Meet Our Orchestra
Conductor & Artistic Director
Dr. Adam F. Brennan
Dr. Adam Brennan has been director of bands and professor of percussion studies at Mansfield University since 1995. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in music education and a Master of Arts degree in theory and composition, with an emphasis in composition, from Western Illinois University. He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in instrumental conducting from the University of Oklahoma where he studied with Dr. William K. Wakefield.
Dr. Brennan has recorded numerous compact discs with the Mansfield University Bands, including Strike Up the Bands!, This Could Be the Start of Something Big, Music From the Endless Mountains, Tenebrae, which features the world premiere of Dr. Brennan’s composition for band entitled Tenebrae (Dark Hours), American Portraits, North Central Winds, Concord!, Resonance, Sun and Shade, Ecstatic Vision, Malachi: A Celebration of a Special Life, Critical Speed: The Music of Greg Danner, Vol. II., Dances, Reflections and Supplications, Fervent Reverberations, High Upon the Eastern Hill, among others. He currently has three other recording projects to be released in 2018, including The Music of Composer Adam Brennan, volume 1. Dr. Brennan can also be heard as a percussionist on Twilight Offering Music released by the University of Oklahoma Percussion Ensembles, and as a conductor on Western Illinois University’s Fantasy Variations. His compositions and recordings can be found on www.allthingsbands.com. Recently, four of Dr. Brennan’s recordings and one of his own compositions was listed as Grammy Nomination Eligible in twelve categories in two Grammy cycles. Among his various honors and awards Dr. Brennan has received The Silver Baton from Kappa Kappa Psi for having maintained a record of excellence and continuous quality of service to bands band members, and instrumental music education. In addition, Dr. Brennan received Mansfield University’s Bertram Francis Award from Kappa Kappa Psi for outstanding contributions to the MU Band program and he was honored by Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia with the Orpheus Award for significant and lasting contributions to the cause of music in America. In 2007 he was elected for membership in the prestigious American Bandmaster’s Association. He was nominated for and received the Employee of the Year award from Mansfield University and was selected as an Outstanding Fine Arts Alumnus of Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, Illinois. An advocate for autistic children, Dr. Brennan and his family are actively engaged in promoting autism awareness and educational rights for special needs children, serving on the Board of Directors for the Tioga County Autism Coalition (TASC). Dr. Brennan resides in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania with his family.
Assistant Conductor & COO
Ryan Pritchard
Ryan Pritchard is an active performer, instructor, and entrepreneur from upstate New York with over 20 years of experience in Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio. He currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer, Assistant Conductor, and Timpanist for The Great Lakes Wind Symphony, which he co-founded with his long-time friend and mentor, Dr. Adam Brennan. Ryan holds a Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting from Mansfield University, where he also completed his undergraduate studies in Percussion Performance. He previously served as an interim director of the Mansfield Symphonic Band and has taught class percussion at both Mansfield and Susquehanna Universities.
Ryan’s extensive performance background includes a deep connection to the Drum & Bugle Corps activity, having performed as a snare drummer with the Spectrum Drum & Bugle Corps (1995-1998) and the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps. He returned to the field as a snare drummer with the Bluecoats Alumni Corps in 2022. He is an active performing percussionist with the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra and The Billtown Brass, and was a member of the Promethius Percussion Quintet. He also serves as the former co-director and musical arranger for the Penn State University Indoor Drumline and actively composes and arranges. Beyond his performance career, Ryan maintains a significant business partnership with Dr. Adam Brennan through B&P Music Productions & AllThingsBand.com, a publishing venture focused on contemporary band works. B&P Productions aims to bring wind band music and products to a wider American audience. His contributions to the music industry also include co-ownership of EPIC Percussion and co-founding Vesper Cymbals with long-time friend Marc Garside. Together, they have built popular percussion brands, including EPIC Percussion and Vesper Cymbals. In 2023 EPIC Percussion launched an instructional, performing arm, “EPIC Performing Arts”, with ensembles that will be enjoyed by thousands throughout the indoor marching drumline season. Affiliations COO of B&P Music Productions & AllThingsBand.com Co-owner of EPIC Percussion Co-owner and co-founder of Vesper Cymbals Administrator with EPIC Performing arts, EPIC Indoor Drumline Performer with the Great Lakes Wind Symphony, Williamsport Symphony Orchestra, The Billtown Brass Active Pearl USA Performing Artist
Our Musicians
Piccolo & Flutes
Dr. Sheila DuMont
Dr. Sheila DuMont is a versatile flutist, educator, and musicologist whose career blends performance, scholarship, and community leadership. Born and raised in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, she has established herself as both a dynamic performer and an engaging clinician, appearing with ensembles and organizations across the region and beyond. Sheila performs with the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra, the Great Lakes Wind Symphony, and has been featured as traverso soloist with the Penn State Baroque Orchestra in a performance broadcast on WPSU’s In Performance at Penn State.
Her chamber music activities include performances with her professional flute quintet, Blue Ridge Flutes, which was recently invited to perform at the Chinese Embassy’s New Year Gala in Washington, D.C.. She is also founder and director of the Williamsport Flute Choir, which she established in 2013. Now celebrating its twelfth year, the ensemble has become an important part of the region’s musical life, providing a creative outlet for flutists of all ages while strengthening community connections through music. In addition to her performing career, Sheila is an active clinician and educator. She serves as professor of flute at Lycoming College, has been a regular faculty member at the Pocono Flute Society’s summer programs, presented masterclasses at Penn State University and the University of California, Santa Barbara, and has been a guest clinician at Mansfield University’s flute camp. Dedicated to mentoring the next generation of musicians, she maintains a thriving private studio where she teaches students of all ages and abilities. As a musicologist, Sheila’s research explores underrepresented voices in music history. Her primary areas of study include women composers of the Baroque era and French interwar repertoire, with a particular focus on the flute works of Claude Arrieu. Sheila holds a BM in Flute Performance from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania, an MM in Flute Performance, and an MA in Musicology from The Pennsylvania State University, and a DMA in Flute Performance from the Conservatory at Shenandoah University.
Ethan Linklater
Ethan Linklater plays flute in the Great Lakes Wind Symphony. He is currently studying with Dr. Naomi Seidman at Penn State as part of the Professional Performance Certificate program. In 2024, Ethan graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education from James Madison University where he studied with Dr. Beth Chandler Cahill. He currently performs as a member of the Penn State Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Philharmonic Orchestra, and Chamber Orchestra.
Samantha Cohen
Samantha Cohen plays piccolo with the GLWS. Samantha is from Hawley, Pennsylvania. She’s a graduate from Wallenpaupack Area High School and is a current student at Commonwealth University-Mansfield pursuing a B.M. in Music Education. She currently works for OneWell as a DSP working with adults with disabilities, and as the percussion instructor for the Delaware Valley School District Marching Warriors. Samantha is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi and is a 2025 national recipient of the J. Lee Burke Student Achievement Award for outstanding contributions to college bands and the fraternity.
Double Reeds
Wendy Griffin
Wendy Griffin (oboe) is a graduate of Mansfield University with a B.M. in Music Education and a M.A. in Instrumental Conducting. She taught in Glens Falls, NY; Canton, PA and Capitol Heights, MD., before settling in the Corning area. She currently teaches 4-12 instrumental music and theater in Bradford, NY, is the percussion instructor for the Performance Marching Band at Corning High School, the Music director for the musical in Addison and the choir director at First Baptist Church in Painted Post. She enjoys subbing with the Williamsport Symphony and playing for area churches and musicals on the oboe. She lives in Campbell with her husband Eric (Corning High School band director) and her 8 year old Genevieve, 4 year old Liam and 9 month old Lyra.
Whitney White
Whitney White plays second oboe and English horn in the Great Lakes Wind Symphony. Whitney is a student at Mansfield University where she is pursuing degrees in criminal justice and music. She is currently studying oboe with Dr. Susan Laib and plans to graduate in May 2015 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Whitney is from Wellsboro, Pennsylvania and performs in the MU Symphony Orchestra, Concert Wind Ensemble and numerous chamber groups. She is also a member of the “Almost World Famous” Wellsboro Town Band.
Susan Laib
Susan Laib, Associate Professor of Music at Commonwealth University-Mansfield, came to the Twin Tiers in 1989 to join the faculty of Mansfield University, where her primary duties are teaching oboe, bassoon, and coaching chamber music. An active performer, Sue also holds the position of principal oboe in both the Williamsport (PA) Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes. As a free-lance oboist and double reed clinician, she has performed for numerous organizations throughout Pennsylvania and New York and presented master classes in New Jersey, as well as the Twin Tiers.
She performed at the 2007 convention of the International Double Reed Society at Ithaca College, and was an invited soloist at the 1988 IDRS convention at the University of Victoria in Victoria, B.C. Previously, Sue was a member of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and on the faculty of Tennessee Technological University. As a member of Tennessee Tech’s Cumberland Quintet, Sue toured Belgium and Holland in the spring of 1988 and performed in the group’s successful 1986 debut in the Carnegie Recital Hall in New York City. Sue holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music, University of Colorado, and Florida State University. Her teachers include Robert Sprenkle, Thomas Stacy, David Abosch, Ronald Roseman, Richard Killmer, and she has attended master classes with Barrick Stees, Christopher Weait, John Mack, Joseph Robinson, and at the 2005 Glickman-Popkin Bassoon Camp. When not teaching or preparing for performances, Sue can be found hiking, biking, or digging in the dirt, the latter a sometimes vain effort to plant natives for the birds, butterflies, and herself to enjoy.
Kayla Furman
Kayla Furman, originally from Hollidaysburg, PA, is proud to be a founding member of the Great Lakes Wind Symphony, performing as second bassoon/contrabassoon player. She graduated from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor’s degree in music education. She is currently living in Williamsport, PA where she has a private woodwind studio and plays with various ensembles in the area while working at Robert M. Sides Family Music Stores.
Clarinets
Lindsey Smeenk
Lindsey Smeenk plays clarinet in the Great Lakes Wind Symphony. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in music education and performance from Mansfield University and a Master’s degree in education from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Lindsey teaches elementary general and instrumental music for the Windsor Central School District in Windsor, NY and also performs with the Southern Tier Concert Band out of Endwell, NY. Lindsey is from Conneautville, Pennsylvania and resides in Endicott, New York with her husband, Jason.
Tim Walck
Tim Walck completed a music performance degree at Mansfield University in 2007 and immediately began working for Celebrity Cruise Lines. In 2009, Walck returned to Mansfield University and completed a Master’s degree in Education, as well as a certification in Music Education. In 2014, Walck opened a retail wedding and portrait photography storefront in Coudersport, PA. His work has been featured in the PA Wilds publications, The Cleveland Paper, The Potter County Visitor’s Association; and he has also provided service for corporations such as Chevrolet, The Colonial Media Group, Citizens & Northern Bank, and the Pennsylvania Wilds Association. Tim still performs as the leader of a jazz trio, a rhythm & blues group, as a soloist, and now with the Great Lake’s Wind Symphony.
Gabriel Wagaman
Gabriel Wagaman performs as E-flat soprano clarinetist with the Great Lakes Wind Symphony and maintains an active career as a freelance reed specialist. He currently serves as Director of Bands and Strings at Athens Area High School, a position he has held since 2015. Prior to his current role, Mr. Wagaman taught elementary instrumental music in Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland. During his time in the Washington, D.C. area, he had the privilege of performing as a clarinetist with the University of Maryland Community Band, the Montgomery College Band Directors Band, and the National Concert Band of America. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education and a Bachelor of Clarinet Performance from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania (2009), and a Master of Science in Music Technology from Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (2013). Mr. Wagaman formerly served as Principal Clarinetist and Concert Master of the Northern Appalachian Wind Symphony. He is grateful for the support of his wife, Amanda, and their two children, Annora and Jacob.
Marcia Spina
Marcia began playing the clarinet at the age of six, using an old metal instrument that had been her father’s. Starting in elementary school, through high school, she studied with Charlotte Owen. Marcia was a member of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and the Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra. She and her four siblings formed a woodwind quintet which performed throughout the Philadelphia suburbs. Marcia was a music performance major at DePauw University, studying with John Sox. Later she performed in the Riverfront Dinner theater Orchestra and other local orchestras under the direction of Joseph Primavera and Henri Elkan. After a successful career as a research chemist, Marcia has returned to her first love of music performance, studying with Cathryn (Trina) Gross, and playing in the Almost World Famous Wellsboro Town Band, the Mansfield University Wind Ensemble, the Endless Mountains Music Festival Orchestra and now the Great Lakes Wind Symphony.
Mary Pulanco
Mary Pulanco performs in the Great Lakes Wind Symphony as a member of the Bb Clarinet section. A talented young performer, Mary is a junior clarinet major at Mansfield University. She is a member of the Mansfield University Wind Ensemble and plays in a number of other ensembles. While pursuing her degree in Music Technology, she has taken interest in arranging and composing. After completing her undergraduate work, she plans to pursue a career in sound design.
Mitchell Tellerday
Mitchell Tellerday is the current Elementary and Vocal Music teacher at Chenango Forks Central School District outside of Binghamton, NY. Mitchell received his Bachelor’s in Music Performance and Music Education from SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music in 2018 and his Master’s in Music Education from Buffalo State University in 2020. Mitchell currently performs with the Southern Tier Concert Band, Binghamton Downtown Singers, Blue Velvet Big Band, and performs regularly with local theater groups and school productions. Mitchell resides in Port Dickinson, NY with his husband Sam, who also teaches music in the Binghamton area.
Mary Jane Vanvestraut
Mary Jane Vanvestraut is a professional clarinetist and bass clarinetist that grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. She earned a degree in Music Business – Management with honors from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania. She has studied under Richard MacDowell and Phyllis Crossen-Richardson, and she attended a masterclass with Anthony McGill. Mary Jane (or MJ) serves as the Director of Community and Operations and Clarinet Faculty at The Music School of Delaware, the only state-wide, accredited community music school. She is the bass clarinetist for the Great Lakes Wind Symphony based in Wellsboro, PA, and is a clarinetist for the Northern Appalachian Wind Symphony based in Williamsport, PA, as well as a freelance artist and pit orchestra musician. Over the past 10 years, she has been teaching private clarinet lessons to students from ages 8 to 65 at all levels of playing. Her private instruction experience also includes piano and saxophone.
Christina Rawady
Christina Rawady holds degrees in Music Education and Clarinet/Bass Clarinet Performance from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and the Rotterdam Conservatory of the Netherlands where she studied bass clarinet with Henri Bok. She has worked as a band director for grades 4-12 as well as Director of Instrumental Music at Alfred State College. Christina plays bass clarinet and Bb soprano clarinet in the GLWS.
Ona Sutton
Ona Sutton graduated from Mansfield University in 2021 with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and Clarinet/Saxophone Performance. Her primary instrument is the Bass Clarinet with a secondary of Tenor Sax. Originally from Manchester, Pennsylvania, she thanks her high school band director, Timothy Howell, for handing her a contrabass clarinet as a 9th grader and encouraging her ever since (as much as he hates the credit). Ona currently works as a middle school band director and high school color guard instructor for the Elmira City School District in New York. Ona currently plays a variety of harmony clarinets and Bb soprano clarinet for the GLWS.
Lance Welch
Lance Welch is a new member to the Great Lakes Wind Symphony in 2025 playing Bb clarinet. Lance received his bachelors in 2018 with a performance degree in saxophone from Mansfield University under the study of Joseph Murphy. He was named a 2016 concerto winner with the Mansfield University orchestra on saxophone, as well as a 2017 MTNA winner for small ensemble at the district level, and the runner up for the regional level with his saxophone quartet. As an active woodwind specialist, Lance resides in the Williamsport area where he is a part of many ensembles in the surrounding area, pit orchestras in the region, as well as assisting with woodwind attention and teaching at Lycoming College.
Saxophones
Eric Griffin
Eric Griffin is a conductor and saxophonist based in Corning, New York. In addition to performing with the Great Lakes Wind Symphony, Eric serves as an adjunct faculty member at Corning Community College, where he teaches technical theater and stage design. He has previously conducted honor bands, wind ensembles, and marching bands throughout New York and Pennsylvania, and has led performances internationally, from London to Avery Fisher Hall in New York City. Eric is highly sought after as both a soloist and ensemble musician, performing with numerous big bands, dance bands, and jazz combos across Rochester and central New York, as well as north-central Pennsylvania.
While you may not always see him on stage, audiences have likely heard his work in musical pit orchestras or under his baton as a conductor for theatrical productions for more than two decades. Eric is a member of several professional organizations and has received multiple honorary citations. A Grammy-nominated educator, he is also a proud member of Kappa Kappa Psi and the National Eagle Scout Association. Although his full-time career is with the New York State Department of Transportation, Eric is most proud of his role as a husband to his wife Wendy and a father to their four children: Genevieve, Liam, Lyra, and Nessa.
Richard Pollock
Richard Pollock is a multi-talented musician, educator, and coach whose career reflects a deep passion for both the performing arts and athletics. He performs actively as an alto saxophonist with the Great Lakes Wind Symphony and serves as the lead tenor saxophonist for the Troy Town Jazz Band, bringing energy, artistry, and versatility to each ensemble. Richard is the band and jazz band director at The Alternative School for Math and Science in Corning, NY, where he is dedicated to fostering musical excellence and inspiring the next generation of young musicians. In addition to his work in music education, he extends his leadership to the court as a women’s volleyball coach at Corning Community College.
He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music in 2018 under the mentorship of renowned saxophonist Dr. Joseph Murphy, an experience that helped shape his musicianship and professional direction. Outside of his professional commitments, Richard is an avid athlete. He plays competitive volleyball and earned a 1st-place finish at the USAV National Tournament in 2021. He also enjoys staying active through hiking, biking, and ultimate frisbee. Blending artistry, athleticism, and education, Richard continues to make a meaningful impact both on stage and in his community.
Cristin L. Eick
Originally from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Cristin L. Eick studied saxophone with Neil Wetzel at Moravian University and later with Joseph Murphy at Mansfield University, where she earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Education in 2001. She completed graduate work at Moravian University and the University of Scranton. For over 20 years, Cristin served as a high school band director and administrator while also teaching in her private studio. She now lives in Mansfield with her wife and three children and enjoys family time, community volunteering, and traveling.
Michael Andreula
Michael Andreula is a junior “non-traditional” music education student with a primary in saxophone at Commonwealth University – Mansfield. Prior to coming to Mansfield, he spent 10 years in music retail. His roles included music lesson coordination, school collaboration and representation, and sales management. While attending school, Mike continues work as an educational sales rep for Russo Music in New Jersey! Michael is a strong advocate for music education programs and hopes to continue to support teachers in understanding how to maximize their budgets with quality tools to support their programs and students. Michael is currently performing with the Mansfield Concert Wind Ensemble, Mansfield Jazz Ensemble, and the Fan”sax”tic Four Saxophone Quartet and a new/proud member of The Great Lakes Wind Symphony. Outside of school, Michael enjoys performing in local ensembles, spending time with his lovely wife Whitney, and exploring his love of all things cheese.
Horns
Megan Warriner
Megan Warriner is proud to be performing Horn in the Great Lakes Wind Symphony. She is currently working towards a dual degree in Music Education and Horn Performance at Mansfield University of Pennsylvania. At Mansfield, Megan is the Secretary and Treasurer of the Horn Club. She is also a member of the Brass Band, Symphony Orchestra, and is Principal Horn of the Concert Wind Ensemble. She enjoys playing solo repertoire by her two favorite composers—R. Strauss and W.A. Mozart. Megan is from Greenwood, NY.
Dylan Krall
Dylan is proud to be a founding member of the Great Lakes Wind Symphony. He is a 2017 graduate of Mansfield University where he studied under Dr. Rebecca Dodson-Webster. While attending MU, Dylan served as a student leader in The Spirit and the Pride of Pennsylvania Marching Band, and Concert Wind Ensemble. Dylan was also a member of the Brass Band where he competed twice at NABBA Championships with the ensemble, as a soloist, and member of the Brass Quintet. He is a life member of Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity. Dylan is from Canandaigua, NY and currently working as a Community Association Manager in Rochester, NY
Emalie Caccia
Emalie Caccia is a graduate of Mansfield University with a B.M. in Music Education. She teaches 6th-12th grade instrumental music, 7th-grade general music, and middle school adaptive music for the Bald Eagle Area School District in Wingate, PA. Emalie is from New Albany, PA, and resides in Port Matilda, PA
Dan Sensenig
Dan Sensenig is enjoying his 24th year as a music educator. He currently teaches in the Wellsboro Area School District where his responsibilities include: 7th & 8th Grade Band, High School Chorus, Women’s Ensemble, Men’s Ensemble, Dickens Choir, Show Choir, HS Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Marching Band, Maximum Voltage Percussion Ensemble, Hand Bells, and Music Director for the Spring Musical. Over his career he has led school and honors ensembles as a director and clinician at all levels across Pennsylvania, New York, North Carolina, Florida, and Hawaii.
Additionally, in 2016 Mr. Sensenig organized the Pennsylvania Pearl Harbor Honors Band, a select group of students from Elk, McKean, Potter, and Cameron Counties that represented the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and veterans of the USS Pennsylvania at the 75th Anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks in Honolulu, Hawaii. Mr. Sensenig has recently assumed the director’s role of the “Almost World-Famous” Wellsboro Town Band…providing free concerts during the summer months. Prior to his current position in Wellsboro, Mr. Sensenig taught for 15 years in the Cameron County School District. Of all the treasures in his life, Dan is most proud of his wonderful family. He resides in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania with his AMAZING wife Maggie and AWESOME children Jackson and Molly.
Earl Cottrell
Earl graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in music from Mansfield University in 1999. While attending Mansfield University was actively playing in the Concert Wind Ensemble and orchestra. After graduation, Earl returned to school at Bloomsburg University in 2010 and 2011 and played with the Bloomsburg University Community Orchestra, the marching band, the symphonic band. In 2013, he relocated to Fargo, North Dakota and joined the Lake Agassiz Concert Band. Also was involved with the Horn choir known as the Horns of the North.
While in Fargo, was a roster substitute for the Greater Grand Forks Symphony between 2014 through 2020. Also, was a member of the Fargo Moorhead Brass Quintet during his time in the Dakotas. In 2020, the year of the pandemic relocated back to his home state of Pennsylvania. Upon relocating to Pennsylvania re-established the playing opportunities that were left when he relocated to Fargo, North Dakota. Other playing ensembles of note the Scranton Brass Orchestra and substituted with the Northern Tier Symphony Orchestra. Have played and performed with the Wyoming Valley Civic Orchestra and the Marywood University Wind Symphony as well as the Marywood University Orchestra. Teachers of note would be David Borsheim and Rebecca Stake-Clark. Earl is actively involved with the Lenoxville Community Band out of Lenoxville Pennsylvania and various other musical ensembles as needed.
Cornets & Trumpets
Noelle Humphries
Trumpeter and music educator Noelle Humphries is an active performer and teacher whose career bridges the worlds of performance, education, and community engagement. Known for her vibrant tone and expressive playing, she has appeared in a wide range of musical settings—from international stages to local ensembles that enrich the cultural fabric of her region. Noelle’s performance highlights include serving as trumpet performer at the 2012 London Olympics, collaborating with acclaimed composer Mark Hayes, and performing at Carnegie Hall.
She has held principal trumpet positions with both the Northern Appalachian Wind Symphony and the Northern Tier Symphony Orchestra, and was a founding member of the Great Lakes Wind Symphony at its inception in 2014. Deeply committed to community music-making, Noelle maintains an active performance schedule with a brass quintet, a British-style brass band, several community bands, and regional orchestras. She is also a sought-after pit musician for theatrical productions, bringing her versatility and collaborative spirit to the stage in a wide array of genres and styles. A proud graduate of Mansfield University of Pennsylvania, Noelle holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education (2013) and a Master’s degree in Special Education (2021). She currently serves in the Hazleton Area School District, where she teaches K–6 General Music, directs Chorus for grades 4–8, and is the Assistant Director of the Berwick High School Marching Band. In addition to her classroom and ensemble work, she is a dedicated private brass instructor, teaching students of all ages and skill levels. Noelle’s passion for music lies in its power to connect people—whether through teaching young students their first songs, performing in a grand concert hall, or sharing the joy of ensemble playing with her community.
Mikki Gifford
Mikki Gifford is a musician originally from Warren, Pa and is a member of the GLWS Trumpet Section. Mikki majored in music education in her undergrad at Mansfield University and continued her studies with a masters in special education from Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania. Mikki is a family based mental health professional but loves her work as a freelance musician and maintains an active musical career.
Todd Bialecki
Prior to retiring in 2024, Todd Bialecki was the director of bands for 5 years at the Hornell High School. For 28 years, I was the director of bands for the Alfred Almond School District. In addition to enjoying my retirement, I continue to coach HS Alpine Ski racing and judge brass adjudications for NYSSMA. Other interests include hunting, fishing, cooking and cheering on the Buffalo Bills.
Mike Cuomo
Mike Cuomo has been teaching and playing music for over 50 years. Currently he is the music teacher at Corning Christian Academy in Corning, NY. Mike also plays in the Corning Area Community Concert Band, the Twin Tiers Community Orchestra and the SUNY Corning Ensemble. He is a father of 6 and a grandfather of 8!! Mike is also newly engaged to Jill Green.
Rich Preston
Rich Preston, from Horseheads, New York is pleased to make his debut with the Great Lakes Wind Symphony. Rich received his BS degree in Applied Music from SUNY Geneseo. While there, he studied trumpet with Jeff Tyzik and Keith Foley. He holds an MS degree in Telecommunications from Syracuse University and for 30 years worked for the Greater Southern Tier (GST) BOCES in Elmira, serving as Media Production Specialist, New Visions Instructor and Arts-in-Education Coordinator. Following his time at BOCES, he was an adjunct instructor at SUNY Corning, where he taught trumpet, conducted the Jazz Ensemble and played in the Instrumental Ensemble. Rich is active as a freelance musician, currently playing with the Brickyard Brass Quintet and his own jazz quartet. He enjoys producing audio recordings for video productions and promotional soundtracks at his home studio.
Angella Laubach
Angella Laubach is excited to be a part of the trumpet section of the Great Lakes Wind Symphony. Angella has a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Mansfield University. She enjoys playing in local community bands and pit orchestras for local high school musicals. She most recently started music directing productions at Community Theater League in Williamsport, PA and Shikellamy High School in Sunbury, PA where her sons currently attend. She runs her own promotional products business and teaches fitness classes at the local YMCA. She resides in Northumberland, PA with her husband, Josh and two sons, Fox and Ben.
Low Brass
Trombones, Euphonium, Tuba
Jeffrey Magacs
Tubist, Jeffrey Magacs, has been a teacher of the Marching Pageantry Arts throughout central New York for fifty years. A lifelong resident of Ithaca, he graduated from Ithaca High School where he played in the Ithaca High School Concert Band and Marching Band under the direction of Ronald Socciarelli. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education at Ithaca College studying tuba with James Linn and Dave Unland, and is a member of Phi Mu Alpha. While attending Cornell University Jeff was active in the Cornell Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band under the direction of Marice Stith; and the Cornell Glee Club under the direction of Thomas Sokol.
Jeff began his involvement in Drum and Bugle Corps by marching with the Rochester Crusaders and later instructed the Rochester Patriots and Dansville (NY) White Sabres. Jeff has instructed both music performance and marching band drill for the New York high schools of Ithaca, Cortland, Norwich, Horseheads, Bath and Homer. He has also been on the instruction staffs of the Winter Color Guards of Ithaca, Trumansburg and Homer. Jeff’s recent retirement as an instructor has freed up more time to play his tuba in numerous area ensembles namely: the Ithaca Concert Band (Patrick Conway Award honoree), Cortland Old Timers Band, Corning Area Community Concert Band, Ithaca Community Orchestra, and Great Lakes Wind Symphony.
Samuel Jacobsen
Samuel Jacobsen is an accomplished trombonist who finished his Bachelor of Music in Performance at Commonwealth University, Mansfield, PA in December of 2024, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He combines strong scholastic achievement with extensive private study under respected teachers, including Professor Drew Wolgemuth, Dr. Nathan Rinnert, Professor David Griffith, and Professor Richard Birk, developing advanced technical and artistic skills. Mr. Jacobsen’s performance history is diverse and robust.
He has given recitals, performed in ensemble settings, and taken part in musical theater and opera productions such as Don Giovanni, White Christmas, Chicago!, Little Women, Annie, and more. A noteworthy highlight includes performing in Carnegie Hall. He has built a strong repertoire spanning baroque through contemporary—featuring composers such as Bach, Bernstein, Blazhevich, Grondahl, Telemann, and others—demonstrating both breadth and versatility. His awards include the John Philip Sousa Band Award (2021) and Director’s Award for Band (2019). Mr. Jacobsen is passionate about continuing growth through performance, collaboration, and is well‑positioned to contribute meaningfully in orchestral, chamber, or solo trombone roles
Kerrigan
Kerrigan is a highly skilled and dedicated musician and educator who brings passion and professionalism to every performance. As a trombonist with the Great Lakes Wind Symphony, she is honored to contribute her artistry to the ensemble’s dynamic sound and connect with audiences through compelling musical expression. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Mansfield University (2022), where she studied trombone with Professors Drew Wolgemuth and Lauren Rudzinskas, conducting with Dr. Nathan Rinnert, and was an active member of the Mansfield University Concert Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Adam F. Brennan.
Kerrigan expresses her gratitude to all her professors for their unwavering support. She is also a proud lifetime Brother of Kappa Kappa Psi, the national honorary band fraternity. In her full-time role at Ernie Davis Academy in Elmira, NY, Kerrigan serves as Director of Choirs, Director of the Concert Band, and 7th Grade General Music Teacher. Through these roles, she fosters a deep appreciation for music and cultivates artistic growth among her students. Her commitment to music education extends beyond the classroom as she supports the Elmira High School marching band and drumline as Pit and Assistant Drumline Coach. Additionally, Kerrigan directs music rehearsals and serves as producer for the Elmira Junior Players musicals, nurturing emerging talent in the community. Since 2019, Kerrigan has performed with Downbeat Percussion, the official drumline of the Buffalo Bills NFL team. She has had the privilege of performing at various home games and continues to bring her dynamic percussion skills to the group each season. Outside of her musical career, Kerrigan cherishes time with her wife Shannon and their two feline companions, balancing a vibrant personal life with her professional achievements.
William Ciabattari
William Ciabattari (Tuba) is the Chair of the Music Department at Lycoming College where he conducts the Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, and Symphony Orchestra. He is also an active as a tubist and bass trombonist in the region. He is the principal tuba player with the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra and the bass trombone player with the Williamsport City Jazz Orchestra
Nathan Shedd
Nathan Shedd is a collegiate music professor based in Elmira, New York. A brother of Phi Mu Alpha and Kappa Kappa Psi, he continues to seek out performance opportunities of both instrumental and vocal varieties. He received his B.M. in Music Education from Mansfield University, and his M.S. in Education, with a Literacy concentration, from Elmira College. Currently, he is an adjunct music professor at both Elmira College and Corning Community College, and the Music Director for Campbell-Savona’s musical and the choirs at Park Church.
Andrew Menges
Andrew Menges (Trombone) is skilled trombonist with a BA in Music Performance from Mansfield University. Since graduating in 2017 he has been performing with various ensembles in York County and Bradford County. Known for his dedication and musicianship, Andrew is supported by his loving wife and children, who inspire his passion for music.
Drew Wolgemuth
Drew Wolgemuth is the professor of Trombone and Euphonium at Commonwealth University – Mansfield. A position he has held since 2020. Drew conducts the Mansfield Low Brass Choir, a open member group of students and local professionals. Drew has played with Tim Zimmerman and the King’s Brass, Baltimore Marching Ravens, Agora Brass Ensemble, and a wide variety of brass quintets. He has also served as principal trombone for the Perrysburg Symphony. Drew is an active freelancer and has been featured as a soloist and clinician in a variety of settings across central Pennsylvania.
Scott Becker
Scott Becker – Bass Trombone – retired from the Elmira Heights School District in 2019 where he taught middle school music for 21 years, prior to that he was Middle School band director at Horseheads and Odessa Montour School Districts. He also worked as a brass instructor with the Horseheads Marching Band. He is a graduate of Mansfield University (BM 1988, MS 1992). He is currently a member of the Brickyard Brass Quintet and plays with local churches and school musical productions.
Theodore Lentz
Theodore Lentz is a Euphonium performer with the GLWS. A graduate of Mansfield University in 2010 and 2012, with a Bachelor’s in Music Education, and a Master’s in Instrumental Conducting. He regularly performs with The Billtown Brass, assorted musical pits in school and community theatres, and looks forward to continued participation with the GLWS. Theo can also be found on stage as an actor with multiple troupes in and around the Williamsport area. In addition to regular performance as an instrumentalist and vocalist, he is an Associate Director of the Repasz Band, the oldest continually operational community band in the country. Theo currently resides in Williamsport, PA, where he works as a Piano Tuner/Technician for Robert M. Sides, Family Music Centers, and as music director for New Covenant UCC.
Percussion, Keyboards, & String Bass
Jason Gao
Jason Gao is a senior Piano Performance and Music Education double major at Commonwealth University – Mansfield, a stone’s throw from his hometown Athens, PA. Outside of classes, Jason works as a church keyboardist, piano teacher, and peer tutor. After Mansfield, Jason intends to attend grad school for an MM Piano Performance and then settle down teaching elementary general music.
David Wert
Dave Wert holds degrees in music education from Mansfield University and Boston University. He was hired in the Northern Tioga School District in 2009 as a band director. Mr. Wert took a hiatus from teaching in 2016 to enlist in the United States Marine Corps where he served as a musician and combat marksmanship coach. During his time in the Marines, Sergeant Wert was nominated for Marine Corps Musician of the Year, earned the title of Honor Graduate from Corporals Course, was selected as Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter, and was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
Dave returned to the teaching field in 2020 where he currently serves as a band director for students in grades 4-12 at Cowanesque Valley High School and Westfield Area Elementary School. In his free time he enjoys the outdoors, reading, learning, travel, and being a foodie. Additionally, he serves as a mentor to underprivileged kids and as a member of the Board of Directors for Hamilton-Gibson Productions, a community theatre located in lovely Wellsboro, PA. Mr. Wert has performed previously with the Great Lakes Wind Symphony in their inaugural year. His other percussion performance credits include the Southern Tier Concert Band, Parris Island Marine Band, and the Endless Mountains Music Festival Orchestra where he is currently a section percussionist and a featured soloist. Dave has been fortunate to have performed around the US and Europe and is proud to be able to count performing at Carnegie Hall as one of his accomplishments. He would like to thank all those who support music education and the opportunities it brings to children.
Adam Price
Adam Price is a percussionist from Corning, New York. Adam graduated with a Bachelors in Music Education from Mansfield University. He teaches K-12 General, Alternative, and Exceptional Education based music classes for GST BOCES students from over a dozen surrounding schools in the Twin Tiers. In his free time he loves to work with performing groups ranging from Concert/Marching Bands (Corning, Horseheads), local theater (Bath, Horseheads), or an occasional choir!
Ben Kutay
Ben Kutay is a percussion performer and music educator based in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. He was the full-program band director for the East Lycoming School District from 2023 to 2025 and currently works as a studio staff member at EPIC Percussion. Ben is currently a substitute percussionist for the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra and a percussionist for the Lycoming College Community Orchestra. A 2019 graduate of West Chester University of Pennsylvania’s Wells School of Music, Ben studied and performed under Dr. M. Gregory Martin, Dr. Adam Gumble, Dr. Ralph Sorrentino, and Prof. David Nelson.
He was active in the Wind Symphony, Percussion Ensemble, Latin Jazz combo, and the Sudler Trophy-winning “Incomparable” Golden Rams Marching Band. Ben is extremely active in the marching arts in northcentral Pennsylvania and beyond, marching with multiple DCI All-Age drum and bugle corps including the Reading Buccaneers (2020), Fusion Core (2022 A Class Champions, 2023), and the White Sabers (2025). He also teaches marching percussion at EPIC’s WGI Open Class indoor percussion, Montgomery Area High School, Bloomsburg Area High School, and Danville Area High School.
Ian Brennan
Ian Brennan is a graduate of Mansfield University having earned a degree in Music Technology in 2019. He is a trained vocalist and percussionist and enjoys performing in theatre productions, singing with a local A Capella group, and playing in a variety of ensembles as a percussionist. Ian works at Good Will Enterprises and at OneWell, providing companionship as a Direct Support Professional.
David Ray-Hull
David Ray-Hull, from Tamaqua, PA, graduated from Mansfield University in 2025 pursuing a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music. He studied voice as his primary instrument, and percussion, conducting, and piano as secondaries during his time at Mansfield. While he later plans to attend graduate school to pursue a degree in Choral Conducting, he currently lives in New Ringgold with his girlfriend, Lauren, and works a blue collar job to financially prepare for his future.
