Board of Directors
Adam Divelbiss, President
Stan Silverman, Vice President
Barbara Slegel, Treasurer
Paul Rich, Secretary
Ryan Muñoz, Director of Marketing & Public Relations
Vic Esposito, Conductor (non-voting)
Stan Silverman, Vice President
Barbara Slegel, Treasurer
Paul Rich, Secretary
Ryan Muñoz, Director of Marketing & Public Relations
Vic Esposito, Conductor (non-voting)
Board Member Biographies
Adam Divelbiss, President, Adam owns a small Dutchess County-based software company specializing in web services and mobile app development. He received a bachelor's in electrical engineering and a master's of science degree in electrical engineering from Auburn University, Auburn, AL, and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY. He served for eight years on the school board of Faith Christian Academy in Poughkeepsie, NY, and taught computer science elective courses there. Adam loves playing the trombone and has played for fun in various church music programs, bands and orchestras since the 80's. He joined Aerophone in 2011 and has thoroughly enjoyed every minute playing great music and getting to know other musicians in our community.
Stanley Silverman, Vice President, recently retired from Jewel Tree after 31 years in the Poughkeepsie Galleria. He has been a member of Aerophone Band since 2016. He started playing the coronet in third grade and then switched to tuba in 7th grade, after Mr. Menrad, of Valley Stream North High School, assured him that he would be first (and only seat). After years of practice, Stan rose to the rank of section leader (there were now 3 of us), District band member and Nassau County Band Member. He was also named drum major. After graduation, Stan attended University of Rhode Island where he graduated with a BS in Business Administration and was a proud member of That Ram Band and also played in the wind ensemble. He went on a 36 year sabbatical as he met and married the love of his life, raised three wonderful and talented children and worked. One day, 4 years ago, Howard Goodrich, Aerophone trumpeter extraordinaire and Jewel Tree customer, recruited me to “just come see the band practice.” It was love at first hear and the rest is history. Stan has even recently joined the Hudson Valley Council BSA Community Band. You can take the boy out of the music but you can’t take the music out of the boy.
Barbara Slegel, Treasurer, has been playing the clarinet since she was 9 years old while growing up in Paterson, New Jersey. She was in her high school marching band and, at Lehigh University, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations, was in the Marching 97. At Ohio University, where she earned a Master’s degree in International Affairs, she was in the Summer Band. After a career in International Banking, she married Tim and moved to the Hudson Valley. Aerophone has been a family affair since its beginning when her son, Craig, joined in 2009 and her husband, Tim, not long after, followed by her other son, Dalton, not long after that. It wasn’t until 2016 when both her sons were at college that she joined Aerophone and it has been a great adventure in music. Tuesday nights mean Aerophone!
Paul J. Rich, Secretary, has been playing bassoon since 1969. He has been a member of numerous bands and orchestras over the years. Since his retirement from IBM, Paul has enjoyed playing bassoon with Aerophone, the Mid-Hudson Community Orchestra, Southern Dutchess Concert Band and a local wind quintet. His additional interests include playing the mountain dulcimer, photography, gardening, hiking, and canoeing.
Ryan Muñoz, Director of Marketing & Public Relations, is no stranger to music and musical instruments alike. Starting on alto saxophone in 5th grade, he moved to baritone saxophone in 8th, and finally committed to trombone in 10th grade, which he currently plays. Ryan, like many others in Aerophone, hadn’t picked up an instrument for years after high school, but quickly rekindled his passion for playing when he joined the band with his sister in Summer 2018. His favorite band is The Black Keys, and his favorite piece of classical music is ‘Procession of the Nobles’ by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Ryan currently studies Marketing and Analytics at SUNY New Paltz and has developed an expertise in social media.
Stanley Silverman, Vice President, recently retired from Jewel Tree after 31 years in the Poughkeepsie Galleria. He has been a member of Aerophone Band since 2016. He started playing the coronet in third grade and then switched to tuba in 7th grade, after Mr. Menrad, of Valley Stream North High School, assured him that he would be first (and only seat). After years of practice, Stan rose to the rank of section leader (there were now 3 of us), District band member and Nassau County Band Member. He was also named drum major. After graduation, Stan attended University of Rhode Island where he graduated with a BS in Business Administration and was a proud member of That Ram Band and also played in the wind ensemble. He went on a 36 year sabbatical as he met and married the love of his life, raised three wonderful and talented children and worked. One day, 4 years ago, Howard Goodrich, Aerophone trumpeter extraordinaire and Jewel Tree customer, recruited me to “just come see the band practice.” It was love at first hear and the rest is history. Stan has even recently joined the Hudson Valley Council BSA Community Band. You can take the boy out of the music but you can’t take the music out of the boy.
Barbara Slegel, Treasurer, has been playing the clarinet since she was 9 years old while growing up in Paterson, New Jersey. She was in her high school marching band and, at Lehigh University, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations, was in the Marching 97. At Ohio University, where she earned a Master’s degree in International Affairs, she was in the Summer Band. After a career in International Banking, she married Tim and moved to the Hudson Valley. Aerophone has been a family affair since its beginning when her son, Craig, joined in 2009 and her husband, Tim, not long after, followed by her other son, Dalton, not long after that. It wasn’t until 2016 when both her sons were at college that she joined Aerophone and it has been a great adventure in music. Tuesday nights mean Aerophone!
Paul J. Rich, Secretary, has been playing bassoon since 1969. He has been a member of numerous bands and orchestras over the years. Since his retirement from IBM, Paul has enjoyed playing bassoon with Aerophone, the Mid-Hudson Community Orchestra, Southern Dutchess Concert Band and a local wind quintet. His additional interests include playing the mountain dulcimer, photography, gardening, hiking, and canoeing.
Ryan Muñoz, Director of Marketing & Public Relations, is no stranger to music and musical instruments alike. Starting on alto saxophone in 5th grade, he moved to baritone saxophone in 8th, and finally committed to trombone in 10th grade, which he currently plays. Ryan, like many others in Aerophone, hadn’t picked up an instrument for years after high school, but quickly rekindled his passion for playing when he joined the band with his sister in Summer 2018. His favorite band is The Black Keys, and his favorite piece of classical music is ‘Procession of the Nobles’ by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Ryan currently studies Marketing and Analytics at SUNY New Paltz and has developed an expertise in social media.