The Bolling Ensemble
Stephanie Lindley
Stephanie wanted to play the piano like her daddy, who though he was Ray Charles. Daddy said “you are gonna play BETTER than me.” From age 6, she studied and performed classical, jazz, and mostly theatre piano, clarinet and sax..in 3 NJ High Schools, the Wilmington DE School of Music, and with Jazz Pianist Harry Pickins. Introduced to “The Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano” by her Vernon, NJ High School Band Director, Stephanie and flautist Kim Deluccio-Collins performed “Baroque and Blue” to the delight of teenagers all over NJ, and winning the NJ Teen Arts Festival Award in 1986.
Professional theatre artist and musician, Stephanie has served as pianist and Music Director/Conductor for dozens and dozens of professional Equity, non-Equity, community and university theatre productions, including 6 productions of “Ain’t Misbehavin’” with both Triad Stage and Black Rep, and a very proud production of “Five Guys Named Moe” at the Barn Dinner Theatre.
Stephanie has a Masters Degree in Theatre and Bachelor of Music, both from UNCG,, and she is OVER-THE-MOON to be able to perform so many incredible Claude Bolling pieces with her dear, sweet friend for 30 years, Brian Blauch, and an ensemble of brilliant musicians - many she’s known for nearly as long as Brian! (Although - some won’t want to admit that….)
Brian Blauch
Brian Blauch is a woodwind specialist living in the Triad of North Carolina. Originally from Pennsylvania, he moved to North Carolina to attend the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where he earned his Bachelor of Music Degree in Clarinet Performance. While at UNCG, Brian studied with Mr. Darryl Coad and Dr. Kelly Burke. After receiving his undergraduate degree, he studied with Dr. Robert Spring at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, and earned a Master of Music degree, also in Clarinet Performance.
Brian has performed in the orchestras for 11 Broadway national tours. He has performed in 49 states, 6 Canadian Provinces, and two cities in Brazil. The Broadway tours ranged from classics such as, “The KIng and I” to more operatic shows like “Titanic”, and pop/rock shows like “Fame, the Musical”. In addition to the tours, Brian plays with many theatre groups in the NC Triad area. He also has professional orchestral experience with the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra, the NC Symphony Orchestra, the Salisbury NC Symphony Orchestra, and the Mesa Symphony Orchestra. In 2019 and 2024, Brian performed at the Budrio Ocarina Festival in Budrio, Italy.
Gavin Tranter
Gavin Tranter, a native of the San Francisco Bay area in California, has a BM in Trumpet Performance as well as a BS in Mathematics from the University of Puget Sound, located in Tacoma, WA. In May 2018, Gavin completed his MM in Trumpet Performance at UNC-Greensboro, under Mark Clodfelter. During his time at UNCG, Gavin served as Principal Trumpet in both the University Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble, as well as with the contemporary music ensemble “Present-Continuous” and a wide variety of brass chamber ensembles.
Gavin has worked and received lessons from prominent trumpeters such as Julian Kaplan, Vince deMartino, James Thompson, peter Bond, and Jens Lindemann. In addition to his service as a trumpet instructor at UNC-G, the Greensboro Music Academy, Southeastern Guilford Middle School, and Moore Music, Gavin has also performed with a range of groups in the Triad, including High Point University’s Department of Music, High Point Theatre, the Greensboro Choral Society, and the Wake Forest Department of Music.
Gavin Douglas
Gavin Douglas holds degrees from Queen’s University, the University of Texas, and the University of Washington. He is currently the professor of ethnomusicology in the School of Music at UNC Greensboro. His writings can be found in a variety of journals and books on topis such as state patronage of the arts, music and politics, ethnic minority traditions, and the sound worlds of Theravada Buddhism.
He is an active guitarist, fiddle player and Irish flutist.
Gavin can be found playing Irish music with the New Potatoes on the first Sunday of the month at the Toasty Kettlyst and on the fourth Sunday of the month at Borrough Coffee! He also plays guitar with the West African inspired band, Bala Roots.
James Armstrong
James is the very busy and very proud student-centered band director at Winston-Salem State University.
He is also the best high note playing trumpet player in the Triad!
He has played with corporate bands, and for decades with West End Mambo, Greensboro’s famous Latin Music band.
Stephanie has tried to hire James for every musical theatre show requiring a Trumpet 1 player, that she has conducted in the Triad. Most of the time, James said yes. Every musical theatre pit is TONS more fun and more sharp when James is playing.
Consummate professional musician, loving family man, and devoted teacher. Super duper guy!
Virginia Masius
Virginia was born in the suburbs of Chicago and started piano lessons at age 6, then guitar lessons at age 8. She started playing electric bass at age 10. Then, when she was able to enroll in the school string program at age 11, she started playing double bass. After her family moved to NC in 1982, she started studying bass privately, and did so throughout high school. She first attended East Carolina University, then finished her bachelor’s degree at North Carolina School of the Arts. She currently plays with Greensboro and Salisbury Symphony Orchestras and numerous bands in the Greensboro area. She is also on the worship team at West Market United Methodist Church, playing with the praise band Rising West for the 9 am service each Sunday.
Steve McHugh
Originally from New York, Steve has been performing and teaching in NC since the 1970’s. Steve has taught on the music faculty at High Point University, as well as with the NC School of Percussion. He has performed extensively in this area, in a wide variety of musical settings that include musical theater, jazz, churches, orchestral, and variety bands. Steve has played with numerous artists, including Kelli O’Hara, the Shirelles, the Bel Canto Company, the Piedmont Wind Symphony, the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra, and numerous others.
Paul Foster
Paul Foster earned his degree in music from North Carolina A&T State University when he was also the arranger for its world-renowned marching band. As a professional musician and bandleader, Paul has performed at major colleges and universities, country clubs, hotels and nightclubs from San Juan to San Francisco, from Montreal Canada to Cologne Germany. His bands have opened for the Supremes, Tina Turner and many more. Paul has accompanied major performers such as Frank Foster, Jimmy Heath, Shirley Caesar, Charlie Byrd, Roy Clark, Lou Donaldson Jamaica Funk Tom Browne, Bobby Irvin, the Drifters, The Tyme, USAir Jazz Orchestra, Crosby Clambake Orchestra and a host of others.
Pete Dennis
Musical Human Being From the Bowery to Carnegie Hall East-Asia to Europe NYC to Nashville Live to Studio Jazz to Country