Who We Are
Dan Piccolo
Dan Piccolo performs and teaches percussion in a broad range of musical idioms. He is Associate Professor and Director of Percussion Activities in the College of Musical Arts at Bowling Green State University.
With a background including studies in concert percussion, jazz, and numerous global musical traditions, Dan has embraced the view of the modern percussionist as a musical polyglot. His career has included solo projects, rock bands, chamber music, jazz groups, cross cultural collaborations, and orchestral playing, both on stage and in the recording studio. He has performed throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe, and has studied in Ghana and north India. He is a member of the percussion group Ensemble Duniya, and in 2020 he released his debut solo recording, Monobot.
In his current position at Bowling Green State University Dan directs the Percussion Ensemble and teaches applied lessons. He regularly presents workshops and masterclasses throughout the United States, and has been selected as a clinician at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention numerous times. During the summer months he enjoys being a member of the percussion faculty at New England Music Camp in Sidney, Maine.
Dan works actively with composers to commission new solo and ensemble works for percussion, and has premiered works by Evan Ziporyn, Aaron Kernis, Emma O’Halloran, and Christopher Dietz. Dan edited a newly-discovered collection of swing variations on “The Downfall of Paris” by Charley Wilcoxon, which was published by Ludwig Masters in 2024. He currently serves as Associate Editor for Professional Development for the Percussive Arts Society’s journal, Percussive Notes, and he has been an officer in PAS’s Ohio Chapter since 2021.
Dan is an artist endorser for Cooperman Frame Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets, Pearl/Adams percussion instruments, and Remo drumheads. Please visit www.danpiccolo.com for more information.
Jonathan Ovalle
Jonathan Ovalle is a percussionist and designer from Detroit, Michigan, whose diverse experience spans music, education, technology, leadership, collaboration, engagement, recruiting, retention, and strategic planning.
Jonathan Ovalle is a Detroit-based drummer and percussionist working at the intersection of music, education, technology, and design.
As a performing artist, he has presented recitals and masterclasses in Scotland, India, Thailand, Canada, and 20 U.S. states. A graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, his musical output spans solo, chamber, symphonic, and jazz performances; work as a pop and electronic remix artist; work as a teacher and arranger in the marching arts (WGI/BOA); and extensive experience as an Afro-Cuban percussionist and drummer. These blended pursuits are unified by a common thread of deep musicianship, process, and boundless curiosity.
Recent performances and recordings include the world premiere of XRelocommOcean (2024) by John Best for two virtual reality performers at the 2024 Performing Media Festival; Vent (2022) with saxophonist Jeffrey Heisler and pianist I-Chen Yeh; and Time's Arc (2024), the debut recording of the genre-bending world percussion ensemble Ensemble Duniya. His film credits include River of Fundament (2014) by Matthew Barney, where he, alongside other musicians, contributed improvisations to the soundtrack in close collaboration with composer Jonathan Bepler, as well as appeared in performance on screen.
His convention and festival performances include the Thailand Brass and Percussion Festival, Detroit Jazz Festival, The Midwest Clinic, Percussive Arts Society International Convention, Jazz Educators Network Convention, North American Saxophone Alliance, Green Box Arts Festival, Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, and Texas Bandmasters Convention.
Notable composition and arranging projects include co-arranging and co-orchestrating the Music Theatre International production of 1660 Vine (2024); Snapshots (2023), for solo bassoon and digital audio, commissioned by bassoonist Susan Nelson; and a new work for solo marimba and digital audio, Blur (2026), currently in progress. As a composer, he seeks to work primarily in electroacoustic mediums and has a growing interest in data visualization and data art, particularly the intersection of music and visual representations of temporality. He is a current composition student of David Bird.
Over a 20+ year career, he has directed or co-directed percussion programs at Plymouth Canton Educational Park, Saginaw Valley State University, University of Toledo, and the University of Michigan, where he taught applied lessons and served as co-director of the percussion ensemble, director of the Latin Jazz ensemble, and faculty associate in Latino studies. His track record includes leading program growth at both large Tier 1 institutions and smaller regional universities, stemming from strategic leadership, culture-building, and targeted recruitment and retention initiatives.
A dedicated teacher and mentor, his former students have gone on to graduate studies at institutions including Eastman School of Music, Juilliard School, New England Conservatory, Peabody Conservatory, Bard College, Mannes College of Music, University of Southern California, Northwestern University, Northern Illinois University, University of Kentucky, University of Michigan, Boston University, University of Colorado, University of Wisconsin, and Bowling Green State University. They now hold professional positions in symphony orchestras, military bands, university percussion programs, and as freelancers, chamber musicians, entrepreneurs, and public-school educators.
His former teachers include Michael Udow, Julie Spencer, Michael Gould, Gerald Cleaver, Sal Rabbio, and Ted Piltzecker. He is an artist/endorser with Pearl/Adams, Zildjian, Remo, Tapspace, and Innovative Percussion.
Brad Billmaier
Brad Billmaier is a Toledo-based performer, composer, and educator, and an in-demand drummer throughout the region.
Brad holds degrees in jazz studies and percussion performance from The University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University. As both a bandleader and sideman, Brad’s career has taken him throughout the country (NYC, Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, Columbus, Buffalo, Cleveland, Madison, etc.) and to some of the midwest’s foremost locales (Cliff Bell’s, The Blue Llama Jazz Club, Merriman’s Playhouse, SPACE, Elkhart Jazz Festival, Ginger Rabbit, etc.). Brad has collaborated and shared the stage with the region’s foremost performers including: Ellen Rowe; Edward Gooch; David Bixler; Bryan Olsheski; Ramona Collins; Cliff Monear; Mark Tonelli; Gene Parker; Ray Parker; Zakk Jones, etc. He has also worked with international luminaries such as 2008 Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition Winner Jon Irabagon, Estonian guitarist Jack Sooaar, and Israeli guitarist/oudist/Avishai Cohen bandmate Ahmos Hoffman.
DMA Students
Masters Students
Undergraduate Students
Robert Breithaupt (BM, MM) - Retired Professor of Percussion, Capital University
Olman Piedra (DMA '13) - Professor of Percussion, University of Toledo
Zeca Lacerda (DMA '15) - Professor of Percussion, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso
Eric Sooy (BM ’90, MM ‘93) - Founder and President, Black Swamp Percussion
James Armstrong (MM '94) - Instructor of Percussion, Millersville University& Elizabethtown College
Dane Newlove (BM '83) - Asst. Principal Percussionist, Lima Symphony Orchestra, Principal Percussion, Old Crown Brass Band [Ft. Wayne, In.] Director of Materials and Awards, Ohio Music Education Association; and percussion specialist for the Coldwater and St. Marys Schools in West Central Ohio.
Nick Fox (DMA ‘24) – Middle School/Upper School Music Teacher, Director of Choirs & Musical Pit, Maumee Valley Country Day School
Matt Timman (MM '14) - Percussion Faculty, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp; Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra; Sierra Vista Symphony Orchestra
Michael Varner (MUED) - Retired Director of Percussion, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
Robert McClure (MUED ’07): Associate Professor of Composition, Ohio University
Michelle Watson (BM ’90) - Assistant Marching Band Director and Percussion Advisor at Chardon Local Schools
Ellery Trafford (MM ’13): Free-lance percussionist, member of TAK Ensemble
Jerry Emmons (MM '19)- Adjunct Lecturer of Music, University of Tennessee at Martin; Adjunct Instructor of Percussion, Lane College, Jackson, TN
Ben Hellert (MM ’22) - Band Director at Pulaski High School (Pulaski, NY); member of Downbeat Percussion Ensemble; member of Buffalo Bills Drumline; World Percussion Group, 2022 - 2023 season
Jacob Hargrove (MM ’22) - Bandwear Sales Representative at Stanbury Uniforms, National Accounts; Percussion faculty at Lane College & University of Tennessee at Martin; Private Lesson Instructor at Rhythm & Grooves Academy, Memphis, TN; Freelance Percussionist
Felix Reyes (MM ’17) - Digital Archivist/Webmaster for So Percussion; Front Ensemble Instructor, Floral Park Memorial High School; Founding member of Pathos Trio
Ron Tucker (MUED ’97) - band leader, ensemble et. al
Ryan Williams (BM '15) - Assistant Band Director, Perrysburg High School
Joe Woodie (BM) - Percussion Specialist, William Mason High School
Daniel Klohn (BM '10) - Director of Bands, Sandusky City Schools
Paul Sansing (BM) - Assistant Band & Orchestra Director, Waite High School
Scott Charvet (MM ’17) - Percussion Instructor, Crockett High School, Austin, TX
Katelen Brown (MM '16) - Instructor for Shockwave Indoor Percussion; pursuing MA in Popular Culture
Mark Cook (DMA '15) -Director of BGSU Falcon Drumline
Nick Dian (BM '14) - Former Stage Manager, Toledo Symphony Orchestra
Sam Fronk (BM '16) - MM student, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music
Isabelle Huang (DMA '12)
Billy Sheak (BM Jazz Studies '16) - Drummer/Percussionist, Cedar Point
Tucker Marshall (BM Jazz Studies ‘17) - Free-lance jazz musician, Philadelphia
Emanuel Bowman (MM ’19) - Music Teacher, Winterfield Venture Academy, Toledo, OH
Febe Harmon (MUED '18) - Director of Bands, Brookville Local Schools, Brookville, OH
Eric Cooper (MUED ’18) - Director of Bands, Millcreek-West Unity School District
RJ Siebert (MUED '18) - Elementary Music Teacher, Blissfield Community Schools; Instructor of Music-Interlochen Arts Camp
Jerin Fuller (MUSP '19) - Assistant Percussion Instructor, Dulles High School, Sugar Land, TX
Erin Redick (MUED '20) - Assistant Band Director, Defiance High School
Frances Zengel (MUSP ’21) - Piano tuner/technician at Graves Piano Co., Columbus, OH; Timpanist, Ohio Valley Symphony
Zachary Green (MUED ’18) - K-8 Music Teacher, Pathway School of Discovery, Dayton, OH
Gage Hoehne (MUED ’20) – Band & Choir Teacher, Continental Schools, Continental, OH
Cole Jackson (MM ’22) - Marching Band Percussion Tech, Heritage High School, Littleton, CO
Cadence Miller (BM ’24) - Graduate Assistantship at Michigan State University College of Music
Nick Bahr (MM ’25) – Selected for Graduate Teaching Assistantship at Florida State University
Kyle Bergler (Comp ’25) – Selected for Graduate Teaching Assistantship at University of Nebraska - Omaha
Frank Sanzo (MUED ’25) – High School Band Director at Cardinal Local Schools, Middlefield, OH
Ian Weil (MUED ’25) – Music Teacher at Kings Local School District, Kings Mills, OH
Emma Zemancik (MUSP ’25) – MM student, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
Updated: 08/31/2026 04:45PM