Andy, Wren and long-time friends play at suburban summer party

For a second year in a row, Andy and Wren and their friends were invited to perform at a "music fest" held in the large back yard of a house in New Jersey's outer suburbs. The homeowners invite family and far-flung friends to gather each summer and share their love of music.

Andy and Wren have been making frequent trips to New Jersey this spring to rehearse with their bandmates - who are friends from their high school marching band days. The lead guitarist (at left above) and his family (his father sits in on keyboards) are friends with the hosts of the event.

Although they played harder rock than any of the other groups at the party, they were well received, and complimented by many of the other musicians. 

Cathy, Dan and Julie meet up for an outdoor concert

An outdoor concert not far from Cathy's home in Pennsylvania, featuring one of Dan and Julie's favorite singer-songwriters, provided an occasion for the three to get together and enjoy a beautiful late-summer evening.

The three grabbed take-out food set up their chairs in front of the Bryn Mawr Gazebo, where Carsie Blanton and her band performed. After stopping at the merchandise table to say hello to Carsie (and buy a book of her songs), Dan, Julie and Cathy finished the evening over ice cream at a local shop.

Stephanie on field with Towson U. Marching Band

The Towson University Marching Band performed in the annual Collegiate Marching Band Festival at J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown, Pa., on Sept. 29.

Stephanie is now in her second year playing clarinet in the band. Her mom, Cathy, as well as her Aunt Julie and Uncle Dan were among the crowd in the stands. (Dan and Julie had been to the stadium many times before to watch Christine and Andy in high school band competitions.)

The Towson band's 2019 show, "Driven," ends with band members running in from the field to dance in front of the crowd.

Stephanie marches in July 4 parade

Stephanie performed with the Towson University Marching Band in the Independence Day parade in Towson, Md., on Thursday. Fortunately, the marchers weren't in full band uniform in the 90+ degree heat.

It won't be long before the band starts preparing for the fall season. TU band camp starts in mid-August.

Towson U Marching Band in NYC Vet's Day Parade

--- Updated 11/13 with more photos ---

Stephanie took part in the New York City Veterans Day Parade on Sunday 11/11, marching and performing with the Towson University Marching Band.



Proud mom Cathy, along with Aunt Julie and Uncle Dan, were on hand to see the band parade up Fifth Avenue. In the video above, taken on Dan's phone, you'll see Stephanie 2nd from the right just behind the tubas and saxophones.

Here are a couple of photos taken by Cathy as Stephanie marched by:

And a couple more, taken by another band parent at a different point on the route:

There's also a brief glimpse of Stephanie in a clip from the WPIX-TV live telecast of the parade that's now posted on the TUMB Facebook page.

The previous day, the band performed twice in exhibition during a high school band competition at Hershey Park in Pennsylvania. Cathy was in the stands for the daytime show. "It was cold and VERY windy," Cathy said. "TUMB was still great!" (Cathy flew from Ohio to New Jersey and stayed with Julie & Dan for the weekend to be able to get to both of the weekend's events.)

Stepanie performing with Towson U Marching Band

Towson University freshman Stephanie is in the midst of marching band season. On Sept. 30, the TUMB performed at the annual Allentown Collegiate Marching Band Festival in Pennsylvania.


Stephanie's mom, Cathy, was in the stands and took these great photos.

Aunt Julie and Uncle Dan also drove out to Allentown for the show - a nostalgic trip, since they'd been there several times before to watch Christine and Andy perform in high school band competitions.

Here's a video of the band's show, titled "Bold."


Earlier that weekend, the band performed and played stand cheers at the Towson football team's home opener. Stephanie's brother, Christopher, came to watch.

Next month, the Towson band will march in the Veterans Day Parade in New York City! More info here.

More musical events for Stephanie

Stephanie participated in the Darby High School Winter Band Concert in the first week of March. Then on March 10, she performed with the school's Symphonic Band and its Wind Ensemble at the Ohio Music Educators Association large-group adjudicated event.

No photos, videos or recordings are allowed during the OMEA event, so the Winter Concert provided a preview of the groups' competition performances.

Along with these photos, Cathy has provided two videos:

• Prelude and Fugue in G-Minor by J.S. Bach
• Transcendant Journey by Rossano Galante

More musical events for Stephanie

Stephanie with Columbus Youth Symphonic Band

This month, Stephanie performed in two concerts with groups of select student musicians.

The Darby trio

The first was a performance by the Ohio Music Educators Association All State Band. Student musicians from around the state rehearsed for two-and-a-half days and then performed their program in conjunction with the annual OMEA Conference for music educators, held at the Columbus Convention Center.

Cathy writes: "Stephanie was one of three students from Darby High School that was selected to participate. She enjoyed meeting other band students from all over Ohio and having the opportunity to perform with guest conductor Alfred Watkins, a retired band director from Georgia."

No photos or recordings were permitted during the performance, but Cathy took the picture above during warm-ups. Click here for more photos, from rehearsal and after the show.

The following weekend, Stephanie performed with the Columbus Youth Symphonic Band. Stephanie auditioned last year and was accepted to the group of Columbus-area high school musicians.


The group held weekly rehearsals starting in November to prepare for the first of two concerts, presented at Capital University.

Here are two videos from the program:
Variations on a Korean Song by John Barnes Chance
Country Gardens by Percy Grainger

The musicians are now learning new music for another performance in April.

Seasonal music featuring Stephanie

You've probably heard plenty of Christmas tunes lately, but you'll want to listen to some quality holiday music featuring Stephanie in the Hilliard Darby High School orchestra.

The school's band, choir and orchestra all performed in the annual Celebration Concert in mid-December. Stephanie performed with both the Wind Ensemble and the Orchestra Winds section as first-chair clarinetist.

Cathy has sent along four videos. Stephanie is front-and-center in the third and fourth videos.
Nutcracker Ballet, part one (Tchaikovsky)
Nutcracker Ballet, part two (Tchaikovsky)
The Eighth Candle (Steve Reisteter)
Waves (Brian Balmages)

And here's a link to an album containing all four videos.

As Cathy says, it was another "last" event in Stephanie's senior year.

Stephanie performs with Honors Wind Ensemble

Stephanie participated in the annual Honor Band Showcase held Nov. 18 at the Capital University Conservatory of Music in Columbus. She placed as 3rd chair clarinet in the Honors Wind Ensemble.

Cathy reports: The student musicians "spent time on Friday and Saturday rehearsing music that was performed on Saturday afternoon. They performed two pieces by guest composer Frank Ticheli. Steph was very excited to meet him and work with him, as she has performed some of his works over the years" in her high school concert band.

We have two video clips in which Stephanie is featured:

• Honors Wind Ensemble performs "Sun Dance" by Frank Ticheli 
• Honors Wind Ensemble performs "Earth Song" by Frank Ticheli 

Back at Hilliard Darby High School the following Monday, an awards ceremony marked the completion of the 2017 Marching Band season. "Not only is this the end of Steph's career in Darby Marching Band, but the end of my seven-year involvement as well," Cathy writes.

"Steph was recognized for being a Squad and Section Leader, for being Band President and for her Outstanding Musicianship.

"Also all the Seniors were presented with their plumes. This is the same plume that they wore on their hats for Senior Night (their last home football game) and for the OMEA State Marching Band Finals."

Another musical highlight of Stephanie's senior year is coming up in February, when she takes part in the 2018 Ohio Music Education Association All State Band.

Coda: Stephanie & band perform at OSU

Stephanie participated in one last event to cap off her career with the Hilliard Darby HS Marching Band. On the weekend of Nov. 11-12, the band performed with the Ohio State University Marching Band and OSU Fall Athletic Band at their "Skull Session" before the OSU/Michigan State football game.


Cathy explains: "What is a Skull Session?" you're probably asking. It is essentially a pre-game rehearsal and pep rally held in St. John Arena on campus that is free to the public (so, it's a big deal in Columbus). Since it was a noon game that day, it meant for a early morning for the students however they performed well. The band played a variety of stand tunes, pre-game music and segments from their award winning 2017 show "The Bridge."

Afterwards, a few Darby band students had been selected to attend the football game with two of the band directors as guests of the OSU Marching Band. Stephanie was one of those lucky students! Despite the cold temperatures, she enjoyed sitting behind the band and having special field access during halftime. OSU went on to win the game 48-3.

Cathy adds: This was the LAST time Steph (and her fellow seniors) would wear the Hilliard Darby Marching Band uniform! (sniff!!)

Stephanie wraps up 4 years of HS Marching Band

Senior Stephanie has completed her four years as a member of the Hilliard-Darby HS Marching Band, finishing as the lead clarinet player and the band's student president.

Oct. 20 was Senior Day at the school's home field, where the soon-to-graduate band members were honored.

The Class of 2018

Cathy writes that Oct. 28 was "an emotional day of lasts" for her daughter: "Last band competition. Last time marching on Darby's field. Last OMEA State Finals."

The Darby Panthers went out in top form at the Ohio Music Education Association finals. "They earned straight Ones (superior ratings) from all judges and an overall rating of Superior," Cathy writes. "The finished the season strong and remained unbeaten all season. They won every contest in which they competed."

Here's a video of Darby's performance at the OMEA State Finals.



The band got one more chance to perform this year's show when Darby's football team played a playoff game on Nov. 3.

Pregame pep talk to clarinet section

Click here to see an album including the photos above and a bunch more!

Coming up in February: Stephanie is among the students selected from across Ohio to perform as a member of the 2018 OMEA All State Band.

Julie travels to Ohio for Girl Scouts and family

Julie traveled to Ohio in early October to attend a Girl Scouts national convention and visit with her sister, Cathy, and niece Stephanie.

The Girl Scouts took over the Greater Columbus Convention Center for their 54th National Council Session and an exposition called G.I.R.L. that included speakers and workshops, entertainment, demonstrations and exhibits. "Like a big trade show, all about Girl Scouts," Julie said. The speakers included Chelsea Clinton and Barbara Pierce Bush.

One of the highlights for Julie was an evening sing-along that brought back memories of campfires past.

By having the event in Columbus, the Girl Scouts made it convenient for Julie to attend while visiting Cathy and Stephanie.

That Saturday, Hilliard Darby High School hosted a marching band competition, giving Julie a chance to see Stephanie and the Darby band in action.

Stephanie, a senior, is the band's student president and its clarinet section leader. At one point in the band's show this year, titled "The Bridge," she takes part in a woodwind sextet that performs "Bridge Over Troubled Water."

Here is a link to a YouTube video of a Darby Marching Band performance in September, cued to the start of the woodwind feature.

Before Julie flew home to New Jersey, she and Cathy and Stephanie toured the grounds and greenhouses at the Columbus Botanical Garden. They enjoyed the seasonal displays, which included a lot of pumpkins and chrysanthemums, along with the gardens' regular collection of flowers, plants and topiary.