The Big Band Sound, a 20-piece jazz orchestra

Meet the Band

The talented members of The Big Band Sound are:

	Dave Cole Director of The Big Band Sound Instruments: Alto Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet Member Since: 1983 Hometown: Wappingers Falls, New York Vocations: Professional Musician, Webmaster for The Big Band Sound, Retired IBM Software Engineer Alumnus of: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Email address: BigBandSound@compuserve.com
	Roger D'Aquino Associate Director of The Big Band Sound Instruments: Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute Member Since: 1993 Hometown: Wappingers Falls, New York Vocation: Financial Oversight of Clearwater, Real Estate Agent for Prudential, Member of County Players Board of Governors, Vice President of the Wappingers Central School District Board of Education Alumnus of: Hunter College, Brooklyn College
	George Hanson Instruments: Alto Saxophone, Clarinet Member Since: 1988 Hometown: Wiccopee, New York Vocation: Retired Educator Alumnus of: Columbia University
	Otis Greene Instrument: Tenor Saxophone Member Since: 1991 Hometown: Wappingers Falls, New York Vocation: Retired Computer Analyst for Pepsi Alumnus of: Marist College
	Don Twitchell Instruments: Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet Member Since: 1998 Hometown: Poughkeepsie, New York Vocation: Retired IBM Engineer Alumnus of: Northeastern University
	Mark Laman Instruments: Baritone Saxophone, Flute Member Since: 1989 Hometown: Poughkeepsie, New York Vocation: Software Engineer for IBM Alumnus of: SUNY Buffalo, State University College at Buffalo
	Mark Chitjian Instruments: Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet Member Since: 2004 Hometown: Hopewell Junction, New York Vocation: CAD/CAM Engineer for IBM Alumnus of: Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
	Gary Banks Instruments: Trumpet, Flugelhorn Member Since: 1986 Hometown: Beacon, New York Vocations: Engineer for NXP Semiconductors, Private Trumpet Instructor: (845) 831-0516 Alumnus of: Lehigh University, Syracuse University
	John Barath Instruments: Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Piano Member Since: 2004 Hometown: Port Ewen, New York Vocation: Engineer for IBM, Director of the Woodstock Brass Quintet Alumnus of: West Virginia University
	Jim Mulder Treasurer of The Big Band Sound Instruments: Trumpet, Flugelhorn Member Since: 1983 Hometown: Wappingers Falls, New York Vocation: Software Engineer for IBM Alumnus of: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
	Mark D'Amico Instruments: Trumpet, Flugelhorn Member Since: 2002 Hometown: Beacon, New York Vocations: Art Director for Bluetooth Creative Group, President of D'Amico & Associates Alumnus of: School of Visual Arts, Dutchess Community College
	Herb Volberg Instrument: Trombone Member Since: 1993 Hometown: Poughkeepsie, New York Vocation: Retired Assistant School Superintendent and Music Teacher Alumnus of: SUNY Fredonia, C. W. Post University, SUNY New Paltz
	Alan Engelberg Instrument: Trombone Member Since: 2000 Hometown: Morristown, New Jersey Vocation: Physician, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Employee Health Service Alumnus of: University of Illinois, University of Pittsburgh, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
	Dave Baxter Instrument: Trombone Member Since: 2001 Hometown: Washingtonville, New York Vocation: Development manager for IBM Global Services Alumnus of: SUNY Albany, SUNY Binghamton
	Clay Hughes Instrument: Bass Trombone Member Since: 1995 Hometown: Wappingers Falls, New York Vocation: Track Inspector for Metro-North Railroad Alumnus of: St. Michaels College
	Stacy Kalbfus Instruments: Trombone, Bass Member Since: 2002 Hometown: Fishkill, New York Vocation: Music Teacher at Poughkeepsie Elementary Schools Alumnus of: SUNY Potsdam
	Don Cooksey Instrument: Bass Member Since: 2007 Hometown: Poughkeepsie, New York
	Doug Abramson Instrument: Bass Member Since: 2000 Hometown: Poughkeepsie, New York Vocations: Financial Analyst for IBM, Bass player for The Chain Gang and The Sugarbees Alumnus of: SUNY Binghamton
	Ange Rapa Director Emeritus of The Big Band Sound 1981-1985 Instrument: Guitar Member Since: 1975 Hometown: Wappingers Falls, New York Vocations: Retired IBM Contamination Control Engineer Alumnus of: University of Connecticut
	Mark Pozza Instrument: Drums Member Since: 1985 Hometown: Rhinebeck, New York Vocation: Auto Mechanic for the New York State Police
	Steve Kessler Staff Arranger for The Big Band Sound Instruments: Piano, Trombone Member Since: 2004 Hometown: Cornwall, New York Vocation: Music Teacher at Cornwall Central Middle School, Trombonist for The Big Smoothies, Composer/arranger at Walrus Music Alumnus of: SUNY Potsdam, SUNY Binghamton
	Leslie Bellini Vocalist Member Since: 1991 Hometown: Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
	Scott Wenzel Vocalist, Master of Ceremonies, Saxophone, Clarinet Member Since: 2001 Hometown: Rye, New York Vocations: Grammy-nominated Producer for Mosaic Records, Producer for Capitol Records, DJ on WJAZ ('84-'90), Producer of CDs Swingin' at Capitol, Oscillatin' Rhythm, and Count Basie: Atomic Swing Alumnus of: Towson State University
	Trish Agar Vocalist Member Since: 2002 Hometown: Saugerties, New York

Other artists who appear with The Big Band Sound include:

	Melinda Aaron Spooner Instruments: Saxophone, Clarinet Hometown: Poughkeepsie, New York Vocation: Music Teacher at Poughkeepsie's Clinton Elementary School Alumnus of: Mansfield University
	Bill Ash Instruments: Trumpet, Trombone Hometown: Allendale, New Jersey Vocation: Professional Musician Alumnus of: Princeton University
	Ryan Banda Instrument: Trombone Hometown: Glenham, New York Vocation: Music Teacher at John Jay High School Alumnus of: Ithaca University, SUNY Potsdam
	Dennis Blandino Instrument: Guitar Hometown: Poughkeepsie, New York Vocation: Engineer at IBM, Guitarist for The Chain Gang
	Jim Briggs Instruments: Saxophone, Clarinet Hometown: Montgomery, New York Vocation: Music Teacher at Washingtonville High School Alumnus of: SUNY Potsdam
	David Busch Instruments: Saxophone, Clarinet Hometown: Washingtonville, New York Vocation: History Teacher at Washingtonville High School Alumnus of: Brooklyn College, Adelphi University
	Laurie Catanzaro Instrument: Piano Hometown: Poughkeepsie, New York Vocation: Music Teacher, Private Piano and Flute Instructor Alumnus of: University of Michigan, SUNY Potsdam
	Dan Chester Instrument: Trombone Hometown: Warwick, New York
	Marie Cole Instrument: Clarinet Hometown: Wappingers Falls, New York Vocation: Materials Engineer for IBM Alumnus of: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
	Adam Collura Instrument: Trumpet Hometown: Hyde Park, New York Vocation: Hardware Engineer for IBM Alumnus of: Lehigh University
	Rich Conley Instruments: Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute Hometown: LaGrangeville, New York Vocation: Retired Music Teacher
	Joe Daily Master of Ceremonies Hometown: Walden, New York Vocation: Host of Joe Daily In The Morning on 92.1 LiteFm
	Paul Davis Instruments: Piano, Trumpet Hometown: Washingtonville, New York Vocation: Music Teacher in Washingtonville Central Schools
	Joe Deveau Instrument: Guitar Hometown: Stanfordville, New York Vocation: Music Teacher at Stissing Mountain High School Alumnus of: SUNY Fredonia, New York University
	John DiVirgilio Instrument: Bass Hometown: Middletown, New York
	Steve Fabrizio Vocalist Hometown: Millbrook, New York
	Joan Freeman Instrument: Alto Saxophone Hometown: Wiccopee, New York Vocation: Engineering Drafter Alumnus of: University of Delaware
	Bill Greene Instrument: Trombone Hometown: New Hampton, New York Vocation: Music Teacher at Montgomery Elementary School
	Curt Grosskopf Instrument: Trumpet Hometown: Hyde Park, New York Vocation: Engineer for IBM Alumnus of: University of Wisconsin
	Steve Horowitz Instrument: Trumpet Hometown: Watervliet, New York Vocation: Software Engineer Alumnus of: SUNY Albany
	Dan Kalbfus Instrument: Piano Hometown: Fishkill, New York Vocations: Private Piano Teacher and Accompianist, Pianist for Anachronism and The Chain Gang Alumnus of: SUNY Potsdam
	Mark Koschik Instrument: Bass Hometown: Poughkeepsie, New York Vocation: Piano Repairman
	Myra Lutomski Instrument: Trumpet Hometown: Woodstock, New York
	Pete Nobile Instrument: Bass Hometown: New Paltz, New York Vocations: English Teacher at Highland Falls Schools Alumnus of: William Paterson College, SUNY New Paltz
	Nick Page Instrument: Drums Hometown: Wallkill, New York Vocation: Retired Percussion Instructor
	Jim Paradies Instrument: Trumpet Hometown: Clintondale, New York Vocation: Software Engineer for IBM Alumnus of: SUNY Purchase
	Thom Piliouras Instrument: Piano Hometown: Poughkeepsie, New York Vocation: Music Teacher at Peekskill High School Alumnus of: Columbia University
	Dave Pratt Instrument: Trumpet Hometown: Hopewell Junction, New York Vocation: Music Teacher
	Mike Roe Instrument: Trombone Hometown: Poughkeepsie, New York Vocation: Asst. Director of Admissions, Orange County Community College Alumnus of: SUNY Oswego, St. Lawrence University
	Jack Shackleton Instrument: Trombone Hometown: Poughkeepsie, New York Vocation: Retired Music Teacher Alumnus of: Ithaca College
	Sam Shackleton Instrument: Trombone Hometown: Newburgh, New York Vocation: Music Teacher at Washingtonville Central Schools Alumnus of: SUNY Potsdam
	Keith Sherman Instrument: Saxophone Hometown: Middletown, New York Vocation: Music Teacher at Monroe Woodbury Middle School
	Steve Turowski Instrument: Drums Hometown: Poughkeepsie, New York
	John Tutino Instruments: Saxophone, Clarinet Hometown: Pleasant Valley, New York Vocation: Contractor at the New York City Department Of Education
	Don Utter Instrument: Trombone Hometown: Pawling, New York Vocation: Retired Music Teacher
	Jeff Wurster Instrument: Bass Hometown: Newburgh, New York Vocation: Music Teacher at Washingtonville High School
	Bruce Zuckrow Instrument: Trumpet Hometown: Washingtonville, New York Vocation: Network Programmer for Washingtonville Central Schools Alumnus of: C. W. Post

Alumni of The Big Band Sound

	Bill Ashby Instrument: Piano Member: 1998-1999 Hometown: Poughkeepsie, New York Vocation: Software Engineer Alumnus of: Indiana University, University of Maryland
	Kathy Barkey Instrument: Trombone Member: 1993-1997 Hometown: Kingston, New York Vocation: Engineer for IBM Alumnus of: Cornell University
	Fred Belec Instruments: Piano, Trumpet Member: 1995-2000 Hometown: Londonderry, Vermont Vocation: Retired Music Teacher Alumnus of: SUNY Potsdam
	Eric Clark Instrument: Drums Member: 2001-2003 Hometown: Pleasant Valley, New York
	Andy Harp Instruments: Trumpet, Flugelhorn Member: 1999-2004 Hometown: Shell Beach, California Vocation: Professional Musician, Director of Music For Festive Occasions, DJ on KCBX Alumnus of: Berklee School of Music
	Steve Hubbert Instrument: Trombone Member: 1993-2001 Hometown: Rhinebeck, New York Vocation: Retired IBM Systems Analyst Alumnus of: Dutchess Community College
	Stu Krams Instrument: Bass Member: 1994-2000 Hometown: Sarasota, Florida Vocations: Realtor, Retired Music Teacher Alumnus of: University of Miami
	Jim LaDue Instruments: Tenor Sax, Clarinet Member: 1980-1997 Hometown: Cocoa Beach, Florida Vocation: Retired IBM Industrial Designer Alumnus of: Syracuse University
	Tom Lombardi Instrument: Guitar Member: 1989-1993 Hometown: Poughkeepsie, New York Vocation: Ceramic Engineer for IBM Alumnus of: Rutgers University
	Geoff Miller Instrument: Trombone Member: 1992-1999 Hometown: Highland, New York Vocation: Software Engineer for IBM Alumnus of: Muhlenberg College
	Fred Novak Instruments: Trumpet, Flugelhorn Member: 1998-2002 Hometown: Beacon, New York Vocations: Retired West Point Bandsman Alumnus of: Manhattan School of Music
	Ted Roberts Instrument: Bass Member: 1987-1992 Hometown: Kingston, New York Vocation: Science Teacher at Kingston High School
	Tom Scanlan Director Emeritus of The Big Band Sound 1986-1990 Instruments: Alto Saxophone Member: 1984-1993 Hometown: Villa Park, Illinois Vocations: Software Support Manager, IBM Research Triangle Park, North Carolina Alumnus of: University of Illinois

In Memory of Dick Menaul, Member from 1989-1995

Dick

In Memory of Mike Amarello, Member from 1987-2003

Mike Mike+Leslie

In Memory of Don Pessia, Member from 1996-2000

Don Don

Contacting Us

If you'd like to inquire about having The Big Band Sound perform at your function, if you have any comments about the band or this web site, or if you'd like to be added to our mailing list, please contact Dave Cole at: BigBandSound@compuserve.com