About

Daniel Piccolo

Percussionist Dan Piccolo has performed, taught, and studied internationally during his twenty-year professional career. He is currently Associate Professor of Percussion in Bowling Green State University’s College of Musical Arts.

Dan holds both a DMA and BM in Percussion Performance from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, and during his master’s studies in U of M’s Jazz Department he focused on improvisation. He has studied concert percussion with Michael Udow, Salvatore Rabbio, Joseph Gramley and Jonathan Ovalle, among others, and his drum set and improvisation teachers have included Michael Gould, Steve Curry, and Ed Sarath. Dan is also skilled in several forms of non-Western percussion, having studied frame drumming with Jamey Haddad and tabla with Pandit Kuber Nath Mishra in multiple visits to Varanasi, India. A grant from the University of Michigan’s International Institute funded the first of these visits, and he returned to Varanasi in the winter of 2015 thanks to an award from the Presser Foundation. An additional award from U of M’s International Institute made it possible for Dan to begin formal studies of West African music in Ghana in the summer of 2014.

Dan’s debut solo recording, Monobot, was released on the Equilibrium Recordings label in December 2020. In October 2019 Dan gave the world premiere of Evan Ziporyn’s concerto for drum set and wind ensemble, Impulse Control, which written was written for Dan and for which he led the commissioning consortium. Dan has also premiered works by composers including Aaron Kernis, Christopher Dietz, Emma O’Halloran, and Adam Silverman, as well as his own compositions, and he continues to work actively with composers to commission new solo and ensemble works for percussion.

Dan has appeared as a soloist with groups including the Toledo Symphony Orchestra and the University of Michigan Percussion Ensemble, and as a guest artist at colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. As a chamber musician he has enjoyed collaborations with notable artists including Third Coast Percussion, composer/pianist Harold Budd, percussionists Ji Hye Jung and Joseph Gramley, the arx duo, pianist Sonya Belaya, and the Detroit Chamber Winds. Dan also remains active as a jazz drummer, working with musicians such as John Scofield, Regina Carter, Mike Stern, and Stanley Cowell. For six years Dan was the drummer with Nomo, with whom he toured internationally and recorded three albums for Ubiquity Records. Dan has also toured and recorded as a member of Cloud Nine Music, The Ragbirds, His Name is Alive, and others. Dan continues to perform regularly with symphony orchestras, rock bands, Indian classical music ensembles, jazz groups, and in various chamber music configurations. This busy performance schedule has earned him invitations to perform at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention and the annual conference of the International Society for Improvised Music. He is currently a member of the X4 Percussion Quartet, Ensemble Duniya, Big Fun, and is the percussionist with the mirabai Women’s Choir.

In addition to his busy professional schedule, Dan is a dynamic educator, teaching a broad range of percussion instruments in private and classroom settings. He has presented workshops and masterclasses at universities throughout the United States, and has twice been selected as a clinician at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. Dan spent six years as the coordinator of the percussion program at Ann Arbor’s Pioneer High School, during which time the school was twice named a Grammy Signature School. In 2016 Dan joined the faculty of the College of Musical Arts at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. Prior to this appointment Dan was Assistant Director of Percussion at the University of Tennessee at Martin, and he previously served as Head of the Percussion Area at New England Music Camp in Sidney, Maine.

An active member of the Percussive Arts Society, Dan served as a member of the World Percussion Committee from 2014 to 2019, and he currently serves as Associate Editor for Professional Development for the Society’s journal, Percussive Notes. In 2021 he began his first term as President of PAS’s Ohio Chapter.

Dan proudly endorses Cooperman Frame Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets, Pearl/Adams percussion instruments, and Remo drumheads. For more information please visit www.danpiccolo.com.

Nick Fox

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Nick Fox is an active percussionist and teacher, currently pursuing a DMA in contemporary music at Bowling Green State University. Fox received a Master’s degree in percussion performance from Northern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He has studied with Dr. Daniel Piccolo, Dr. Gregory Beyer, Tobie Wilkinson, Dr. Patti Cudd, and Michael Mixtacki.

In addition to teaching and solo performance commitments, Fox is a founding member of the Altered Sound Duo (saxophone and percussion) as well as the percussion quartet Landlocked Percussion. Both of these groups focus on prominent contemporary chamber works in the repertoire and Altered Sound Duo actively commissions new works. In 2014, Trevor Saint and Fox formed the percussion duo Undue. This project has lead to the creation of three new works and a Midwest tour including performances/master-classes at seven universities. The following year, Fox organized his solo tour debut including six universities and several arts clubs.

Fox has had the opportunity to perform with many influential artists, such as Jan Williams, Greg Beyer, Stuart Gerber, Tim Munroe, Shara Nova, Dal Niente, Erik Griswold, and members of the JACK Quartet. Fox has been awarded grant funding to assist with the commissioning of new works, transportation to music conferences, and summer music festivals such as New Music On the Point in Vermont. As a committed new music activist, Fox has expanded the percussion repertoire through commissions/collaborations with composers Matthew Burtner, James Romig, Jeff Herriott, and Christopher Burns, just to name a few. 

Masters Students

David-Esselburn

David Esselburn

Second Year

David is in his second year of pursuing a M. M. in Percussion Performance at BGSU and currently acts as the Graduate Assistant for the Percussion Studio, as well as the President for the Student Percussion Assosication. He holds a B.A. in Music from Muskingum University where he studied with Professor Seth Alexander. He has performed in many groups including the South Eastern Ohio Symphony Orchestra, Muskingum University Wind Ensemble, and other various ensembles. David has also taught privately and acted as Percussion Instructor for the East Muskingum School District for the past three years. David also spends his time studying Jazz and Music Composition; having written works for solo marimba, wind band, and SATB choir.

Undergraduate Students

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Sidney Rindler

Senior

Sidney Rindler is a senior music education student from Maria Stein, Ohio. In high school, Sid participated in many OMEA adjudicated events including solo and ensemble, competition marching, and choir events.  She has performed in the OMEA District 3 Honor Choir and Jazz Band. At BGSU, Sid has worked with the academy and honors bands and played in many ensembles including concert band, wind symphony, steel pan, and samba. Outside of Bowling Green, Sid has helped with groups at Troy, Minster, and Coldwater high schools. She will be performing her senior recital in the fall, following with student teaching placement in general music in the spring. 

Clay-Hoffner

Clay Hoffner

Senior

Clay Hoffner is a Senior Music Performance major from Cleveland, Ohio. In previous years, he has performed with the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony, the OMEA Northeast Regional Orchestra, and performed and accompanied with the Baldwin Wallace University Men's Chorus. He is also currently a member of BG's co-ed a cappella group, Tonal Eclipse. Last year, Clay presented a work on some unreleased works for snare drum by Charlie Wilcoxon, and his works were continued by the BGSU Percussion Rep and Pedagogy class. Clay's interests include history, psychology, and popular music of the 20th and 21st Century.

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Tate Stewart

Junior

Tate is a third-year undergraduate music education major specializing in instrumental music at Bowling Green State University. At Bowling Green, he is a member of the Musicianship and Advanced Pedagogy program, The Student Percussion Association, performs with the university’s wind symphony, and serves as the College of Musical Arts senator in the Undergraduate Student Government. He is currently serving as treasurer of the OCMEA chapter at Bowling Green and as membership chair for the state board of the organization. He is the historian for the BGSU Student Percussion Association.

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Claire Miller

Junior

Claire is a third-year music education major at Bowling Green State University. She grew up in Dayton, Ohio where she was a part of the marching band, symphonic band, and indoor percussion ensemble for four years, part of the symphonic and chamber choir for two years and was part of the winter guard for a year. She was also a part of the first SMI percussion camp at BGSU, and took part in two honor bands and was part of the pit orchestra in a production of In the Heights through a local production company. She currently works at Swanton High School as their drumline tech and Findlay High School as their front ensemble tech. During her time at BGSU, she has worked at Paulding High School, Columbus Grove High School, as well as Vandalia Butler High School. Claire has premiered three world premieres, one being with Sandbox percussion member Ian Rosenbaum during the NYU Sandbox Percussion Seminar. The other two were premiered in the spring at a joint recital with other studio member Kaitlynn Owens, as well as in the spring percussion ensemble concert with four other members of the percussion studio. She is also currently part of the Wind Symphony, Philharmonia, Percussion Ensemble, and New Music Ensemble at BGSU

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Ian Weil

Junior

Ian is a junior Music Education student at Bowling Green State University. From Sylvania, Ohio, Ian previously studied under Dr. Olman Piedra and Dr. Aaron Ziegler. Ian has a great interest in topics in ethnomusicology and musicology and is an avid enjoyer of popular music from the 20th and 21st centuries. Outside of school, Ian also has an interest in synthesizers and keyboards, songwriting, and playing music alongside his younger brother, Jake.

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Kaitlynn Kamer

Junior

Kaitlynn Kamer is a third year Music Education student from Toledo, Ohio. She graduated from Northview High School where she participated in multiple ensembles and OMEA events. She has played with multiple honor bands and ensembles including the Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra. While at BGSU, Kaitlynn has been a member of the Wind Symphony, Concert Band, Percussion Ensemble, and Falcon Marching Band. She is currently serving as the secretary for the Student Percussion Association and is a member of the BGSU honors college.

Jayden-Hall

Jayden Hall

Sophomore

Jayden Hall is a second year studennt getting a BMA with a minor in recording technology. He's been a member of concert band and our percussion ensemble. Jayden is very excited for everything that will make me a better musician on every instrument that he picks up.

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Frank Sanzo

Sophomore

Frank Sanzo is a second-year Music Education major from Painesville, Ohio. He attended Riverside High School, where he was heavily involved in their theatre, choir, and band programs. On campus, Frank is involved in Music Industry Club, Student Percussion Association, and is currently President-Elect of Ohio Collegiate Music Education Association. Besides percussion, Frank also plays guitar, piano, sings, and writes music in his free time.

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Riley Kramer

Sophomore

Riley Kramer is a second-year Jazz Studies major from Monclova, Ohio. He graduated from Toledo Christian Schools, where he participated in the marching band, concert band, worship band, choir, and musical theatre programs. Riley is a recipient of the John Philip Sousa Award, and has competed at the national level as a member of the Calvary Student Ministries worship team. He is a proud member of the Falcon Marching Band Cymbal Line and the BGSU Honors College.

Emma-Zemancik

Emma Zemancik

Sophomore

Emma Zemancik is a second year music performance major at BGSU. She is a graduate of Northwestern High School, where she was involved in choir, theatre, and the  marching and concert bands. She was also a four-year member of the Akron Youth Symphony and has participated in numerous honor bands and choirs. Along with music, she is interested in literature and writing.

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Anna Martin

Sophomore

Anna Martin is a sophomore majoring in Adolescent to Young Adult Mathematical Education and minoring in music. She is from Pickerington, Ohio, where she attended Pickerington High School North. Throughout high school, she has performed in the Ohio Music Education Association All-State Band, college honor bands, her high school symphonic band, and years of superior ratings during solo and ensemble. She was also very involved in the front ensemble marching band, taking multiple leadership roles. In her free time, she enjoys playing volleyball, where she earned Second Team All Ohio Capital Conference. She also loves to play table tennis and compete at the Arnold Sportsfest. During college, she has been involved in the wind symphony, philharmonic orchestra, and percussion ensemble at Bowling Green and is excited about her future!

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Kathryn Mahoney

Sophomore

Kathryn graduated from Riverside Highschool and is currently a second year student at Bowling Green State University. She came to BG to pursue a degree in Music Performance and possibly minor in Recording Production/Media. She has played percussion for 6+ years and has been involved in music for even longer. She has been involved in her highschool, one of the main activities being marching band, where she played bells for her first year, and bass for her remaining three. She was also a squad leader her senior year. She was also involved in her high school theater program, where she joined the Light and Sound crew, and assumed the position of Tech Head of the crew for two full years. She was a four year member of the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony, and during her senior year she was a part of the Cleveland Institute of Music’s Percussion Ensemble.

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Sam Batty

Sophomore

Sam Batty is a Jazz Studies major from Temecula, California. He graduated from Temecula Valley High School in 2020 where he participated in the school's marching, jazz and concert bands as well as the indoor percussion ensemble. Sam also previously studied at Mira Costa College in Oceanside, California, before transferring to BGSU this fall. At Bowling Green, he is currently part of various jazz ensembles, and the percussion ensemble. 



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Elijah Kuszmaul

Freshman

Elijah Kuszmaul is a first year Music Education major from West Unity Ohio. He is a recent graduate from Hilltop High School. In High School he played drum set in jazz band for four years, marching band for four years, sang in audition choir for 4 years, and did theatre for 7 years. He was also actively involved in community ensembles and omea events which included black swamp community orchestra, black swamp community choir, and Solo and Ensemble.

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Evan Palermo

Freshman

  Evan Palermo is a first-year Jazz Studies major from Painesville, Ohio. During his time at Riverside High School, Evan kept himself busy by participating in marching band, orchestral band, and his school’s musical theatre program. Evan was also a three-year member of the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony, along with a one-year member of the Lakeland Jazz Impact ensemble. Outside of the classroom, Evan started his professional music career by being a freelance drummer/percussionist, leading to performances ranging from symphonic orchestral work in the percussion section to energetic musicals behind the kit. Evan is a recipient of the Ian’s Legacy Scholarship, along with other scholarships supporting his music career.

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Mason Marquette

Freshman

Mason Marquette is a first year Music Education major from Stow, Ohio. In high school, he participated in the marching band, Wind Ensemble, Concert Choir, and multiple acapella groups. He also participated in OMEA Solo and Ensemble as well as Large Group Contest in both band and choral ensembles. He currently plays tenor drums in the Falcon Marching Band.

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Matthew Graves

Freshman

Matthew Graves is a freshman music education major at BGSU. He is from Avon Lake Ohio where he graduated from Avon Lake High School.  He participated in marching band, percussion ensemble, jazz band, the symphonic band, and the pit orchestra for the musicals.  He was also the president of the marching band his senior year. He competed in OMEA for marching band, solo and ensemble, and symphonic band.

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Jonathan Bushrow

Freshman

Jonathan (JJ) Bushrow is a first-year composition major who is from Sylvania, Ohio (Located next to Toledo, Ohio). JJ is a graduate of Sylvania Northview Highschool. During his time in highschool, JJ was involved in many programs including band, choir, theater, and northcover (which is an electric pop orchestra). He has also participated in Solo & Ensemble as a soloist, small ensemble, and large ensemble (band and choir). Currently he is in the falcon drumline playing bass drum.

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Jacob Kendall

Freshman

Jacob Kendall is a first year Music Education major from Mason, Ohio. During his time in high school he participated in the marching band, jazz band, symphonic band, percussion ensembles, and played in the musicals pit orchestra. Throughout his endeavors he has also become very involved with the marching and pageantry arts, preforming with William Mason High School marching band, BGSU Falcon Marching band, and Matrix Performing Arts.

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Liam Lockhart

Freshman

Liam Lockhart is a first year Music Education student from Oberlin, Ohio. He graduated in 2021 from Firelands High School where he was a member of marching band, concert band, and honors choir, performing in OMEA Solo & Ensemble and Large group events with band and choir. He has performed with the Northern Ohio Youth Orchestra, the Kent State University Honors Band, and the Cleveland State University Honors Band. He is also a member of the BGSU Falcon Drumline.

PASIC2017-BSP-EDIT

Robert Breithaupt (BM, MM) - Retired Professor of Percussion, Capital University

Olman Piedra (DMA '13) - Associate 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.

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

Jerry Emmons (MM '19)- Adjunct Lecturer of Music, University of Tennessee at Martin; Adjunct Instructor of Percussion, Lane College, Jackson, TN

Felix Reyes (MM ’17) - Digital Archivist/Webmaster for So Percussion; Front Ensemble Instructor, Floral Park Memorial High School; Founding member of Pathos Trio

Michelle Watson (BM ’90) - Assistant Marching Band Director and Percussion Advisor at Chardon Local Schools

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) - Percussion Graduate Assistant, Ohio University, Athens, OH

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 

Ben Hellert (MM ’22) - Freelance Percussionist; Band/General Music Teacher at West Side Montessori, Toledo, OH

Jacob Hargrove (MM ’22) - Freelance Percussionist; Percussion Instructor at Houston High School, Memphis, TN; Private Lesson Instructor at Rhythm & Grooves Academy, Memphis, TN

Cole Jackson (MM ’22) - Marching Band Percussion Tech, Heritage High School, Littleton, CO

Updated: 01/20/2023 03:46PM