The Ivy Winds is the premiere wind quintet of the US Army’s 4th Infantry Division Band based in Fort Carson, CO. The 4ID Band was constituted in 1943 and has performed in a wide variety of configurations throughout its history, including chamber groups like the Ivy Winds. The quintet regularly performs for military ceremonies, schools, and community outreach events in Colorado Springs and the surrounding areas.
Mary Stahlhuth is an oboist in the U.S. Army Regional Bands, currently stationed with the 4th Infantry Division Band at Ft. Carson, CO. Prior to joining the Army, she freelanced with several orchestras throughout Chicago and the Midwest. After auditioning for the U.S. Army Field Band, she was inspired to join the Army’s regional bands. Since enlisting in 2019, she has performed with the concert band and woodwind quintets of the 56th Army Band at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, and the 399th Army Band at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. She holds a M.M. in Orchestral Studies from the Chicago College of Performing Arts, and a B.M. in Performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Her teachers include Lora Schaefer, Barb Bishop, and Dan Willett.
Sonja Larson was born in Misawa, Japan to a military family and grew up living around the world. Sonja began playing the bassoon when she was in sixth grade and continued playing until graduating from Lakenheath American High School in the United Kingdom in 2010. Sonja completed her Bachelor’s in Music Education from Washington State University, and her Master’s in Bassoon Performance from Ithaca College. She studied with Dr. Ryan Hare, Dr. Lee Goodhew Room, Mr. Glenn Einschlag, and Dr. Derek Bannasch. In 2017, Sonja enlisted in the U.S. Army as a musician. Sonja has performed in concert bands, wind quintets, and other small ensembles with the Eighth Army Band in South Korea and the 1st Cavalry Division Band in Texas. She currently serves with the 4th Infantry Division Band in Colorado Springs. In her free time, Sonja enjoys relaxing with her husband, Andrew and cats, Queen City and Invercargill.
SGT Lisa Guile is an El Paso Texas native and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) in 2016. After completing her schooling at UTEP, SGT Guile performed locally in the El Paso Symphony Orchestra, Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra, El Paso Opera, and El Paso Wind Symphony. SGT Guile enlisted in the United States Army in 2018 and has served at the “Fort Sam’s Own” 323d Army Band at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, the United States Army Europe and Africa Band at Sembach, Germany, and the 4th Infantry Division Band at Fort Carson, Colorado. Outside of music, SGT Guile enjoys fitness, running, reading, and cooking.
SGT John Stumpff is originally from Greenville, PA where he received his B.M.E. from Westminster College (PA) and M.M. in Clarinet Performance from Youngstown State University in Ohio. He performed at Carnegie Hall with the YSU Wind Ensemble and recorded numerous pieces in the ensemble’s NAXOS Discography. Prior to joining the U.S. Army Bands in 2020, SGT Stumpff was an active freelance musician and educator in the Ohio Valley, having residences with the Warren Philharmonic Orchestra, Greenville Symphony Orchestra, Opera Western Reserve, and South Side Area Schools. He also served as a co-principal clarinetist in the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival Orchestra for the award-winning productions of Don Giovanni and The Mikado. His primary teachers include: Ms. Deborah Alexander, Mr. Dan Heasley and Dr. Alice Wang. Outside of work, SGT Stumpff can be found climbing mountains, skiing, or road cycling.
SGT Ryan Valencia is a french horn player from El Paso, Texas. He studied horn under Richard Lambrecht at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), earning a Bachelor’s in Music Education in 2021. While at UTEP, he performed in the Marching Band, Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra and Horn Choir and performed at the Midwest Clinic and American Bandmaster Association conventions. In 2021, SGT Valencia enlisted in the U.S. Army to be a Musician (42R). In the Army, he has been stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in Tacoma, Washington and Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado. While stationed at JBLM, he performed for host nation nationals, dignitaries, and with host nation military bands in the Kingdom of Thailand and Commonwealth of Australia. In his free time, SGT Valencia loves to hike, ski, and take wildlife photography.
