PEOPLE

Patrick Zampetti, Drumline Instructor and Arranger

Contact Patrick @: patrick@studiozonline.com

“Mr. Z” has long time association in the field of marching percussion and is honored to be working with such a great group of students and staff here at UVA. He participated as a performer for eight years and served as the Garfield Cadets' Drum Sergeant and received the Cadet of the Year Award. He also designed the Cadets' “G" logo. He was a four-year member of the Cadets percussion staff working with Drum Corps International Hall of Fame Member Thom Hannum during which they won back to back DCI World Championships.  He has attended master classes at The Drummers Collective in New York City and is a former clinician for the Pearl Drum Company.  He has also instructed the Royales (NJ), Colonials (NJ), and Plebes (NJ) drum corps as well as Oliver Ames (MA) and Mills Godwin (VA) high school bands. Many of his students have gone on to perform at higher levels of the marching activity or have become instructors or band directors themselves.  As an active percussion instructor and adjudicator, he is a strong believer that music is an essential component of the educational process.  Patrick received his professional degree in Architecture in 1981 from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.  He founded Studio Z Architecture, Inc in 1993.  He maintains his professional practice in Richmond where he resides with his wife Lorrie, a Music Therapist, Teacher, and former Cadet Percussionist and their four wonderful children.

I-Jen Fang, Front Ensemble Instructor

I-Jen Fang joined the faculty of the McIntire Department of Music at the University of Virginia in 2005 and is the Principal Timpanist and Percussionist for the Charlottesville & University Symphony Orchestra. She also directs the UVa Percussion Ensemble, the UVa New Music Ensemble, and is the front line instructor for the Cavalier Marching Band. I-Jen was born in Taipei, Taiwan and began her musical education at age six starting with the piano. She took up percussion at the age of nine and came to the United States at age fifteen to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Percussion Performance at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. Later, she received her Master of Music degree from Northwestern University and her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Texas where she served as a teaching fellow. I-Jen was a member of the University of North Texas Champion Indoor Drumline, performing and competing at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC).  She also coached the front line in the UNT Summer Marching Camp and at high schools in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Chris Garay, Drumline Instructor

Contact Chris @ : chrisgaray87@gmail.com

Chris Garay has taught drumset and rudimental percussion privately to students in both New Jersey and Virginia, and he has instructed drumlines from George Mason University, Chantilly High School, Fauquier County High School, and Albemarle High School. His performance career as a snare drummer includes the University of Virginia Drumline, the Jersey Surf, United Percussion, the Cadets, and the Bluecoats. During this time he has studied under such marching
percussion legends as Michael McIntosh, Bret Kuhn, Tim Maynard, Tom Aungst, and Chris Vale.

Chris is originally from New Jersey, where he graduated with high honors from Delaware Valley Regional High School. He recently completed his undergraduate work at the University of Virginia, earning a Bachelor of Arts with distinction in Philosophy and Religious Studies.

Rob Wiederecht , Drumline Captain

Contact Rob @: raw8h@virginia.edu

Rob is a native of Long Island, NY and has been drumming since age 10. He was part of the Long Island Wind Symphony, The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York, the 2006 NY State All-State Orchestra, as well as the Massapequa High School Marching Chiefs. He also plays drum set for the UVa basketball band.

A member of the class of 2010, Rob is working towards a degree in the School of Engineering and Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Business.

Other than school and drumming, Rob enjoying traveling, going to the gym, and supporting both Liverpool FC and the New York Yankees.

Tiago Bezerra , Snare Section Leader

Raised in the "Queen City" of Cincinnati, OH, Tiago graduated from Mariemont High School as a 3-year member of the Mariemont Warrior Marching Band and a 4-year member of the Mariemont Indoor Drumline. After holding positions of drumline section leader (2 years) and drum major (1 year), he decided to take his drum to the next level at the University of Virginia.

Aside from the CMB, Tiago is a member of the Class of 2010 majoring in Economics and minoring in Government with aspirations of heading to law school after graduation. On Grounds, he also is a member of a social fraternity, HooCrew, StudCo and an avid sports fan (Who Dey!). Looking forward to a great 4th year!!!

Ben Evans, Quad Section Leader

Ben hails from Jamestown High School from Williamsburg, Virginia.  He has been playing quads for the past six years.  In addition to performing with the Drumline, Ben is one of the drum set players for the UVa Basketball band and various CMB pep bands for Olympic sports.  He is pursuing a major in Chemical Engineering from the School of Engineering and Applied Science with the graduating class of 2011.  Outside of drumming, Ben is an avid fan of all DC sports teams (Redskins, Capitals, and Nationals) and Liverpool FC.  Other hobbies include wakeboarding golfing, and going to concerts.

Casey Pease, Bass Section Leader

Casey was born in Chesapeake, Virginia, and has lived here in Charlottesville since 2003.  Casey began his musical interests at a very young age.  His first instrument was the french horn then moved to percussion the following year.  While at Albemarle High School, he began to moonlight as a drummer for the University of Virginia Marching Cavaliers.  Casey has played in the band two years on the bass drum line.  Casey is staying in Charlottesville and attending PVCC to continue his involvement with UVa Marching Cavaliers.  He plans on being a member of the band longer than any other student. 

Laura Chesser, Cymbals Section Leader

Laura was born and raised in Matthews, NC, which she called home until the summer before coming to UVA, when she and her family relocated to Disputanta, VA (don't worry if you've never heard of it – it's in the middle of nowhere!). Laura played mallet percussion all 4 years at Butler High School, and was Front section leader for 2 years. She has played cymbals since arriving at UVA, and has loved every second of it! Laura also plays the bassoon in the UVA Wind Ensemble, and is in Percussion Ensemble – woo!

Laura is currently pursuing a Spanish major/Math minor in the College and is involved in the Curry School of Education's 5 year BA/MT program for Elementary Education. Outside of the marching band, she is involved in Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship and volunteers at a local elementary school.

Veronica Tornini, Front Line Section Leader

Veronica is part of the Class of 2010 pursuing a degree in psychology, but is also enrolled in a Five-Year program in special education through the Curry School of Education.

Before attending the University of Virginia, Veronica lived in Port Chester, NY, where her passion for music began.  Her grandmother started teaching her how to play the piano at the age of four, and continued playing piano through high school.  In 4th grade, she learned how to play the flute, then proceeded to piccolo in middle school.  In her transition to high school, she transferred over to pit, and absolutely loved it!  During her last two years of high school, she was drum major, which she also loved.   She was also a member of the Sunrisers Drum and Bugle Corps for five years, winning the Class A championship in 2007.  When she came to UVA, she played bass drum, decided it was awesome, and continued to play the following year. This year, she will reunite with her deepest love: pit. And she's really psyched about it.