Rock River Jazz Band

 Rock River Jazz Band Rhythm Section

Charles "Doc" Lyon Drums

 Beginning with winning talent show contests in the 8th grade to recording in high school and college to traveling with rock-and-roll bands, Charles "Doc" Lyon has continually strived to be a drummer for all occasions.  Time, style and dynamics, along with a sense of showmanship have helped him entertain countless crowds with a variety of bands for the last 35 years.

 Brad Linboom - Upright Bass

Wesley German - Keys

Steve German - Electric Guitar

Steve German, a Dixon native, plays guitar, piano, and bass. He is studying Economics, Religion, and Philosophy at Indiana Wesleyan University. Go Cardinals.

Rock River Jazz Band  Brass Section

Trumpets

Aaron White - Lead Trumpet

Aaron White grew up in hometown of Rockford, IL.  Studied music privately with Phyllis Hogberg, of Winnebago, IL, through high school. Attended Northern Illinois University and received Bachelor’s degree in Music Education in 1999.  After graduation, Aaron was a music educator for three years.  Two years in the West Pike School District in Kinderhook, IL, and one year in the Chadwick-Milledgeville School District.  After deciding to quit teaching, Aaron worked for 5 years for Griggs Music in Davenport, IA as a music salesman and then as shipping/receiving/inventory manager.  Aaron is currently loading truck at the Wal-Mart Distribution Center in Sterling, IL. Currently performs with: The Sterling Municipal Symphony Band, Rock River Jazz Band, As well as “Sterling Brass” Brass Quintet. Instruments performing on: Trumpet:Cannonball 725 in Black Nickel finish - Bach Strad Limited Edition Flugelhorn: Olds; Piccolo Trumpet: Getzen (4-valve, long bell)

Jon P. James - Trumpet 2

Dan Monnier - Trumpet 3

Dan Monnier is studying at Northern Illinois University for his Bachelor's Degree in Communications with an emphasis on Media Studies.  Dan has played the trumpet in many large ensembles including NIU's Wind Ensemble and the Sterling & Dixon Municipal Bands.  He also enjoys writing his own music and playing guitar.  He has been with the Rock River Jazz Band for 9 years.

Trombones 

Ryan Neumann - Lead Trombone

Matt Senneff - Trombone 2

Mark Bressler - Bass Trombone

Kelly Beaman - Sub Trombone

Rock River Jazz Band Saxophone Section

Emily Bressler -     Lead Alto

Emily Nunemaker-Bressler is a native of Sterling and has played with the municipal bands of both towns on and off for the past 22 years.  She is a graduate of Illinois State University holding a bachelor’s in music education and a master’s in educational administration.  She is the director of bands at West Carroll High School in Savanna, IL.  Mrs. Bressler’s bands at West Carroll have earned straight division I ratings at contests under her direction.  West Carroll has also earned two 2nd place and one 3rd place finish in the Class B Illinois High School Association Music Sweepstakes Contest.  Her pep band received the distinction of being selected to play for the state boy’s basketball tournament in 2007.  In addition to her teaching responsibilities at West Carroll Emily has a private clarinet and sax studio and is adjunct faculty at Sauk Valley Community College.  In addition to playing for the municipal bands, Mrs. Bressler plays with the  Rock River Jazz Band, The Mt. Carroll Stage Band, and Sauk Valley Community College Band, and the Clinton Symphony Orchestra.  Emily is the wife of Mark Bressler and the proud mother of two boys, Wilson Taft and Jackson Todd.

Julianna Karvelius - 2nd Alto

Cathy L. James -   Lead Tenor

Cathy started playing clarinet at the age of 10. Her idols were Pete Fountain and Benny Goodman. Cathy played in every group she could going through school.   In high school the band director started a stage band; he was not accepting clarinet players. Cathy went home on a Friday, pulled her brother's old tenor out of the closet and learned to play over the weekend. On Monday she tried out for the stage band and took the lead chair. Cathy is solo chair clarinetist in the Dixon Municipal Band, the Sterling Municipal Band, Sauk Valley Community College Band. She also plays flute, clarinet, soprano - alto-tenor and bari-sax(whatever is called for) in the Class Act II Big Band and the Rock River Jazz Band.  Cathy has her own combo, "A'int Misbehavi'n" and enjoys playing in area pit orchestras and collecting instruments. She is now the proud (or foolish) owner of a sopranino and bass sax. Cathy's husband is Jon James of the Rock River Jazz Band and they are the proud parents of 3 cats; Vinny, Louie and Rufus Thelonius Monk James.

Brandi Spreeman - 2nd Tenor

Brandi Spreeman has been playing music and teaching professionally for 16 years.  Mrs. Spreeman has been a private music instructor in Iowa, Missouri, and now Illinois.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from Truman State University and a Master of Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.   Mrs. Spreeman is currently a junior high teacher at Christ Lutheran School.  Mrs. Spreeman resides in Sterling with her husband Chad and daughter Kimzey.  In addition to the Rock River Jazz Band, she also performs with the Sterling Municipal Band.

Pete Fink - Bari Sax