A Lifetime of Music — Emma Stibich
As part of Northshore Concert Band’s 70th anniversary season, we continue to celebrate this milestone by sharing the voices and stories that have shaped the ensemble over the decades. During our season-opening concert on November 2, 2025, NCB member Emma Stibich (horn) shared her personal Lifetime of Music story.
Emma Stibich and her mother Laura Stibich at The Midwest Clinic, 2025.
Hi my name is Emma Stibich and I am a member of the French horn section and the Director of Development of the Northshore Concert Band. You will be hearing from different members from the band this season on our stories of why we chose Northshore. So my story begins from the day I was born.
Emma, Janine Kessler, and Peter Gotsch, Northshore Concert Band, June 5, 2022, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, Northwestern University Evanston, IL Photo Credit: Ralph Durham
Emma in high school with her mother and sister (r-l).
I grew up with the band. My mom, Laura, played and still plays in the clarinet section. So Sunday concerts, like this one, were apart of my life for as long as I can remember. I was about six or seven years old sitting outside Pick-Staiger hall before an NCB concert and I told my dad that when I grew up I was going to play in the Northshore Concert Band, just like my mom. I knew that playing in NCB would allow me to play with passionate musicians and also be able to choose whatever career I wanted.
In middle school, the NCB came to play a concert at my school and I got my first opportunity to perform with the band as I was one of the selected students to play two marches. I was beyond excited to just play with the band and the horn section. I was also able to perform again with NCB in high school. This concert will forever be cherished by me and my family. This was the one and only time, that I was able to perform with my mom and sister sitting across the stage. Sitting on that stage with NCB a second time gave me a glimpse of my future and I knew that my childhood dream of NCB needed to happen. About 10 years later, with a lot of practice, I was able to sit that same section and have my first official rehearsal with Mallory and the Northshore concert band. This first band rehearsal was different than any other one I had experienced growing up because it felt like coming home.
For 11 years, I have had the honor to perform with this band and have experienced so many amazing firsts: like new music like you heard earlier on todays program, my favorite pieces like the one you are about to hear, and amazing guest musicians. I’ve watched first hand how much this band becomes a family growing up & I can confirm that these people are truly my friends and more importantly my role models and biggest supporters.
For 70 seasons, we have continued to foster musical excellence and inspiring the next generation of musicians, like myself. To help us continue that mission, we hope that you can consider donating $70 for our 70th year. Your donation helps us to continue performing high quality wind music and excite the next member and generation of NCB.