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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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!!
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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.
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