenton Orchestra, and the Buddy Rich Orchestra, and recorded albums with all 3 bands. After settling down in Kansas City in 1980, Jay has been a regular performer at Starlight Theater for many Broadway shows. Jay has recorded with every major big band in the Kansas City area, and is a member of several local brass quintets, in addition to the Moonlight Serenade Orchestra.

Bob Harvey

Bob has been performing for 47 years. He has a Bachelor's in Music from Missouri Western State College, and a Master's in Music from Michigan State University. Bob has taught music in the Lee's Summit, MO school district for the past 27 years. Bob was the lead trumpet for the TD Pack Band for the Kansas City Chiefs. In addition to the Moonlight Serenade Orchestra, plays in the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, as well as many other big bands and orchestras in the Kansas City area.

Dwight Rhodes

Dwight has been performing for 56 years. He studied music at Stephens College, Missouri University/Columbia, & Truman State University. In addition to The Moonlight Serenade Orchestra, Dwight still performs with many big bands, ensembles, and concert bands throughout the KC area.

Tom Harrington

Tom has been performing for 56 years. He served in the Army Band at Ft. Leavenworth, and then earned a degree in Music Education at Kansas University. Tom has taught music in the Topeka and Olathe public schools for many years. His local experience includes several other bands and combos besides The Moonlight Serenade Orchestra.

Eric Griffin

Eric has been performing for 41 years. He graduated with a music education degree from Missouri State University, and a master’s degree in music education from Kansas University. Eric has taught band for the last 13 years at Olathe East High School. Besides performing in the KC area with The Moonlight Serenade Orchestra and other groups, Eric is a frequent composer of commercial music, with several radio broadcast credits to his name.

Ron Ernst

Ron has been performing for 54 years. He started his music career in St. Louis, playing in a multitude of drum corps, concert, jazz and rock bands. He currently performs on Sunday’s at The Church Of The Resurrection in Leawood. Ron is a veteran of over 50 Broadway shows in Kansas City, at theaters such as The Music Hall, Crown Center, Union Station, and The White Theater. Ron is proud to be the leader of The Moonlight Serenade Orchestra, performing with the best musicians Kansas City has to offer!

Ray DeMarchi

Ray has been performing for over 46 years. Ray completed his Masters Of Music degree at UMKC. He has served as a faculty member at the University of Missouri, Johnson County Community College, and William Jewell College where he teaches percussion and jazz. Ray has performed at Starlight Theater, the Lyric Opera, and the Kansas City Symphony. Ray has also performed with Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Steve Allen, Etta James, Kansas, The Moody Blues, The Who, and Chic Corea. Ray can be heard on over 30 CD's with various artists, and performs with many of the top jazz, rock, and soul bands in Kansas City!!

Layne Brock

Over the last 36 years, Layne has played nightclubs all over the Midwest with acts such as: The Shapes, Glow and They Only Look Dead. In addition to the Moonlight Serenade Orchestra, Layne performs the occasional Broadway show and has been a long time member of the Church of the Resurrection Praise band.