Sparta Residents' Band to Debut CD

Teachers by day, musician by night. Three teachers are celebrating their CD with a release party at the St. Moritz in Sparta on June 1.

Brad Marullo is a teacher at Thomas Jefferson and Sussex Avenue and plays guitar, keyboards and lap steel in SteppingSTONE BAND. He's looking forward to celebrating the release of their debut CD, I'll Be Coming Home in Sparta because his band has a strong presence in area.

"We have played a number of clubs and bars in North Jersey including the Sparta Elk's Club, Beach 4, Krogh's and the St. Moritz," said Marullo.

Sparta residents Ryan Schultz, who is a consultant with an energy conservation company in Oak Ridge, and Tommy Casperson, an art teacher in Mountain Lakes, are the local connection in SteppingSTONE BAND.

"We are mostly teachers in the band," said Marullo, who was on Morristown's Got Talent! in 2011. At Thomas Jefferson, Marullo leads band practice on stage with his students, playing along on his guitar, and answering questions from the budding musicians after class. "We are a five-piece band with three teachers." 

The band has been through many experiences together, good and bad, that inspired much of the CD. During the time they were creating the songs for their CD, two spouses of the band members became cancer survivors, a child was born, friendships created and jobs were lost or found. 

"'I'll Be Coming Home' seemed like such a fitting title to us when we listened to the rough mixes on the long autumn and winter drives back home over the Delaware River from the recording studio," Marullo said. "These songs captured a timeline of us creating something collaboratively that we poured our time, hears and souls into week after week during our highs and our lows."

Here's a look at who's who in the band:

• Ryan Schutz - Vocals/Acoustic Guitar - Singer/songwriter, young entrepreneur 
• Brad Marullo - Guitar/Keyboards/Lap steel  - Musician and Morristown instrumental teacher for 4th and 4th graders at Sussex Avenue and Thomas Jefferson school
• Thomas Casperson - Drums - Sparta resident and Art teacher in Morris County at Mountain Lakes
• Eric Schaberg - Violin, Cello, Mandolin - Strings teacher at Randolph High School
• Jonathan Presnell - Bass/ Vocals Booton Firefighter (Morris County) and veteran in the music scene since 1985

"Throughout our lives, these stepping stones are placed before us and we are constantly progressing towards our life goals," Marullo said. "Along that journey, we may encounter many people who inspire and support us along the way."

For more on the band, go to their website at or check out their Facebook page.