Trombone Section
Bill Johnson- 1st Trombone
B.S.
and M.A degrees in music education (M.A.- University of Iowa). Private study
with Arnold Jacobs (Chicago Symphony Orchestra)
Rockford
Symphony Orchestra (over 40 years)
Various
dance bands, including Dixieland, Jazz, and Big Band. Ringling Brothers
and Shrine Circus Bands
Background
groups for entertainers, including Bob Hope, George Burns, Rosemary Clooney,
Jerry Van Dyke, Joann Castle, Myron Floren, Norm Cosby, and Margaret Whiting.
Music
teacher in Huntley and Stillman Valley Schools (22 years)
Ryan Neumann~ 2nd Trombone
After Graduation form the University of Illinois with a bachelors degree in music education , Ryan spent 5 years as the director of middle school bands in the Fulton Il school district . Having always been interested in woodworking and construction. He started a new career in 2003 as a project manager at creative kitchens in Sterling. He lives in Morrison with his wife Cheryl, and there two children, Molly and Adam.
Tom Slothower- 3rd Trombone
Tom started playing drums at the age of 8. By the time he was 14, he played drums for 3 years with a 7-piece dance band called “The Stardusters”. He enlisted in the Air Force to be a Cryptographer by day and a musician by night with The Blue Dons, a 4-piece group which emulated the Shearing Sound. Tom was head drummer in the USAF band while stationed in Tokyo , Japan . After the Korean War, Tom studied voice at Illinois Wesleyan, changed majors and graduated with a Master' s Degree from Northern Illinois University .
Tom's day job was education but he never stopped singing. He sang the leading role in The Pajama Game, sang the bass baritone roles in Handel's Messiah 3 times and has sung hundreds of times in religious and social events, including singing with the Sterllng, IL Municipal Band. Tom devoted full-time to music after retiring from teaching. He taught himself how to play trombone and earned a chair in Class Act II Band. Tom also sings some male vocals with the Band. He also plays drums and sings with a trio.
David J Dahl- Bass Trombonist
David
has enjoyed playing in the Class Act II Big Band starting out on the second part
and moving to the Bass Trombone position in the Fall of 2005.
He has been playing the trombone for over 40 years beginning in the
Waukegan Grade School Band. David graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy for High
School and went on for some additional music education at Northwestern
University. He transferred into a
business undergraduate education completed at Roosevelt University, Chicago.
David has played classical music for most of his life and with jazz music
ensembles at Interlochen, Northwestern, and now Class Act Big Band II.
He and his family are involved in a variety of community activities including acting with the Sauk Valley Productions Community Theatre Group (‘Peter Pan’ as Mr. Darling/Pirate and in ‘Annie’ as FDR); volunteer teacher with Prison Fellowship at the Dixon Correctional Center; Director of the Hallstrom HSW Fall production ‘It’s a Wonderful Life-Radio Play’ which was performed in Rockford late November and early December, 2006; and a worship leader at a local area church.