Concert Announcers

  Morris Stulberg a locally retired business owner, was Marshall Community Band program MC and announcer for many years. He has been a member of the Marshall Rotary Club since 1953, and he was on the original Rotary Club committee that adopted the sponsorship of Marshall Community Band 29 years ago. Morris's brother, Julius, was a very talented violinist, and Morris says about the rest of his family, "The rest of us are musical....but not that musical." Morris was first chair trumpet in the Marshall High School Band and Marshall High School Orchestra and graduated from there in 1940. He did not pursue a musical career while attending MSC (MSU before WWII) or U of M , but he was called upon occasionally as a bugler in those days. Morris is a natural on stage and was cast in the first Marshall Civic Players production in 1949. Altogether, he has been in 25 productions of the Marshall Civic Players playing many characters, including his most memorable portrayal of the Jewish papa, Tevia, in Fiddler on the Roof. Morris elected to retire from his announcing duties, but plans to be a loyal concert audience member.

  George Youngdahl started singing in church choir at age 6, and he has sung in church choirs ever since. Ever since he was called upon to sing the National Anthem at the Calhoun County Fair in 1973, that has been among his most frequently requested performances. George is an on-stage performer, and he has played lead roles in several Marshall Civic Theatre productions including Finian's Rainbow (Woody), Mame (Beau), Guys and Dolls (Sky), and Annie Get Your Gun (Charlie). He has participated in many singing groups over the years; here are a few: Dickens Carolers (MHS), First Presbyterian Church Choir, United Methodist Church Choir, Marshall Community Follies acts, Marshall Civic Players choruses, and United Methodist Barbershop Quartet. George's bold baritone voice is often requested for public celebrations and events as well as private weddings, anniversaries, and memorials. George sings the National Anthem at the annual 4th of July Celebration at Brooks Fountain every year, and he will also be featured in a vocal quartet for that concert in 2008.

  Tim Lake works for a living as Senior Claim Representative for State Farm Insurance Company. He works in Kalamazoo but lives in Marshall. Tim has performed vocal solos for MCB several times. He has sung at Michigan Battle Cat games, Michigan K-Wing games, Relay for Life, Oklahoma City Memorials, Battle Creek Food Festivals, Vermontville Syrup Festivals, Michigan Week Programs, Junior Miss, Capitol City Car Club, Marshall Chamber of Commerce functions, Marshall Community Follies, cruise ship talent shows, State Farm Company celebrations, hospitality Classic, weddings, funerals, and community theaters in Bellevue and Marshall. Tim performed with The Love Handles for years. Tim will be permorming as a member of a men's quartet on July 4 in 2008. He will also announce the program for the band for that concert.

  Kathy Tarr has been known in the Marshall area since 1979, when she became Editor of the daily Marshall Evening Chronicle. Since those days, she has won 23 Michigan Women's Press Club writing awards and several other awards. Kathy has been an instructor and a vice-president at Kellog Community College in Battle Creek. She currently is President of the Franke Center for the Arts and is a Board Member and Secretary of the Marshall Community Foundation. She now works at Miller College in Battle Creek in Marketing and Communications. She is very comfortable in front of an audience. She will announce the program for concert #2 in 2008.

Brian Hice graduated from Marshall High School in 1968. He earned his BA in Music Education from Graceland University in 1972 and was as a music teacher from 1972 to 1976. Brian has directed many church choirs over the years including an Easter performance of the Faure Requiem. He and his family owned the Wolverine Motor Supply in Marshall for decades. The business was sold in 1999. He and his wife, Ricka, live in Marshall. They were married in 1994, but they met for the first time as students at Crary Elementary School. Brian has been a statewide youth minister in the Community of Christ Church for many years, and he is also a Christian summer youth camp director. He is also a former congregational pastor and an administrator over ten congregations in southwest Michigan. Brian is a Kellogg Community College Trustee in his third six- year term. Brian was also a founding member of the Kellogg Community College Foundation Board where he served as board chair. Brian has successfully campaigned for countywide office three times (KCC) and have also unsuccessfully run for county commissioner. Brian is a member of the executive committee of the Calhoun County Democratic Party. Brian is a member of Marshall Community Band, Marshall Brass Quartet, and many church instrumental and vocal ensembles. He has been doing church youth work for so long that he is now having the children of my former youth involved in the same activities I provided for their parents. His maternal grandmother was a square dance caller, and his paternal grandmother was a member of her family’s mandolin band. Brian is a great speaker and has done announcing for MCB for special pieces. This year he will be singing baritone in a men's quartet on July 4.

  Dan Stulberg is a 1970 graduate of Marshall High School, where he played cello for two years in the MHS Orchestra under Rotary Band trumpeter/director, Ross VanNess. “My parents had a rule that we had to play a musical instrument until we’d become proficient. So as soon as I reached proficiency, I retired as a musician, and became a full-time jock.”

  A math-education major from Alma College, Dan spent two years teaching high school math before accepting an offer from his father, Morris, to join him in the scrap business. (“It was an offer I could refuse, but didn’t, and I’ve never regretted it.”) Dan coached girls basketball at MHS for 18 years while he worked first at Marshall Iron & Metal Company and then Marshall Metal Products. In 1996 he and Nancy opened Marshall Activity Center, which they continue to own and operate.

  Last fall Dan made his “final career move”, accepting a position as Marketing & Public Relations Director at Oaklawn Hospital. He has been a Rotarian since 1982 and when his dad said he was going to retire from the Rotary Band emcee position, and wanted Dan to audition, like a good son, Dan agreed.

  Dan and Nancy have two grown daughters, Anne and Jennifer. Anne is teaching dance and acting in Las Vegas, while Jennifer is a dancer in New York City. To quote their father, Dan, “those who can…do, those who can’t…emcee.” The Rotary Band is pleased to have Dan following in his father’s footsteps, announcing for 3 out of the six 2008 season concerts.

  Karen Hagerty is the Director of Tourism at the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce. She is a graduate of Marshall High School and Hope College. Karen might have a familiar face to many since she has been in many Marshall Civic Players productions including the Youth Theatre productions when she was a student. Most recently, she played Donna in the musical production, “The Taffettas” and was one of the MC’s in the Christmas show at the Franke Center and also an MC in this year’s Marshall Community Follies production. She has also served as president of the Marshall Civic Players as well as the present historian for that group. Karen lives in Marshall with her husband Matthew Hagerty and their family which includes daughter Drue Wagenschutz (a freshman at Marshall High School), Sophia (Gordon School kindergartener), and Myles, who is 4 years old. Karen is not shy, and she likes to sing (alto). She will be the MC and announcer for concert #5 this year.