Live music from The Stagehands        Wichita / Valley Center, Kansas

About us:

Michelle Yoder

Michelle is a concert band transplant who learned to love the bass when her boys wanted to play string instruments. She grew up in the music and drum and bugle corps programs in Hutchinson, Kansas, and went on to play in college, where she developed a love for jazz. Although she has enjoyed learning to play the bass and harmonica, she still loves to pull out the clarinet, sax, or flute when she gets the chance. She teaches concert band at a small, private school where her two youngest attend. She also plays with the Great Plains Dulcimer Alliance as well as the Kansas Bluegrass Association. Both of these groups offer the best of friends as well as outstanding musicians

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 Isaac Yoder

Isaac is an eleven year old Star Wars fan who plays his fiddle when he can spare the time away from his Legos and trampoline. He enjoys upbeat, ragtime tunes as well as standard fiddle music. He is also an accomplished trumpet player in his Mom's concert band, with an affinity for big band arrangements. He has recently taken up percussion and is learning how to keep a middle school band together. He is tired of winter, and ready for summer!

 Chris Yoder

This guy started playing the guitar when he was 14 years old, and wanted to play some crazy shred metal.   He joined a metal band, and ended up playing electric bass for them for two years.  Now he plays guitar and sings in a bluegrass band, and absolutely loves it.  He also enjoys playing the upright bass in the jazz band at Friends University in Wichita, KS, where he is an English/Drama major.  He also loves cake.   

Adam Yoder

Adam started playing the violin when he received one on his seventh Christmas.  Four years later he bought a mandolin from a luthier in Wichita.  Adam now mainly plays his mandolin with the Stagehands, but continues to play violin in his school orchestra.  He also enjoys basketball and scouting, and recently started playing guitar.   

Bruce Johnson

Bruce first picked up a guitar at 10 years old.  He enjoys classic country and bluegrass jam sessions and played with Generation Bluegrass band for year before it formed into The Stagehands. He plays dobro and guitar. Today his favorite music comes from Allison Kraus, Kenney Chesney, Alan Jackson, the Wilders, George Strait, and Blue Highway.