Jessica Allegretto – BA, 2000. Jessica teaches at the Forerunner Music Academy in Kansas City, Missouri. jallegretto716@yahoo.com.
Darren Allen - BME, 2002 – This is Mr. Allen’s third year as band director at Bay High School and fourth year working in the Bay Village School District, where the music program has been voted a Top 100 Music Community in the United States for six years in a row. Mr. Allen is currently pursuing his master’s degree in music education at Case Western Reserve University. As a guest conductor, he works with the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony, which performs regularly at Severance Hall. He also frequently performs in area jazz ensembles including the Dukes of Wail, Dan Zola Orchestra, Cleveland Jazz Orchestra and Ernie Krivda & The Fat Tuesday Big Band. Mr. Allen and his wife Alice, a harpist, perform together in the Parma Symphony Orchestra, which had its Severance Hall debut during the 2007 season.
Michael Anderson - BME, 2008 –While at YSU, Michael created and was president of the Youngstown State Percussion Collective (formerly the YSU Percussion Federation). During that time, the group organized and hosted the Ohio PAS Day of Percussion, hosted several guest artists/speakers, and commissioned a new work for percussion and saxophone by John Hollenbeck. The resulting piece, Ziggurat (exterior), for five percussionists and four alto saxophonists, was premiered by the group in New York City at the Whitney Museum and can be heard on Hollenbeck’s CD “Rainbow Jimmies.” Michael is currently the percussion instructor at Willoughby South High School in Willoughby, Ohio.
Dean Anshutz - BM, 2008. Dean is currently a popular freelance musician in northeast Ohio. He performs with many bands along with teaching in Youngstown at studiYO. He has performed in 3 different countries and 25 different states including New York, Nashville, Orlando, Paris and Dublin. Dean is very active recording and composing and has written music for commercials, percussion sections, and other artists in the northeast Ohio area along with recording three albums.
Bob Bacha - BME 1993. Bob Bacha is currently musical director for "Stars of the Lawrence Welk Show" and also the 50's tribute band "The Crewcuts". Bob has traveled extensively throughout Japan, Germany and to 46 of 50 states in the U.S. During a 9 year period living in Reno Nv., Bob performed with such celebrities as; Don Wrickles, Steve and Edie Gourmet, Johnny Mathis, Pavarotti, Chuck Mangione, Neil Sedaka and served as temporary section leader of the Reno Philharmonic. Bob is currently living in Youngstown and teaching part time in Lisbon Ohio.
Bob Barnett - BME. Teaches at West Branch High School and is the Principal Timpanist with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra.
Tom
Barrick
– studied with Joseph Parlink for 3 years at YSU and won an audition in the Air
Force Band. After 4 years touring with the Air Force Band I have been
performing as freelance drumset/percussion in Washington, D.C. I've done
numerous gigs at the Kennedy Center, Signature Theatre, The National Theatre,
9:30 club, Black Cat, Smithsonian Jazz series around DC. Toured Europe in 8
countries. Numerous gigs at the Rainbow Room in NYC, including the Museum of
Modern Art, the Copacabana, NYC Pub Library, CBGB's, Arlene's Grocery, Knitting
Factory..etc. This October my big band is scheduled to headline the Shang Hi
Jazz Festival in China for 5 nights!
In the past 5 years I've recorded over 12 cds with groups such as my big band The Radio King Orchestra, swing band The Joker's Wild, hard rock band Adam West(3 cds, 24 collectors' vinyl), funk band Truth Groove, Latin band Bossalingo, Chaise Lounge and numerous studio recordings for American's Most Wanted, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet. In D.C. I average 175-200 gigs a year. Recently finished The Paradiddle Workbook that had a great review in October PAS newsletter - on-line. It should be published earlier this year, 2006, but is now available on my site www.no-jive.com.
Chris Bennett - BME 1997, MM 1999. Instrumental music director at Ida High School in Michigan. Served as Band/Percussion Graduate Assistant at YSU. Has performed with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, Warren Chamber Orchestra, Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra, W. D. Packard Band, Youngstown Playhouse, Canton Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps.
Ron Coulter – BM-2002, MM 2004. Ron Coulter is currently Lecturer of Percussion Studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and adjunct Instructor of Percussion at John A. Logan College in Carterville, IL. He has previously taught at Clarion University of Pennsylvania and the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University. In 2006 Ron became an Educational Endorser with the Promark Corporation and Black Swamp Percussion.
Ron has been a free-lance
percussionist since 1997, performing in a wide range of musical situations from
marching percussion to live electronica. As a performer, he has toured
nationally and internationally appearing in 41 U.S. states and most major
cities in Canada and Japan. He has
performed with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, the Four Aces, Donadi, Sean Jones,
Al Martino, Julia Rich, the Gaylords, New Arts Jazztet, Galen Abdur-Razzaq, Marvin
Stamm, Joanne Brackeen, Chuck Mangione, Sony Holland, Maria Schneider, Sandy
Duncan, Beat Kastley, Nick Hilscher, Robert Van Sice, Steve Lippia, Dick
Johnson, Eric Mandat, Marvin Hamlisch, Rapture 7, and Christina Fontanelli,
among many others. Ron has
performed at two Percussive Arts Society International Conventions, the
International Society for Improvised Music Symposium, the College Music Society
National Convention, the Music Educators National Convention (MENC), and
numerous state and regional MENC conventions. In 2002 Ron was a finalist in the Percussive Arts Society
International Multiple Percussion Competition. He is a co-founder of the Percussion Art Ensemble and the
Youngstown Percussion Collective, and in
2005 he founded the Perkusiv Arts Elektronik; an ongoing series of sound events
exploring the performance of existing and the creation of new electro-acoustic
music, including 69 world premiers to date. Other performance credits include the Youngstown Symphony
Orchestra, Paducah Symphony, Chicago Chamber Orchestra, Southern Illinois Music
Festival Orchestra, Warren Philharmonic, Warren Packard Band, Altgeld Chamber
Players, and the Shenango Valley Lyric Opera. Current interests in interdisciplinary collaboration and
non-idiomatic improvisation have led to the creation of the Southern Illinois
Improvisation Series (SiiS), organizing Fluxusconcerts, co-founding RED VIXA,
and collaborative projects with artists specializing in performance art, video,
sound art, and spoken word. The
SiiS is a monthly series presenting sound events that explore site-specific
work, interdisciplinary collaboration, technology integration, sound
installations, sound education, and documentation. As a composer, Ron has created more than 90 original
compositions for acoustic and electro-acoustic mediums encompassing numerous
genres. His compositions have been
performed throughout the U.S., most recently in Illinois, North Carolina,
Georgia, Colorado, and New York City.
Originally from Hermitage, Pennsylvania, Ron Coulter (b. 1978) was
raised on a dairy farm and eventually earned M.M. and B.M. degrees in
Percussion Performance from Youngstown State University in Youngstown,
Ohio. He is currently pursuing an
M.F.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies at SIUC. His principle teachers include Dr. Glenn Schaft, Tony Leonardi,
Dr. Stephen Gage, Feza Zweiful, John Riley, Erica Azim, Fred Morris, and Nina
DeCiancio.
Jason Detec – BM 2006. Percussion Coordinator, Greenfield-Central School Corporation, Greenfield, IN
Joe Donofrio – BM c. 1970. Record producer in NYC area. Producer/manager for Pat Martino.
Nathan Douds – BM 2004. Received his Master of Jazz Piano degree at Bowling Green State University where he served as a teaching assistant. Presently freelance drumset and piano artist and adjunct percussion faculty at YSU and Slippery Rock University.
Kevin Downs - BM 1988. Director/founder the KAD School of Percussion in Poland, Ohio and freelance percussion artist. Percussion instructor at Poland High School. Drumset artist with Redline. Educational endorsement artist with Vic Firth Sticks and Sabian Cymbals.
Anthony Di Sanza - BME 1989. Received the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Michigan. Director of percussion studies at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
Robert Flamino – BM 2005. Freelance artist in western Pennsylvania.
Matt Hadaway – Freelance drumset artist in London.
Joshua Haggerty – BME 2006. Received the MM at the University of Illiniois, Champaign-Urbana. Adjunct instructor at YSU.
Tim Hampton – BM 2008. Tim is originally from Lakewood, Ohio. He graduated from Lakewood High School and has a bachelor's degree in music performance from the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University. While at YSU Tim studied with Dr. Glenn Schaft, Mr. Rob Ferguson and Mr. Nathan Douds. During his time at the Dana School of Music, Tim was an active performer, playing with the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble I, the Dana Symphony Orchestra, the Dana Opera Orchestra, the Brazillian Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble II (Frank Zappa Ensemble), Jazz Ensemble III, and the YSU Marching Pride. Tim's studies included special projects and performances of the music of Frank Zappa and John Cage. Tim is a founding member of the S'mosa Percussion Quartet, which performs in schools around the Cleveland and Pittsburgh areas. He was recently involved in the commission of a new work by John Hollenbeck, its premiere performance at the Eli Whitney Museum of Art in New York, and its recording. Tim has taught privately at Fame Conservatory in Poland, Ohio, and has taught and written for the Norwayne High School marching band. He is currently working with the Suzuki Camp at the Cleveland Music Settlement and is teaching and writing with the Lakewood High School marching band.
Craig Hill – BM 2003, MM 2005. Craig is currently performing internationally as a drummer, percussionist and band leader in the showbands on Holland America Line Cruise ships. He has performed aboard the flagship, Rotterdam, and aboard the elite Prinsendam. A few of the artists that he has performed with include Nestor Torres, Joel Mason, Ian Finkel, Robert Van Sice, Reuben Alvarez, Reynaldo Gonzales, Jim McNeely, Jimmy Heath, Don Bradon, Conrad Herwig, Allen Vizzutti, Bernie Fields, Vivianna Guzman, Filip Wojceichowski, Dick Cantino, and the Gaylords.
As an assistant band director and percussion specialist, Craig taught at John Horn High School, Berry Middle School, and Terry Middle School in Dallas county. He managed all aspects of percussion throughout each school in addition to team-teaching a variety of large and chamber ensembles in the orchestral, band, jazz, marching, choir, and new music departments.
Craig Hill received his Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance from Youngstown State University in 2005 while working as a graduate assistant. Completing his Bachelor of Music in Education from Youngstown State University in 2003, he is licensed to teach in the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
Tyler
Husosky
– BM 2008 Tyler
Husosky graduated from Howland High School in 2004 where he participated in
marching band, symphonic band, solo and ensemble contest, and was a member of
the 2004 All-State Orchestra. While at Youngstown State University, Tyler
was a member of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Dana Symphony Orchestra,
Percussion Ensemble, and the YSU Marching Pride. He was also a pit member
for "Urinetown" and "The Golden Apple" productions.
Tyler's principle teachers include Dr. Glenn Schaft, Rob Ferguson, Ron Coulter
and Tony Ferderber.
Tyler's teaching experience includes a studio of
private students, a coach of the Stambaugh Youth Concert Band and Youngstown
Symphony Youth Orchestra percussion sections, drumline instructor for Champion
and LaBrae High Schools, as well as coaching percussion ensembles for district
solo and ensemble contest.
Recently, Tyler worked with the Trumbull Art Galleries' "Summerfest" art program where he worked with students of various ages creating homemade percussion instruments and doing rhythm workshops. He is also a founding member of the "Somewhere in the Sun" steel drum duo with Zachary Taylor, and has substituted with the W.D. Packard Concert Band. Tyler is currently a member of the Percussive Arts Society and the Ohio Collegiate Music Educators Association.
Craig Krolicki - BME 1997. Freelance drumset artist in Nashville, Tennessee.
Adam Mamula - BM 1999. Freelance artist in Youngstown. Presently performs with The Zou and the Leonard Cohen Tribute Band. Received the Master of Music in performance at Cleveland State University. Performed with the Youngstown Symphony, Wheeling Symphony, Erie Symphony, Charleston Symphony, Fort Wayne Symphony, Warren Chamber Orchestra, Brevard Music Festival Orchestra.
Jerry Noble – Member US Air Force Band, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH, and section percussion in the Dayton Philharmonic Studied with Glenn Schaft at Baldwin Wallace College Prep Program, received his BM at Cleveland State University where he studied with Tom Freer, and his MM from Indiana University.
Joseph Parlink - BME 1958. Professor Emeritus Youngstown State University 1972-96.
Gregory Parnell - BME 1995. Toured for 8 years with the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Presently the leader and
founder of the Orlando Jazz Orchestra and a freelance musician in Central Florida.
Darryl Pellegrini - BME 1983. Darrell lives in Honolulu, Hawaii and is an in-demand drumset artist. Previously lived in New York City and performed with numerous jazz greats such as the Village Vanguard Orchestra and Chuck Mangione and as a regular sub on Broadway. He received his Master of Music Performance Degree from the Manhattan School of Music.
Corey Radford – Freelance drumset artist in New York City.
Eric D. Ratica (BME 2000) is currently serving as Director of Bands
in the North Central Local School District (Norwayne High School and Creston
Middle School) in Creston, Ohio.
He has held this position since 2000. His current responsibilities include direction of the 5th,
6th, and 7th-8th grade bands at Creston Middle
School. At Norwayne High School, he
is responsible for the direction of the “Bobcat Pride” Marching Band, the
Concert Band and the Jazz Ensemble.
Mr. Ratica’s additional teaching responsibilities include 5th
grade general music at CMS as well as Music Theory and Music History at NHS.
Under Ratica’s direction, the Norwayne High School
Band has nearly doubled in size since the year 2000. The Norwayne High School Marching Band entered OMEA Marching
Band Adjudicated Event for the first time in the school’s history and has been
actively participating since 2002. Additionally, the concert band has earned
“excellent” ratings at OMEA district adjudicated event consecutively since
2003, a feat not achieved at Norwayne since the 1970’s.
Mr. Ratica is a 1996 graduate of Willoughby South
High School. He earned a Bachelor
of Music Education degree cum laude in 2000 from Youngstown State
University. In 2006, he earned a
Master of Music Education Degree from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago,
Illinois.
His previous teaching experience includes service as percussion caption head at Crestwood High School from 1998-2000 and Canfield High School from 1999-2000. Mr. Ratica has also served as an instructor/consultant at Willoughby South High School, Painesville Riverside High School, and Kirtland High School. He is an Eagle Scout and his biography was selected to be printed in the seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh editions of “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.” Mr. Ratica resides in Creston with his wife, Leanne.
Dale Rauschenberg - BME 1960. Director of Percussion Studies at Towson State University in Baltimore, Maryland.
Jim Richley - BME 1991. Freelance artist in northeast Ohio. Has toured the U.S.
Randy Rodik - BME 1998. Teaches at Leetonia High School. Freelance percussion artist in northeast Ohio.
Tom Ruggierri – Teaches at Boardman High School. Freelance drumset artist with John Reese Project and Backbeat.
James Shimko - BME 1983. Owner and teacher at Folk-Beat Percussion in Newport, Kentucky.
Chris Steele - BM 1999. Chris Steele began playing drums on laundry hampers with magic markers at the age of four or five (he really doesn’t remember too much from that time). He does remember “The Tropics”, “Thumbs Up”, “Temporary No Parking” these were some of the names of his band made up of his older brothers and some friends. At the age of twelve, Chris was already playing live shows in his hometown of Butler, PA. His passion for rhythm only grew with time as he began a journey that would take him all over the world. His college career started in the town of Youngstown, OH where he studied with Glenn Schaft and finished his bachelor of music degree. He then moved to Los Angeles where his scholarship to USC allowed him to finish his Masters in jazz studies. Along with the course curriculum Chris also studied privately with, Ndugu Chancler, Peter Erskine, Jeff Hamilton, Zoro, Gregg Field, John Riley, and everyone else under the sun. Chris’s passion for jazz music allowed him to share the stage with Kenny Burell, Conrad Herwig, Sean Jones, Bobby Shew, Jiggs Whigham, Alfonso Johnson, and Phil Woods. Chris also had the opportunity to perform a drum duet with legendary swing drummer Louie Bellson. A summer tour as the drummer for the Glenn Miller Orchestra followed by a tour with an R&B artist in China showed his passion for all styles of music. Cary Brothers had given Chris his first TV appearance on the Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn as he performed “Blue Eyes.” Behind the scenes you can hear Chris in the movie Dawn of the Dead and Four Brothers. In front of the camera you can see Chris as Jim Carey’s drummer in The Majestic. Chris has performed with a gambit of Pop, Rock, and Reggae artists that include Barry Manilow, Deborah Gibson, John Popper, David Foster, Rusted Root, Matisyahu, and The Wailers. Now Chris is enjoying touring and recording with one of his favorite artists Trevor Hall.
Todd
Stefan,
BME 1997. Mr. Stefan is the Director of Bands at North Allegheny High School in
Pittsburgh, PA. He earned a Bachelor of Music Education, Percussion
Applied from the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University (YSU) in
1997, and is currently working on a Masters in Music Education at The
Pennsylvania State University (PSU). Prior to his current position at
North Allegheny, Mr. Stefan was the Director of Bands at Thomas Jefferson High
School in Jefferson Hills, PA, Director of Bands at Cumberland Valley High
School in Mechanicsburg, PA, Director of Bands at Sharpsville Area High School
in Sharpsville, PA, and served on the faculty at Grove City College in Grove
City, PA as an applied Percussion Instructor.
At North Allegheny, Mr. Stefan teaches the Senior High School Wind Ensemble, the Senior High School Symphonic Band, the Senior High School Concert Band, the Intermediate High School Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble 1, and the "Pride of the Black and Gold" North Allegheny High School Marching Band. Mr Stefan has studied percussion with Mr. Joseph Parlink, and conducting with Dr. Stephen Gage. Mr. Stefan's bands have all been rated as excellent and superior and have been awarded numerous first place trophies and best overall band awards at festivals and parades all over the United States. For more information on the North Allegheny Band please visit our web page at www.naband.org. Mr. Stefan is also an active member of MENC, PMEA, and PAS. Mr. Stefan lives in Bethel Park, PA with his wife Kristen and son Tyler.
Ken Stewart - BME 1999. Teaches at East Canton High School, instrumental grades 5-12.
Brian Sweigart – MM 2008. Brian received his Masters Degree in Percussion Performance from Youngstown State University where he served as a graduate percussion teaching assistant. He earned his Bachelors degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music in Dalcroze Eurhythmics and Percussion, and attended Interlochen Arts Academy in High School. He has taught Eurhythmics at many schools in Cleveland including the Cleveland Music School Settlement, the Cleveland Institute of Music, The Montessori School at Holy Rosary, and the Eleanor B. Rainey Memorial Institute. Brian’s teaching has taken him to Maine, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Kentucky where he has taught Eurhythmics to all ages. In addition to teaching, Brian performs as a percussionist in groups such as the Cleveland Orchestra, the Ohio Light Opera Orchestra, and the Percussion Plus Project. Brian currently teaches preparatory percussion lessons and conservatory Eurhythmics classes at the Cleveland Institute of Music and will begin as full time faculty there in fall 2009.
Ako Toma-Bennett - B.M. Performance 1999. Awarded graduate scholarship to the University of Michigan and received the Master of Music degree in performance. Performed with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, Warren Chamber Orchestra, Canton Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps, Winner YSU Concerto Competition, Toured as principal timpanist with American Wind Symphony. Freelance artist in Michigan.
Chris Trzcinski – is a drummer/composer of many musical genres and a freelance artist in Shanghai, China. His ability to adapt and bring forth an adventurous voice is the reason he remains a top call drummer on today's music scene. Chris began studying drums at the age of ten, and started his professional career at fourteen playing with local jazz musicians and various big bands in the Cleveland area. He then moved on to study music at the Dana School of Music where he developed his strong sensibility for music and art. After college Chris started performing and touring with numerous acts. In this time, he has shared the stage with the likes of: Ira Sullivan, Kenny Burrell, Buddy Morrow, Dick Johnson, and Frankie Avalon; and groups such as: The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra, and The Living Sound Ensemble. Aside from live performance, Chris has also made appearances on over 20 different Rock, Pop, and Jazz recordings; some of the more recent include: HuYanBin (Famous Chinese pop singer), Andy Hunter Quartet (Jazz), CoCo (Chinese jazz songs), and 24hrusa (Rock). When Chris is not on the road, he is playing freelance jazz gigs, recording, or performing in original-music ensembles in Shanghai, China where he currently resides.
Justin Watt – M.M. 2005. Justin Watt has received percussion performance degrees from two esteemed universities in northeastern Ohio. In 2002 he obtained a Bachelor’s of Music Degree from the Hugh A. Glauser School of Music at Kent State University and in 2005 a Master’s of Music Degree from the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University. He also spent the Fall 2002 semester at Cleveland State University doing post-graduate work. His principal teachers include Ted Rounds (KSU), Dr. Glenn Schaft (YSU), Tom Freer (The Cleveland Orchestra), and Mark Gonder (The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra), among others.
Much of Justin’s work has been in the area of free-lancing. Most of this has been in the areas of jazz/big-band, pop/rock, theatrical productions and the classical idiom. He most recently finished a 2 ½ year stint with the Glenn Miller Orchestra where he was able to tour the U.S., Japan and Canada extensively. He has also been lucky to perform with such notable performers as Jim McNeely, Michael Burritt, comedian Jack Carter, Larry O’Brien, The Four Aces, Dolores Parker Morgan, The Guy Lombardo Orchestra, Julia Rich, Joey De Francesco, Nick Hilscher, Bobby Shew and Jimmy Heath.
Currently, Justin is residing in Asheville, NC where he is involved in various music projects. He is the drummer for the Asheville Jazz Orchestra (a professional big band), Deep River (a country vocal group) and the Like Mind Trio (an eclectic jazz trio that features various original compositions). He has also recently been active in various regional theatre groups including the Asheville Community Theatre and the Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre. He has most recently been hired as an instructor at the Asheville Music School, an independently owned school of music that offers lessons on all major instruments.
Michael Yonchak (BME 2002) Mike is currently Visiting Assistant Director of Band, Wind, and Percussion Activities
and Director of Athletic Bands at Otterbein College in Westerville, OH. myonchak@otterbein.edu
A native of Ohio, Michael grew up near Youngstown, and graduated from the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University (with Honors) holding a Bachelor of Music in Education (percussion emphasis) and a Master's degree in Instrumental Conducting. He is completing his Doctorate of Musical Arts (DMA) in Wind Conducting from the University of Kentucky, where he was actively involved in all aspects of the Kentucky Bands program.
He is also currently in the process of writing his dissertation monograph on the avant-garde compositions of Frank Zappa. In collaboration with the late composer's wife, Gail, this document will become the first of its kind in providing a serious academic study on the structure, techniques, and performance considerations to three separate works for wind ensemble by Zappa. This project served as a catalyst for a recent presentation at the Southern Division of CBDNA on the music of Frank Zappa, as well as a research article financed by a research grant awarded through the National Band Association.
Prior to his time in Kentucky, Michael taught for five and a half years in the public schools of northeast Ohio.
Among his numerous accomplishments, Michael was a two-time national finalist for a conductor/officer commission in the Air Force Bands program, served as the music director and conductor for the inaugural 2006 season of the Buhl Park Community Concert Band of Hermitage, Pennsylvania, acted simultaneously as a performer and percussion caption head for the Allegheny Nightstorm Drum and Bugle Corps (DCA) and has recently been published in the book Teaching Music Through Performance in Beginning Band, Volume 2.
He also holds memberships in the National Band Association, CBDNA, the College Music Society, the Conductors Guild, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (honorary) and Tau Beta Sigma (honorary).