The Trombone Players
Chris Koepke - Trombone
Chris loves playing in the Olney Big Band because the band loves the music so much. The gigs are a blast for the musicians, dancers, and listeners. He was born in Plymouth, Michigan in the Detroit area. His formative years (the 1970s) were spent growing up in Michigan playing with the Plymouth Centennial Park High School Symphonic, Jazz, and Marching bands. Because of the great program in Plymouth, Chris had the honor of playing at the Midwestern Band and Orchestra Conference and also to be part of the band that won First Prize at the Ohio State University Jazz Festival.
During those years, Chris also played lots of Sousa Marches with the Plymouth Community Band and many wind symphony compositions with the University of Michigan Youth Band, and the All-State Band at Interlochen. If you’re looking for a great summer vacation where you get to hear fabulous young musicians, Chris recommends heading to Northern Michigan and stopping by the National Music Camp at Interlochen.
Chris has since played in multiple groups at Michigan State University, a fusion band headed by Michael Mills in New Haven Connecticut, the University of Pennsylvania Jazz Band, and several big jazz bands in the Baltimore area, including the Columbia Jazz Band. If you want to listen to some great accessible jazz that occasionally features the trombone, Chris recommends: 1) any of Toshiko Akiyoshi’s big band/orchestra CDs, if you can find Tales of a Courtesan, definitely get it; 2) anything by Steve Turre, he has great musical sensitivity; and 3) Conrad Herwig’s The Latin Side of Miles.
Chris has a bachelors from Michigan State University and a Masters and Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in Communications. he directs communication research and ad campaigns for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which runs the Medicare and Medicaid programs for the United States government. He’s happily married and has one daughter.
Amato Stellato - Trombone
Raised in the small town of Carle Place, NY, Amato started playing trombone in the 3rd grade and was fortunate to be involved with one of the best school music programs on Long Island. During these school years, Amato was a member of the marching band, orchestra, stage band, concert band, and various small ensembles. His “stage” band played big band music and that was when he became hooked on the Big Band Sound.
Amato went on to graduate from the University of Maryland and played in the marching band for a short time. Many years past, but he was always inspired by the band when attending the Redskins games and was amazed that the Washington Redskins had the only Pro Football Marching Band at that time. It was then that he decided to “pick” up the trombone again in hopes of being accepted some day as a member of the ‘Redskins’ Band.
In 2004, Amato joined the Olney Concert Band which led to being a member of the Rockville Concert Band, Rockville Swing Band, Montgomery Philharmonic, and the Olney Big Band.
He also played in the National Community Concert Band Sousa Festival that involved over 6 community bands from across the country and performed at the Jefferson Memorial. Amato also played in several Orchestra pits for community theater groups in the local area. More recently, he participated as one of the musicians of the Rusty Musicians Orchestra that performed with members of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Marin Alsop.
John McVey - Tenor/Bass Trombone
John McVey is a free-lance trombonist in the metro Maryland/DC/Virginia area. In addition to The Olney Big Band, he performs regularly with the Bayside and Crabtowne Big Bands. Over the years, he has performed with the Dixie Rascals, the Don Junker Big Band, Hank Levy Reunion Big Band, Baltimore Big Band (The Chuck Funn Orchestra), Them Eastport Oyster Boys, Rockville Concert Band, Rockville Jazz Ensemble, Columbia Concert Band, Columbia Jazz Ensemble, Village Jazz Band, A Band For All Seasons, Bones of Faith, and Browningsville Cornet Band. John may be heard on CD recordings of Kelly Carmichael, a Roots Blues guitarist from Frederick, MD., Carbon Big Band, Dixie Rascals, and the Epiphany Episcopal Church in Odenton MD. He has also performed in the orchestra for musical productions of Lil’ Abner, Big River, Me and My Gal, Annie, and Funny Girl at the Chesapeake Music Hall Dinner Theater in Annapolis, MD.
John attended Mississippi State University and the University of Maryland. After joining the Navy to see the world in 1970, he made it a career and retired in January 1993 after 23 years as a Chief Cryptologic Technician. To make a living now and pay for his music habit, John joined the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, DC, in February 1993. He works as a Senior Information Systems Analyst in their Information Technology Division, and also does internet web development as both a hobby and a business.
