Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

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.

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.

Mamie Parris has developed a diverse and unique body of work throughout her extensive career. In addition to appearances with symphony orchestras across the continent, including the Rochester Philharmonic, The Columbus Jazz Orchestra, and the Fort Worth, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Milwaukee, and St. Louis Symphony Orchestras, her one-woman cabaret, Surrender: An Andrew Lloyd Webber Thrill Ride, was awarded the Best of the City by Time Out New York. Best known on Broadway for her one-of-a-kind rendition of the iconic Memory, she is no stranger to the work of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, having starred as Grizabella in the Broadway revival of Cats, as Rosalie (closing cast) and Patty (opening cast) in Broadway’s School of Rock, and in the US premiere of the Lloyd Webber retrospective Unmasked. Other Broadway appearances include the Tony-nominated revivals of Ragtime, 110 In The Shade, and On The 20th Century, as well as the Tony-winning musical The Drowsy Chaperone.

Her film and television credits include The Blacklist, State of Affairs, A Standup Guy, and PBS Great Performances: 50 Years of Broadway’s Best. Across the country, she appeared as Elphaba in the First National Tour of fan-favorite Wicked, as well as performing with the touring companies of Legally Blonde and Dolly Parton’s 9 To 5. Originally trained as a coloratura soprano, today she is considered one of Broadway’s preeminent belters, employing her versatile technique to create nuanced performances of even the best-known scores and songs. Her credits include roles at The Goodspeed Opera House, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, the Old Globe, the St. Louis Muny, the Macau International Music Festival, and more. A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Mamie attended the Paseo Academy of the Arts in Kansas City, Missouri, and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. She resides in New York City with her husband, Johnathan, and their Shih Tzu, Cookie.