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Member Biographies Gary Black - Section Member Gary started playing the trombone in the 5th grade, he eventually took lessons when he was in his 40's, and he joined the San Jose Metro Band around 1982 (he's not sure of the exact year). He met his wife in the band (how many others can say that?), and he now has three grown kids; all of whom are musicians, none of whom he has been able to entice to join the band. He has tried his hand at the french horn, but he was not satisfied at the outcome. He may try it again in the future. By day Gary works as a transportation engineer (no, not the train-driving kind!). Gary also plays his horn in local pit orchestras from time to time, and he enjoys his other hobby of racing cars (really). Vern Chatfield - Treasurer Vern started his musical experience in grammer school, as he puts it, "right after rocks were invented." He played a variety of instruments through his formative junior high and high school years - including the trumpet, mellophone, and baritone. After serving in the Army Band in Salzburg, Austria, he played in the S. F. State Concert Band until his move to Hawaii in 1959., where he played in the University of Hawaii Concert Band and the prestigious Honolulu Symphony. In addition to being a fne musician, Vern has worked in the restaraunt industry, but he is now fully retired and playing music in 7 different musical groups of various types and styless. "Amazingly," he says, "there are few conflicts."
Sample Biographies Mark Bishop - Webmaster The last remaining member of an ancient Sicilian family, Mark escaped to the United States as a child to avoid the vendetta that had wiped out the rest of his relations (never claim to know the ingredients in your neighbor's secret-recipe calzone!). He took up trumpet-playing almost immediately thereafter because, according to ancient Sicilian tradition, trumpet players are exempt from vendetta attacks. Realizing he will never be able to stop playing without losing this protection, Mark applied himself assiduously to the music and currently plays in two regular groups and is also a highly-sought-after pit member for local theatrical productions.
Becky Rambow - Section Member Growing up in the wilds of Alaska, Becky took up trumpet playing in 5th grade in self-defense - to ward off those roaming bands of wild puffins and marauding moose that would attack unprotected dog sleds on the way to school. She continued to play throughout high school and college, leading groups and even teaching others, thus swelling the world's ranks of trumpet players - always a desirable outcome. Unfortunately, she quickly realized that leading musical groups wasn't going to provide her access to that billion dollars she plans to embezzle someday, so she revamped her career aspirations and followed the quickest route to obtaining mega-amounts of ill-gotten gains: she became a lawyer. She currently splits her free time between musical pursuits, poking people with swords, and smuggling produce across state lines. |
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