Trudy joined the band as a novice clarinet player in 2008. Prior to that she played baritone horn and violin in high school and college, and she played baritone horn with the School of Mines Band. She completed her bachelor’s degree at USD and then did graduate music at BHSU and NSU in South Dakota. After that she taught music at Roscoe, Glenham, and Dupree. In addition to her years of teaching music, she was an elementary and special education teacher, a counselor, and an administrator in SD, Texas, and Nevada. She holds elementary and secondary administration degrees from NSU and USD. At the present time, she resides in both SD and Las Vegas, where her husband teaches high school math. She recently retired as a vision specialist with the LV schools and currently goes in on occasion to substitute teach for the schools there.

Her hobbies include 30 years as a distance runner, watercolor and acrylic painting, swimming, and her lifelong interest in jazz music. Most recently she became certified in cake design and floral arranging in Nevada.

She enjoys the Black Hills area where she can be near her daughter Sandi, who owns Prairie Berry Winery, her daughter Susan and grandaughter in Sioux Falls, and her son Patrick and two grandchildren in Boulder, CO. She encouraged her children to participate in music groups and to take many years of lessons! Sandi plays piano, bass guitar, acoustic guitar, and clarinet. Susan is a trumpet player, and Pat plays piano and acoustic guitar.