Don Stapleson

Don Stapleson

D

Clazzical Jazz Project concert featured Dr. Mark Runkles, Don, Tom Teasley, Fred Lieder, Peter Fields 

Don Stapleson, talented flute and saxophone player in the Chesapeake Orchestra, acquaintance, man of quirky humor, jazz instructor at St. Mary's College of Maryland lost his battle with cancer 1/31/21.  He always seemed kind and loved to laugh.  He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.  

Clazzical Project Performance July 6, 2019

Clazzical Project performed at St. Mary's Hall at 2 PM last Saturday playing jazzed up classics like "Swan Island" and "Gospel for the New World".  Performers included  (L to R) Dr. Mark Runkles on oboe, Don Stapleson on flute, Tom Teasley on drums, Fred Lieder on cello, and Peter Fields on guitar.  The leader of the group, Don Stapleson, made clever descriptions of each creative work.

 Fred Lieder

 Don Stapleson

 Tom Teasley

 Dr. Mark Runkles

Peter Fields

  

  

River Concert Series Super Celebration with Fireworks July 5, 2019

Rousing music from the Chesapeake Orchestra and Fireworks  always bring out a crowd.

We enjoyed lots of Science Fiction and Fantasy music, along with a few patriotic Marches at St. Mary's College or Maryland.  I have never heard music from "Wonder Woman" or a medley from Star Trek before.  Wonderful!  And of course, the Chesapeake Orchestra played a portion of the traditional "1812 Overture" with fireworks.  The crowd reached into the back patio by Daugherty-Palmer Commons, so it was quite a large event, given the weather was cooperative.  You sure know how to put on a grand show for the River Concert Series!

 Music Director, Jeffrey Silbershlag

 Bassoons

 Horns

 Strings (Jeffrey was telling jokes again)

 More Strings

Young fans

 It was hot, hot, hot!  

 An enthusiastic patriot in the audience.

A window view.

or two.

 Sunset with more crowd behind me.

 Clazzical Jazz Project (Visible-Tom Teasely (percussion), Fred Lieder (cello), Peter Fields (guitar), and Don Stapleson (flute))

 Clazzical Jazz Leader Don Stapleson.  More to come from their Saturday concert...

 Jeffrey Silberschlag soloed on trumpet, while Bryan Bourne, Orchestra Personnel Manager and trombonist, conducted the orchestra.

The fiery finish.

Clazzical Jazz Concert July 22, 2018

Clazzical Jazz performed at St. Mary's Hall at St. Mary's College of MD on Sunday at 3 PM as an extra concert for the River Concert Series. The group jazzes up classical pieces into a more modern style. Don Stapleson shared that he had been texting or e-mailing with such famous composers as Ravel and Chopin to discuss their performance. What fun. Some of the pieces played included "I’m Always Chasing Rainbows" by Harry Carroll and Joseph McCarthy and "Reverie" by Claude Debussy. Clazzical Jazz also invited Dr. Mark Runkles and Robert Hayes to perform. Runkles was invited onto the stage after his cell phone went off in the middle of the performance and he was "forced" to play the oboe, rather badly at first.

Here are a few fun photos.

Don Stapleson, flutist

 Robert Hayes, pianist

 Pete Fields, guitarist

  Dr. Mark Runkles, oboist

 Fred Lieder, cellist

 Another joke.

Southern Maryland Balloon Festival

I promised more photos of the Balloon Festival from Spider Hall Farm in Prince Frederick.  I just can't resist all those colors!

     You can just make out the balloon on the ground that you could walk into!

     Inside a balloon.

      My reflective clip on sunglasses looked interesting!

    Tethered rides

Petting zoo calf

      Free climbing wall

     Musician friends: Don Stapleson

     Jennifer Cooper

     The glow

     The Fireworks

     A flower?