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The Ragel Family Greer
Community Center

Musicians Participating in Music From Greer 2012 Concerts

 

Royce McLarry. Royce McLarry began studying violin at the age of four with his father Lacy McLarry.  He made his solo debut with the Oklahoma Symphony Orchestra at the age of twelve.  At age sixteen, he was a finalist in the International Mozart Festival Competition (Pueblo, Colorado).
 
McLarry received his Bachelor of Music degree from Oklahoma City University, where he also studied with his father.  As a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he studied viola with the renowned Richard Blum of the Pro Arte String Quartet.  While there, he served as a violist of the Strelow String Quartet and performed with the Madison Symphony Orchestra.  He has also served as Assistant Principal Violist of the Northwood Orchestra in Michigan.
 
McLarry has served on the faculties of the University of Oklahoma and the Brevard Music Center in North Carolina.  He carries on the teaching tradition of his father by teaching viola and violin.  He is currently a faculty member of Oklahoma Baptist University and Oklahoma Christian University.
 
Presently, McLarry is Principal Violist of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra and the Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra, and plays regularly with the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra and the Tulsa Opera.  As a chamber musician, soloist and member of the New Lyric Quartet, Mc Larry performs throughout the region.  Recent performances include Music From Greer with the New Lyric Quartet, as Principal Violist of the Quartz Mountain Music Festival (Lone Wolf, OK) and collaboration with guitarist Pepe Romero performing Boccherini's Fandango Quintet.

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Jim Shelley has been a cellist with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic for eleven years, and regularly tours the South Central United States with Go For Baroque, a chamber music ensemble. He holds a Bachelor of Music Performance and a Masters of Music Education from the University of Central Oklahoma where he was named "Outstanding Student" both as an undergraduate and graduate student.

Alcott Middle School , in Norman , Oklahoma , is pleased to have Shelley as its Orchestra Director. His students have earned superior ratings in concert and sight-reading at state competitions. In addition to the cello, Shelley plays the violin and the guitar. Most recently, he has expanded his musical endeavors to singing and songwriting, and he has been a featured performer at the Oklahoma Songwriters' Showcase. Shelley's hobbies include gardening, cycling, in-line skating, and hiking. He is pleased to return to Music From Greer.

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Lacy McLarry performed for 12 years Concertmaster of the Oklahoma Symphony Orchestra and seven years as Concertmaster of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra, has served on the faculties of Emporia Kansas State University, the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City University and the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute at Quartz Mountain.
 
McLarry was a pioneer in introducing the Suzuki teaching method to the United States. After going to Japan in the early 1970s to study this method, he became Artist in Residence and Director of String Development at Oklahoma City University where he had a highly successful Suzuki Program involving numerous teachers and approximately 100 students ranging from two to twenty-two years old. He continues this work now from his private studio.
 
Mr. McLarry's performances each year include many as chamber musician as well as soloist. His teacher was Philip Williams with whom he studied from the age of eight through the completion of a Master of Music degree at Southern Methodist University. Mr. McLarry, along with his wife, composer Beverly McLarry, is a recipient of the Oklahoma "Musician of the Year" award presented by Governor George Nigh, and the American String Teachers Association award, "Oklahoma String Teacher of the Year". Mr. McLarry has served as Concertmaster of the Northwood Orchestra in Michigan, the Sinfonia of Mid-America in Oklahoma, the Orquesta Sinfonica de Mineria in Mexico City, the Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra, and the New Hampshire Music Festival.

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David Robillard was the Associate Concertmaster with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic for 11 years. He also served as Concertmaster and Assistant Concertmaster of the Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra. Mr. Robillard was a long-time faculty member of the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute at Quartz Mountain and served on the faculty of the Oklahoma City University String Development Program. He now teaches violin and viola at Southwest Oklahoma State University and teaches violin and piano as a member of the Suzuki Associates.
 
He has performed with several orchestras including the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Festival of the Lakes (the Northwood Orchestra) in Michigan, the Oregon Bach Festival, the St. Paul Summer Opera and many more. Mr. Robillard also appears regularly as a soloist including one in a performance of the Concerto for four violins and orchestra by Antonio Vivaldi with the Oklahoma Symphony Orchestra. He studied violin in high school and as an undergraduate with Anthony Gilombardo in his home state at the University of Minnesota. While there he also studied piano with Paul Freed. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree as a violin student of Robert Gerle at the Manhattan School of Music. He also studied chamber music with Joe McSpadden and Lillian Fuchs. Mr. Robillard has been a jazz pianist for many years and also serves in the music ministry at The Cathedral Of Our Lady Of Perpetual Help.

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Victor Valenzuela
 
Victor Valenzuela is currently Third Horn with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, as well as Instructor of Brass at Pima CommunityCollege. Mr. Valenzuela holds degrees from New Mexico State University and Northwestern University. He has performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London; the Boulder Philharmonic; the Phoenix, El Paso, Flagstaff, and Santa Fe Symphonies; the Arizona Opera; and toured with the National Symphony of Mexico during its 2002 North American Tour. Mr. Valenzuela has performed for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 1984 Olympic Games, the 1986 re-opening of the Statue of Liberty and the 1988 Celebration of the Declaration of Independence. In July 2000, Mr. Valenzuela performed, along with his Colleagues of the Tucson Symphony Horn Section, at the International Horn Society Conference in Beijing, China. He is a member of the Paloma Winds. His hobbies include golf and more golf. The three loves of his life: his wife Susana and their two boys Christopher and Alex.

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Rob Boone
 
A professional musician since the age of 16, Rob has been active in the Tucson area in a wide variety of musical styles and is currently on the faculty at Pima Community College where he teaches trombone and jazz piano. He has worked with the Moody Blues, Ray Charles, Sammy Davis Jr., Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Bernadette Peters, Pat Boone, Tommy Newsome, Ice Capades and the Ringling Bros. Circus. Show credits include Wicked, Lion King, Chicago, A Chorus Line, The Producers, Full Monty, Will Rodgers Follies, Radio City Music Hall, and Crazy For You. Rob has served on the Board of Directors of the Tucson Jazz Society and was jazz editor for the International Trombone Association's quarterly ITA Journal from 1990-2000.
 
After completing his music degree from the University of Arizona in 1981, Rob became a freelance player in Los Angeles. In 1983, Rob began working on cruise ships including contracts on Royal Viking, American Hawaii and Carnival Cruise Lines. He worked on the ships as trombonist/arranger and Music Director (Royal Viking Grand World Cruise, 1985). Rob currently performs in Big Band Express, The Twilight Band, Tucson Jazz Orchestra, Original Wildcat Jass Band, Tucson Latin Jazz Orchestra, Robert Shaw Band, solo pianist and leader of his own jazz quartet.

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John Marchiando
 
Praised as "one of the finest trumpeters of his generation," John Marchiando currently serves as Assistant Professor at the University of New Mexico. Additionally, he performs as Principal Trumpet with the New Mexico Philharmonic, Trumpeter in the Summit Brass and Trumpeter in Tromba Mundi's
 
Marchiando appeared as Principal Trumpet with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra from 2006 until its untimely demise in 2011 and has also held positions with the Phoenix Symphony and Arizona Opera. He has performed as Guest Principal Trumpet with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and Santa Fe Symphony and has appeared with many other notable ensembles such as the Santa Fe Opera, Chatter: A Chamber Ensemble, Santa Fe New Music, and the Toledo Symphony.
 
A committed music educator, Marchiando has given masterclasses and clinics worldwide, including at renown institutions such as the Rafael M‚ndez Brass Institute, the University of Illinois, Royal Northern College of Music (UK), and Westchester University (PA). He has served as adjudicator for the National Trumpet Competition and for state competitions and festivals in New Mexico and Arizona. John also appears regularly as a clinician at high schools across the southwest. Previously, Dr. Marchiando held positions on the faculties of the University of Toledo and Arizona State University.
 
Active also as a soloist, John has performed with ensembles across the globe, including appearances with the Summit Brass, Denver Municipal Band, the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, Chatter: A Chamber Ensemble, and the Church of Beethoven. He has performed recitals and solos at the International Trumpet Guild Conference, the International Trumpet Festival at West Chester University, the CBDNA National Conference, the University of Illinois and the Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp) in Brazil.
 
In his free time, John enjoys playing golf, reading Sci-Fi novels, listening to his Rush records and watching baseball games. A baseball fanatic, John was thrilled to watch his beloved Milwaukee Brewers finally return to the playoffs in 2011!
 
John Marchiando is a S.E. Shires performing artist.

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FRANK "PANCHO" ROMERO D.M.A.
 
A native of Las Vegas, New Mexico, Pancho Romero comes from a family of music educators, with a father, brother, two uncles and seven cousins having been involved in music education within the state.
 
Dr. Romero received a BME at New Mexico State University, MME at the University of North Texas, and a Doctorate in Trumpet Performance from the University of Oklahoma. From 1992-2001, he was Associate Professor of Music at Oklahoma Baptist University where his duties included director of music technology, professor of trumpet, jazz studies, and taught various academic courses. He was active with Oklahoma Band Masters Association and the Oklahoma chapter of the International Jazz Educators Association and is called upon regularly to conduct clinics and adjudicate in his areas of expertise.
 
Dr. Romero is a cultural envoy for the United States State Department. Most recently his involvement was in Colombia, South America where he has been involved the development of the music programs for the youth throughout the country.
 
Pancho has conducted workshops and clinics in brass technique, music education and musical instrument repair at the Conservatorio de Musica in Guatamala City, Guatamala In 2005, Dr. Romero toured, Austria, Germany and Czechoslovakia as a member of the New Mexico State University Faculty Quintet. In the fall of 2010 he was invited to be the featured soloist with the Macon Symphony Orchestra in Macon, Georgia.
 
Pancho has owned and operated the Romero Family Music Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico and was founder of the Albuquerque Jazz Orchestra. His professional career spans from playing in Symphony Orchestras to performing with the likes of Rafael Mendez, Clark Terry, Rich Matteson, Chris Vadala, Lou Fischer, Steve Houghton, John Fedchock, and Richie Cole. Included are performances with the Reba McEntire, Roy Clark, The Ice Capades, Bob Hope, Rita Moreno, The Temptations, The Four Tops and The Supremes to name a few.
 
Dr. Romero is currently principal trumpet with the Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra. He performs with the El Paso Opera, El Paso Symphony Orchestra, and the Juarez Symphony. His Jazz Quartet (Footprints) is very active in the El Paso/Las Cruces area.
 
Dr. Romero is an Associate Professor of Music at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces New Mexico where his duties include professor of trumpet and director of Jazz Ensembles.

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Charles Kerrigan
 
A founding member of the Sonoran Brass Quintet, Charles Kerrigan began his musical studies in New York. He began his professional career in the Nassau Pops Orchestra at the age of 18. Later that year, he attended the Tanglewood Music Festival as Principal Tuba in the Young Artist Orchestra. Since arriving in Arizona to attend Arizona State University, he has performed with The Phoenix Symphony and Arizona Opera, and held the position of Principal Tuba in both the West Valley Symphony and the Musica Nova Orchestra of Scottsdale.
 
He has performed with the Canadian Brass, Smothers Brothers, Lou Rawls, Bobby Vinton, and many notable classical artists. In addition to his other musical endeavors, Mr. Kerrigan traveled to Macedonia to perform in the International Symphony Orchestra as one of five representatives from the United States.
 
In addition to Tanglewood, he has performed in music festivals across the United States, including Music Academy of the West, Rutgers Summer Music Festival, and Saratoga Music Festival. Mr. Kerrigan can be heard on recordings for The Phoenicians and d'Note records.
 
An Arizona resident, Mr. Kerrigan is actively involved in music education throughout the state as a private teacher, consultant, and brass specialist.

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Michael Lich. Classical guitarist, banjo-player, arranger and composer, Michael Lich is an eclectic musician who has performed a wide variety of musical styles including classical, jazz, bluegrass, funk and East Indian.  A critic wrote, "Lich is a musician's musician."
 
In the spring of 2000 he released his debut CD entitled Uraka, which contains original and traditional works for both guitar and banjo.  Since that time he has released three CD's, a solo recording entitled Hillbilly's Dream, a duo recording with double bassist/composer Robert Matheson, entitled Ironwood and another duo DC, Orange, with guitarist/composer Joseph Williams.
 
Michael's performing career has taken him from Skagway, Alaska to Rio Janeiro, Brazil; Seoul, South Korea to Frankfurt, Germany.  He has made radio and television appearances on KUNM-FM, Albuquerque, NM; KXCI-FM, Tucson AZ; KSJC-FM, Silverton, CO; KOBF-TV, Farmington, NM and "Fala Espiritu Santo"-live television Vitoria, Brazil.
 
He has taught master classes and workshops at the Escola de Musica do Espiritu Santo and Facuidade de Musica in Vitoria, Brazil; the Concertos Internacionais Banese concert series in Aracaju, Brazil; the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV and the Public Academy for the Performing Arts in Albuquerque, NM.
 
He has studied with such notable artists as Michael Chapdelaine, Thomas Patterson, Christopher Parkening, Paul O'Dette and India's sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan.
 
Michael currently teaches guitar at the Academy of Music and Dance and Pima Community College in Tucson, AZ.

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Ji Sun Lee, DMA... Ji Sun Lee, organist and pianist, was born in Seoul, Korea, where she began her musical study at the early age of four. She is an exceptional international artist having performed concerts in South Korea, United States, Brazil, Italy, and Germany. She has won top prizes in several competitions including first prizes in the President's Concerto Competition at the University of Arizona and the Contemporary Music Society Competition at ASU.
 
As a performer she has been a featured guest artist at the New American Piano Series, ASU, and also different cities in Brazil to perform and give master classes. In Brazil, she premiered William Bolcom's "The New Twelve Etudes for the Piano" at the Villa Lobos Institute in Rio Janeiro and Conservatory of Music in Vitoria. She was also invited to perform in Frankfurt, Cologne and other cities in Germany in the spring of 2009.
 
She holds her degrees from Presbyterian College, South Korea, ASU, and the U. of A. She has studied with Nicholas Zumbro, the pupil of legendary Madam Rosina Lhevinne, Caio Pagano, Walter Cosand, and Yoon Hye Lee, also organ with Pamela Decker and conducting with Donald Baily and Seung-Han Choi.
 
Dr. Lee has taught Cochise College in Sierra Vista and the University of Arizona, and currently serves as Music Director at Lutheran Church of the Risen Savior, Green Valley, Arizona.

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Noctrane
will be performing in July.

Eli Szabady
 
Eli Szabady is a saxophonist and teacher who lives in Tucson, Arizona, with his family. He completed a BM and MM in Saxophone Performance at the University of Wyoming. While attending UW Eli studied with many excellent saxophone instructors including Scott Turpen and Chris Merz, as well as having the opportunity to work and perform with great musicians such as Winton Marsalis, Chris Vadala, Alan Vizzuti, John Fedchock, and Gram Ashton. After graduating Eli moved to Hononlulu, Hawaii. There he served as the Undergraduate Coordinator and director of Jazz Ensembles for the University of Hawaii Music Department. Currently, Eli performs with several local groups in Tucson and teaches saxophone lessons in the area.

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John White
 

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Robert Matheson
 
Robert Matheson is a double bassist and composer, equally at home performing classical and jazz music. He incorporates elements of classical, jazz, folk, and rock into his original works. His composition Box Canyon has been called "evocative, ...complex compositionally and with an interesting assortment of textures" by Bass World magazine. He also enjoys collaborating with visual artists, dancers, and musicians on improvisation projects.
 
Performances with the Ironwood Duo have taken Robert to New Mexico, Colorado, Missouri, and Illinois. He has also performed in Sonora, Mexico for Festival Dr. Alfonso Ortiz Tirado, and Sedona, Arizona for Chamber Music Sedona. He has played with the guitar duo, Toccata; Blue Pacific Swing Band; and the Tucson and Bakersfield Symphony Orchestras. His radio performances have included Chamber Music Showcase on KUAT 90.5 FM and Locals Only on KXCI 91.3 FM, and he was featured on the podcast Contrabass Conversations.
 
Robert has studied with Barry Green, David Young, and Patrick Neher. He has also participated in master classes with distinguished bassists, Francois Rabbath, Paul Ellison, Thierry Barbé and David Murray.
 
Robert lives in Tucson, Arizona where he teaches at Pima Community College. He is a teaching artist with the Opening Minds Through the Arts residency program. He attends the University of Arizona as a doctoral candidate in double bass performance.

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Tea For Five
 
will be performing in August.

Craig Faltin, Tea For Five. Although a late starter at age 20, Craig loved playing music right from his initial introduction to the possibility.  When asked to play a few bass tunes in a local battle of the bands he took up the instrument for the first time.  This experience lead to his pursuance of a formal music education with Pima College Music Studies, University of Arizona Symphony Orchestra, Creative Music Studio with Karl Berger, and private studies with Curtis Burris (bass) and Steve Solomon (theory).
 
He has performed with legendary jazz, blues, R&B, rock and country musicians.  Career highlights have included his association with the Jeff Daniel Group, Dianne Shuur, Lorendo Almeida, Dickie Thompson, Charles Brown and Chuck Berry.  For years now, Craig has performed regularly with the Twilight Band, Acero, Pete Swan Trio, Susan Artemis, Rob Boone Quartet, Triad, Paradox and the Tucson Swings Big Band.

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Fred Hayes, Tea For Five. Born and raised in Indiana, Fred comes from a family of many professional musicians and music educators. He moved to Tucson in his teens and became the first graduate of the University of Arizona's jazz program. Upon graduating, Fred worked throughout the western U.S. with many jazz and pop artists including jazz vocalist Dianne Schuur. As drummer for the Tucson Jazz Orchestra, he has appeared with Joe Williams, Tommy Newsome, Carla Bley, Slide Hampton, Snooky Young and many more.
 
Fred is frequently invited to accompany national jazz artists performing concerts in Arizona such as Charlie Rouse, Mose Allison, Pete Christlieb, Buddy DeFranco, Ernie Watts, Ann Hampton Callaway, Wycliffe Gordon, Bill Watrous, and Bud Shank to name a few. He has also worked with legendary entertainers Bob Hope and Steve Allen. He has toured Mexico extensively with Jazzberry Jam and other groups. Currently he performs gigs with the Ed DeLucia Trio, Tucson Swings, Jeff Haskell, Matt Mitchell and the Tucson Hard Bop Quintet. He also plays steel drum and leads his own Calypso group. Recording sessions, live performances and a full schedule of private students make Fred one of the busiest free-lance musicians in Arizona.

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Howard Wooten, Tea For Five. Acoustic and Electric Guitar. Attended University of Arizona. Studied Guitar in Los Angeles from studio pro Howard Roberts. Studied theory, composition and arranging from Steve Solomon. In 1977 was elected to the first Board of Directors of the newly formed Tucson Jazz Society. Also, during the late 1980's Howard joined what to become a mainstay of the Tucson Latin Jazz music scene, "Cool Breeze" led by Tucson Symphony principal percussionist, Homero Ceron. Has composed music for several PBS specials and documentaries. Also composes music for commercials (both television and radio) that run locally and statewide.
 
Member of the touring/performance roster for the nationally recognized Young Audiences of Arizona, 1990-1997. Guitarist - Tucson Jazz Orchestra, 1990 - Present. As Guitarist for the Tucson Jazz Orchestra, he has appeared with Slide Hampton, Joe Williams, Tommy Newsome, Carla Bley and Snooky Young. Has played with Mose Allison & Bill Watrous during their Tucson visits.
 
Recent gigs: Valentine's Day Concert with Diane Schuur – Feb 13th, 2010. Onstage with "Chicago"- April 13th through the 18th.  First call multi-instrumentalist for "Broadway in Tucson" and "U of A Presents" Centennial Hall on the University of AZ campus. Partial listing of jobs worked in the pit orchestra and onstage with these Broadway touring productions. Instruments played: Acoustic and Electric Guitar, Banjo, Ukulele and Mandolin. A Chorus Line with Joel Grey - 1991. Grease – 1996. Will Rogers Follies – 1997. Thoroughly Modern Millie - 1998. Chicago – 1999, 2004 & 2010. Hairspray – 2004. Annie – 2005. Lion King – 2006. All Shook Up - 2007. Spamalot - 2009. Legally Blonde – 2010.

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John Ronstadt, Tea For Five.
 
 
John started performing professionally as a guitarist and background vocalist in a local Tucson group The Null Set in 1967 with younger brother Bobby and long time friends Craig Faltin, David Ruiz, and Jose Garcia as well as lead vocalist Taft Jacobs..
 
 
In the following forty years John has performed solo and in a variety of groups with dozens of Tucson's finest musicians including his brother Tim Ronstadt and cousins Quico Jacome, Michael, Bill, Mindy, Peter, Suzie and Linda Ronstadt..
 
 
John performs regularly on Thursday evenings at Vin Tabla and Saturday evenings at Miguel's Restaurant.

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Duane Reilley, Tea For Five..
 
 
Duane Reilley played the flute, sax and clarinet for over 30 yrs. He has performed with many great musicians, among them: Wayne Andre, Eddie Bert, Joey Calderazzo, Jimmy Cobb, Bill Crow, Vinnie Dean, Giocomo Gates, Mike LeDonne, Carmen Leggio, Pete Levin, Marvin Stamm, Lou Stein, Nobby Totah and Ed Xiques..
 
 
Duane's professional experience (1992-present) as a musician : includes freelance performances with classical, jazz and contemporary music. Highlights include performances at Lincoln Center in N.Y.C., Charles Ives Center in Danbury, CT and with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra..
 
 
As a recording studio musician his recordings include: Duane Reilley, "Unaccompanied", The New England Jazz Ensemble, "Live at the Science Center"; Terri Templeton, "Spark"; T.J. Tomlin Big Band, "Message from T. J." ; The Clark Eno Orchestra, "King of Swing"; Duane Reilley with Lou Stein, "Spring is Here", Performance includes: Mat Bevel Institute, Tucson AZ and currently performing weekly at Hacienda del sol, Tucson, AZ. Look for performances at Ric's cafe and Acacia Restaurant, in Tucson..
 
 
Duane's instructional experience1992-present: he opened Studio's of Music in Sierra Vista, AZ., and Newtown, CT. Duane taught woodwind at The Gunnery School in Washington, CT., and woodwind and Music Theory at The Wooster School in Danbury, Ct. He was a staff teacher at Kane's Music Studio in Danbury..
 
 
Duane's received dual degrees in Music and Math education at Western Ct. University from 1968-1975

 

Music from Greer
 
is presented by:
 
Greer Arts & Entertainment