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With a contagious smile and captivating charm, the conductor, trumpet virtuoso, singer and actor Byron Stripling has ignited audiences across the globe. Recently named Principal Pops conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, his baton has led orchestras throughout the United States and Canada. As soloist  with the Boston Pops Orchestra, Stripling has performed frequently under the baton of Keith Lockhart, as well as being featured soloist on the PBS television special, "Evening at Pops," with conductors John Williams and Mr. Lockhart. Currently, Stripling serves as artistic director and conductor of the highly acclaimed Columbus Jazz Orchestra.

Since his Carnegie Hall debut with Skitch Henderson and the New York Pops, Byron Stripling has become a pops orchestra favorite throughout the country, soloing with over 100 orchestras around the world including the Boston Pops, National Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Cincinnati Pops, Seattle Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, Toronto Symphony, and orchestras throughout Europe and Asia. He has been a featured soloist at the Hollywood Bowl and performs at festivals around the world.

An accomplished actor and singer, Byron Stripling was chosen, following a worldwide search, to star in the lead role of the Broadway bound musical, "Satchmo."  Many will remember his featured cameo performance in the television movie, "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles," and his critically acclaimed virtuoso trumpet and riotous comedic performance in the 42nd Street production of "From Second Avenue to Broadway."

Television viewers have enjoyed his work as soloist on the worldwide telecast of The Grammy Awards.  Millions have heard his trumpet and voice on television commercials, TV theme songs including "20/20," CNN, and soundtracks of favorite movies. In addition to multiple recordings with his quintet, work with artists from Tony Bennett to Whitney Houston, his prolific recording career includes hundreds of albums with the greatest pop, Broadway, soul and jazz artists of all time.

Byron Stripling earned his stripes as lead trumpeter and soloist with the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Thad Jones and Frank Foster.  He has also played and recorded extensively with the bands of Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Herman, Dave Brubeck, Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry, Louis Bellson, and Buck Clayton in addition to The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and The GRP All Star Big Band.

Byron Stripling is devoted to giving back and supports several philanthropic organizations including The United Way and Homelessness advocate and The Community Shelter Board. He also enjoys sharing the power of music through Seminars and Master Classes at colleges, universities, conservatories, and high schools.  His informative talks, combined with his incomparable wit and charm, make him a favorite guest speaker to groups of all ages. 

Byron Stripling was educated at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York and the Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan.  One of his greatest joys is to return, periodically, to Eastman and Interlochen as a special guest lecturer.

A resident of Ohio, Stripling lives in the country with his wife Alexis, a former dancer, writer and poet and their beautiful daughters.

Sydney McSweeney’s distinctive jazz, gospel, and pop vocal stylings have made her one of the country’s hottest young vocalists. Her dynamic performances with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra have been described as “stunningly beautiful” and her standing room-only night club performances have become a favorite of audiences across the country. Although her schedule is jam packed with recording sessions and performances, as a devoted teacher, she still carves out time to nurture the talents of her many students. When Sydney isn’t singing or teaching, she loves spending time under the warm covers of her bed watching movies. 

GRAMMY® nominee and Emmy Award winner, Bobby Floyd has had a very successful and rewarding career, his talent putting him in demand and making him one of the firstcall pianists/organists for many well-known artists. He started his career traveling the world accompanying Ray Charles on piano and organ. He has also toured nationally and internationally as organist for the GRAMMY® Award-winning Dr. John. He was the feature pianist occupying the chair of the great late Count Basie accompanying his world-famous orchestra for six years.

Floyd currently makes guest appearances with Maceo and is also featured with Byron Stripling, collaborating with some of the most distinguished orchestras, including The Boston Pops, Rochester Philharmonic, and Detroit Symphony.

The prestige associated with Floyd’s worldwide appearances has also been witnessed at home where Floyd has been recognized as central Ohio’s number one “Favorite Musician” for the past 10 years (2010-20) according to Columbus Monthly’s “Best of Columbus”. In his hometown, Bobby has been feature pianist and organist with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra where he has performed with a large number of major artist for many years. He is occasionally featured with The Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and other arts organizations and venues throughout Ohio.

Floyd has taught at The Ohio State University, Otterbein University and at the world-famous Jamey Aebersold Jazz Workshops and in his own private studio. His critically acclaimed CD’s, demonstrate his ability to electrify audiences and have received the highest praise from critics and musicians alike.

Jeffrey Grubbs, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, comes from a family of music-loving non-musicians. He started as a violinist through his public elementary school at age nine and later switched to the double bass at age 18. He went on to pursue his musical training at Youngstown State University, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and the University of Southern California. He was also fortunate to be a recipient of the Music Assistance Fund (now the Sphinx Organization) Orchestral Fellowship, which gave him the opportunity to perform as a full-time member of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for two years. 

From there Grubbs went on to win a position in the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra in 1991 and has now been a member of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra since 1996. 

In addition to his orchestral achievements, Jeffrey Grubbs is also an accomplished jazz bassist. He has performed and recorded with many touring internationally-known jazz artists and is currently actively performing in the Pittsburgh jazz community. 

Jeffrey Grubbs has served as a faculty member of Carnegie Mellon University, Florida International University, Clark-Atlanta University, the University of Pittsburgh, and Slippery Rock University. He also served as associate professor of jazz double bass at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.