About the Band

We are your neighbors, friends and colleagues.

The Charlottesville Band is one of the oldest continuously operating amateur community bands in the United States, bringing talented local musicians together through a love of music. The Band and its small group ensembles give more than 50 free performances each year, from pop-up concerts in public parks to tuxedo-clad recitals at the Paramount Theater. Our concerts are open to everyone, and they always will be.

Band members come from many different walks of life, but they are all accomplished musicians. Some have even played in the Band for more than 50 years! That kind of dedication shows the passion our members have for their craft and community. Scroll on and get to know your Cville Band!

Music Directors

  • A man with glasses and a beard smiling at the camera

    Steve Layman

    MUSIC DIRECTOR

    Steve Layman has brought his talent, leadership and commitment to Cville Band since becoming Music Director in 2008. A Nationally Registered Music Educator, Steve lives and breathes the Band’s mission of providing musical entertainment and education to Central Virginia. Prior to leading the Band, Steve worked with Albemarle County schools for more than three decades…

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  • Christine Steele

    Christine Steele

    ASSISTANT MUSIC DIRECTOR

    For more than three decades, Christine Steele has dedicated her life to making music education accessible, meaningful, and deeply connected to the Charlottesville community she proudly calls home. A graduate of James Madison University with a degree in Music Education, Christine has spent her career teaching, performing, mentoring, and advocating for musicians of all ages and abilities…

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  • A man with a beard in a suit holding a trumpet, smiling at the camera.

    Jeff Vaughan

    ASSISTANT MUSIC DIRECTOR

    Dr. Charles Jeffrey Vaughan joins the Charlottesville Band this season as one of two newly selected Assistant Conductors, bringing a broad range of experience as a musician, educator, and conductor. Over a career spanning nearly three decades, Jeff has led ensembles at every level — from middle school concert bands to university wind symphonies — holding positions at Northshore High School…

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Member Spotlights

Meet the Band

:)

Meet the Band :)

Close-up of a smiling man with a bald head and light beard, wearing a white shirt, standing against a brick wall.

  • Having joined the "Municipal Band" when I first moved to central Virginia at age 27, I am very pleased to reach the milestone of Life Member this September. Over the past 25 years I have played just about every single-reed instrument at one time or another. I am a founding member of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Saxophone Ensemble (CASE), which has performed all around the area for well over 15 years, and I have also served the Band as music librarian since 2015.

    I knew from a young age that I would be a lifelong band nut. I remember asking my parents early in elementary school if I could play in the school band and being told I had to be patient until 4th grade. Starting with junior high jazz ensemble, I eventually branched out into playing in parades, community theater, jazz/big bands, chamber groups and even folk music such as contra and English country dances. Fun fact: Ironically, I have never (yet) had any private music lessons, and I attended a college with no music department whatsoever.

    My outside interests are mostly centered around music, dancing and being in nature. I am a devoted contra dancer and dance caller, a mobile DJ specializing in wedding celebrations, an e-bike lover and a roller coaster addict. I am also a licensed private airplane pilot. Professionally, I am an alternative-education math and science teacher at Fluvanna County High School as well as a school bus driver.

A man with a beard and gray hair wearing a blue jacket and a black cap with "WOOF" written on it, standing outdoors next to a tree near a river, holding a leash connected to a light-colored dog with floppy ears.

  • Growing up in a musical family, I was destined to be saddled with piano lessons and singing in choirs at church. I joined my elementary school band in 4th grade to play the flute, which I continued throughout middle school, high school and college (shout out to the Marching Owl Band – the MOB – at Rice University in Houston Texas!) As a result of the big fire on Brown's Mountain where I lived in the early 80's, my flute was destroyed along with the rest of my earthly possessions. I then switched to the saxophone and joined the Charlottesville Municipal Band in 1997. In addition to Cville Band, I also enjoy playing in a big band, as well as the Charlottesville Albemarle Saxophone Ensemble (CASE).

    Three years ago, I retired from practicing community psychiatry after a 39-year career at Region Ten Community Services Board. My wife and I enjoy occasional travels with our three grown daughters and spending quality time with our dogs.

A woman with long, wavy blonde hair holding a silver trumpet and smiling indoors.

  • Born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, I began playing trumpet in fifth grade after noticing that most of the other girls were choosing flute or clarinet; I wanted to do something a little different. After a brief break in middle school while attending a charter school without a band program, I returned to trumpet in high school and continued my studies at the University of Arizona, where I earned a Bachelor of Music with a minor in education. While at UA, I performed with the Pride of Arizona Marching Band and served as a trumpet section leader. After college, I stayed active musically by performing with two community bands in Tucson and playing in pit orchestras for musical theater productions. Two years ago, my husband and I moved to Maryland, where I joined another community band and had the opportunity to serve as interim director/conductor for two concert sessions. I’ve been a member of the Charlottesville Band for about six months and am excited to continue making music with the group. Outside of music, I work as a paralegal in an estate planning law firm, love country dancing, and spend my time with my husband and two dogs—a Shiba Inu named Fuji and a Lab/Husky mix named Sami.

Small but mighty.

Ensembles give our musicians the opportunity to play in smaller groups and explore their own unique sounds. These eclectic teams perform a variety of styles such as Dixieland, Celtic folk tunes, waltzes, marches and more. Perfect for spaces like outdoor stages at vineyards, ensembles like the Brass Quintet, Flute Ensemble, and Cville Cinco help bring Cville Band’s big sound to smaller venues. If you’d like to book an ensemble for your event at no charge, please contact us.

Contact Us
A shiny gold-colored tuba is positioned on the floor among chairs and a small table in a room with large windows, outdoor scenery visible through the windows.
A group of ten people, mostly women, standing outdoors under a large tree, holding musical instruments such as saxophones and clarinets, posing for a photo.

Board of Directors

  • John LaPrade, PRESIDENT

    John LaPrade, President

  • Jennifer Schultz, Vice President

    Jennifer Schultz, Vice President

  • Greg Harris, Treasurer

    Greg Harris, Treasurer

  • Kassandra Hunter, Secretary

    Kassandra Hunter, Secretary

  • Eric A. Allison

    Eric A. Allison

  • Janelle Ellis

    Janelle Ellis

  • A man with a beard and short hair holding a brass musical instrument, possibly a euphonium or tuba, in front of a black curtain.

    Mike Gottier

  • A smiling elderly man with glasses and a white beard, wearing a dark suit, striped shirt, and tie, outdoors with greenery background.

    LaVahn Hoh

  • A smiling man in a black suit holding a gold trombone against a black background.

    Dave Johnson

  • Portrait of an elderly man in a tuxedo with a plaid bow tie and glasses, against a dark background.

    Leo Mallek

  • A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, blue eyes, and wearing a white collared shirt, smiling against a light gray background.

    Susan Payne

  • Woman with short curly hair smiling, seated in a motorized wheelchair, holding a shiny copper-colored saxophone, wearing a black top with lace details.

    Bonnie Slater

  • A smiling woman with glasses holding a trombone against a black background.

    Renee Vollrath

  • A middle-aged man with glasses, graying hair, and a beard, dressed in a dark suit, white shirt, and floral tie, smiling against a black background.

    Steve Layman, Ex Officio

Our 104th Season

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Our 104th Season *

Current Band Members

Music Director Stephen R. Layman Flute Stacy Bolling, Selena Daniels, Katie McCartney, Mary Reitsma,  Mikaela Relford, Christine Steele, Mary Ann Stumbaugh, Jessie Tosto B Flat Clarinet Greg Alexander, Cait Ardito, Cheryl Gomez Barber, John Blum, Cynthia Campagna, Ellen Donlon, Michelle Harrell, Burt Marks, Doug Nash, Fred O’Bryant, Karen Purnell, Lynda Sawyer, Jennifer Schultz, Marvin Scoggin Alto Clarinet Pam Evans Contra-Alto Clarinet Karen Painter Bass Clarinet Sharon Dudley, Patricia Sutker Oboe James Prodan, Charles Torian Bassoon Billy Faggart, Cathy Grant, Hanna Maranzatto Alto Saxophone Haywood Giles, Robert LaRue, Bonnie Slater Tenor Saxophone Jim Huneycutt, David Moody, Baritone Saxophone Brian Hamshar French Horn Becky Allen, Eric Allison, Deborah E. Buchanan, Ann Eichelberger, Janelle Ellis, Rory Laycock,

Mike Ozment, Erin Richter Baritone Horn Ian Callen, Mike Gottier, Kerry Finnegan Trumpet Jerry Barber, Sammy Barnes, Jon Botts, Steve Brecker, James Brown, Sam Campbell, Patrick Dorsey, Dennis Fronheiser, Kassandra Hunter, Matthew Morrill, Jeff Vaughan, Mike Watkins Trombone James Allison, Chris Campagna, Scott Colley, Dave Johnson, John LaPrade, William Petri, Stephen Sanford, Clayton Van Doren, Renee Vollrath Tuba Tryon Bauer, Matt Black, Steve Bright, Basil Istwany, Henry Taylor String Bass Janice Wood Percussion Robbyn Callahan, Lisa Cook, Gary Fagan, Charles Harris, Greg Harris, Brian Socolow, Theresa Torian, David Youel Honorary Members David Goodwin, Gary B. O’Connell, Leo Mallek, Wick McNeely

Our Mission

We are The Charlottesville Band: local musicians enriching community life through excellence in musical performance and education since 1922. Through our free concerts, varied repertoire, and partnerships, we provide our members and audiences with experiences that entertain, uplift, and inspire.

The Charlottesville Band unites people through a love of creating and performing music. We strive to build a diverse and inclusive culture where all musicians can perform, all audiences can listen, and all people can grow through the expression and enjoyment of music and performance.