Our Members
Director, Frank Kuhl
Frank grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. We think of him now as a superb trumpet player, but that didn't actually start seriously until after he was in college. In the meantime, his family provided lots of support for musical enterprise. Over the years he played in school bands, took music lessons, sang, and did some acting in school and church functions. A natural mimic, he picked up odd pieces of dialects, voices, and accents, some of which pop out during band rehearsals on a fairly regular basis.
He settled in Toronto, Canada, and began to really study the trumpet. There were amazing opportunities to study music and perform in that city, as well as outstanding teachers. He also began his career in teaching, and realized it was something he would always do.
He auditioned for a job in Las Vegas and got it. It was like a university for musicians in those days, even though playing daily shows was a grind. He saw and supported some of the greatest entertainers in the world. He continued with lessons and teaching.
Frank and his wife, Bonnie, moved to Bellingham a decade or so ago, and Frank picked up a job as the director of the Bellingham H.S. Alumni Band (now the Bellingham Community Band) following the retirement of the band's Founder and first Director, Ralph Pauley. He also teaches math at Explorations Academy. He has a lively musical life playing in a variety of groups and venues around the area.
Frank grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. We think of him now as a superb trumpet player, but that didn't actually start seriously until after he was in college. In the meantime, his family provided lots of support for musical enterprise. Over the years he played in school bands, took music lessons, sang, and did some acting in school and church functions. A natural mimic, he picked up odd pieces of dialects, voices, and accents, some of which pop out during band rehearsals on a fairly regular basis.
He settled in Toronto, Canada, and began to really study the trumpet. There were amazing opportunities to study music and perform in that city, as well as outstanding teachers. He also began his career in teaching, and realized it was something he would always do.
He auditioned for a job in Las Vegas and got it. It was like a university for musicians in those days, even though playing daily shows was a grind. He saw and supported some of the greatest entertainers in the world. He continued with lessons and teaching.
Frank and his wife, Bonnie, moved to Bellingham a decade or so ago, and Frank picked up a job as the director of the Bellingham H.S. Alumni Band (now the Bellingham Community Band) following the retirement of the band's Founder and first Director, Ralph Pauley. He also teaches math at Explorations Academy. He has a lively musical life playing in a variety of groups and venues around the area.
Bellingham Community Band Spring Concert Roster
In homage to those whose bright vision and determination launched our band almost two decades ago, members who graduated from Bellingham High School are denoted by the last year they attended BHS.
FLUTE / PICCOLO: Vicki Adolphson, Jerry Couchman, Kari Diehl, Amy Eisenhauer, Jeanine Hamm, Patty Hoff (1968), Toma Moran (1976), Kathy Mratinich (1965), Iris Reynolds
CLARINET: Janet Adolphson (1969), Andrew Feely (2007), Gloria Irwin, Martie Lopez, Neely Noble (1964), Fred Spector, Donna Williams, Skip Williams
BASS CLARINET: Judy Glad (1975), Bob Bengren
CONTRA BASS CLARINET: Zeke Hoskin
BASSOON: Timothy Whiteman
FRENCH HORN: Sue Lingbloom (1961), Gayle Pauley (1968), Steve Price (1968), Lee Walkup
EUPHONIUM: Jennifer Critchett, Ken Lingbloom (1964), Tom McFarland
TUBA / STRING BASS: Gayle J. Craig, Steve Koch, Larry Howlett
TRUMPET / CORNET: Alita Escalante Fulton, Barry Hall, Joel Hall, Norma Jean Howlett (1960), Dennis Hulford (1965), Bob Nelson (1962), Morris Rego
SAXOPHONE: Ron Brown (1965), Eric Hirst, Steve Kelly, Louise Kolstad (1963), Sharon Langer (1964), Cathy Nelson (1967), Roger Quiggle (1963)
TROMBONE: Bob Allen, Tom Humphrey, Janece Krein (1945), Corey Priddy
PERCUSSION: Richard Diersing (1974), Craig Hofman (1974), Cynthia Holeman-Lintz (1968), Peter Peterson (1954)
In homage to those whose bright vision and determination launched our band almost two decades ago, members who graduated from Bellingham High School are denoted by the last year they attended BHS.
FLUTE / PICCOLO: Vicki Adolphson, Jerry Couchman, Kari Diehl, Amy Eisenhauer, Jeanine Hamm, Patty Hoff (1968), Toma Moran (1976), Kathy Mratinich (1965), Iris Reynolds
CLARINET: Janet Adolphson (1969), Andrew Feely (2007), Gloria Irwin, Martie Lopez, Neely Noble (1964), Fred Spector, Donna Williams, Skip Williams
BASS CLARINET: Judy Glad (1975), Bob Bengren
CONTRA BASS CLARINET: Zeke Hoskin
BASSOON: Timothy Whiteman
FRENCH HORN: Sue Lingbloom (1961), Gayle Pauley (1968), Steve Price (1968), Lee Walkup
EUPHONIUM: Jennifer Critchett, Ken Lingbloom (1964), Tom McFarland
TUBA / STRING BASS: Gayle J. Craig, Steve Koch, Larry Howlett
TRUMPET / CORNET: Alita Escalante Fulton, Barry Hall, Joel Hall, Norma Jean Howlett (1960), Dennis Hulford (1965), Bob Nelson (1962), Morris Rego
SAXOPHONE: Ron Brown (1965), Eric Hirst, Steve Kelly, Louise Kolstad (1963), Sharon Langer (1964), Cathy Nelson (1967), Roger Quiggle (1963)
TROMBONE: Bob Allen, Tom Humphrey, Janece Krein (1945), Corey Priddy
PERCUSSION: Richard Diersing (1974), Craig Hofman (1974), Cynthia Holeman-Lintz (1968), Peter Peterson (1954)
2018 - 2019 Bellingham Community Band Board
PRESIDENT .................................................................Larry Howlett
VICE PRESIDENT ........................................................Terri Blackburn
SECRETARY ................................................................Lindsey Sager
TREASURER ...............................................................Donna Williams
WOODWINDS REP ......................................................Judy Glad
PERCUSSION REP ......................................................Craig Hofman
BRASS REP .................................................................Norma Jean Howlett
REGISTRAR ................................................................Sue Lingbloom
PAST PRESIDENT........................................................Skip Williams
PRESIDENT .................................................................Larry Howlett
VICE PRESIDENT ........................................................Terri Blackburn
SECRETARY ................................................................Lindsey Sager
TREASURER ...............................................................Donna Williams
WOODWINDS REP ......................................................Judy Glad
PERCUSSION REP ......................................................Craig Hofman
BRASS REP .................................................................Norma Jean Howlett
REGISTRAR ................................................................Sue Lingbloom
PAST PRESIDENT........................................................Skip Williams