Richard 'Gus' Guastamachio graduated from the Peabody Conservatory of Music (Johns Hopkins University) in 1984 with a degree in Music Education and Percussion Performance. Gus served the nation as senior soloist with the US Army "Old Guard" Fife And Drum Corps, 3rd US Infantry (official escort to The President Of The United States) in Washington, DC from 1982 to 1985. Gus has studied with a long list of great percussionists, including: Tony Ames, Michael Bookspan, Fred Begun, Gary Burton, Gary Chester, Bobby Christian, Paul Cormier, Alan Dawson, Bob Gatzen, Jonathan Haas, Fred Hinger, Frank Hooper, Joe Morello, Ed Saindon, Ed Soph, Scott Stevens, Bill West and Christopher Williams.
Gus is a proud member of Vic Firth Education Team, Percussive Arts Society, Hudson Music TIP Program, Professional Drum Teachers Guild and Connecticut Music Educators Association/Music Educators National Conference. Gus is the resident percussionist at The Spirit of Broadway Theater in Norwich, CT. Gus regularly performs with Goodspeed at Chester, Norma Terris Theatre, Ivoryton Playhouse, Connecticut Repertory Theatre, Easter Connecticut Symphony, Concora and as a freelance percussionist. Gus was recognized for excellence in music education and performance by Cambridge Who's Who in 2012. Gus is a member of the Professional Drum Teachers Guild.
Alex Giosa
Sales & Service/Percussion Instructor
Alex Giosa has been playing drums since age 5. Alex graduated from Windsor High School in 2006, where he was a standout drummer in the marching band, jazz program, symphonic band and orchestra. Alex traveled North America with the Windsor High School music programs and studied world percussion at the Center for Creative Youth at Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT).
Alex has been with Dynamic Percussion since 2008. In addition to his work with Dynamic Percussion, Alex is an audio engineer who operates a recording studio in Rockville, CT. Alex performs frequently as a pit orchestra drummer for several local theaters and is a veteran of numerous local groups that span a wide range of genres. Alex's mantra for percussionists is "technical skill combined with versatility". Alex attributes his success across a variety of styles and performance scenarios to this philosophy. Alex's favorite set player is Gavin Harrison.
Bob Hill
Percussion Instructor
Bob Hill has been an active performing artist and teacher for over twenty-five years, playing extensively throughout New England and abroad. While in high school, he was a member of the Delaware All-State Band for three consecutive years and continued his education at the Berklee College of Music as well as studying privately with noted player, educator and author Gary Chafee.
Eric Thomas
Management/Percussion Instructor
Eric graduated from The Hartt School (University of Hartford) with a B.A. in Performing Arts Management and a minor in Business Administration in 2012. Eric has been playing drums and percussion since 1998 and has performed in the concert, jazz and marching band programs in the Windsor, CT school system. Eric's traditional performance credits include the University of New Hampshire Jazz Festival, the Toronto Centre for the Arts, the Myrtle Beach Festival of Music and with the Manchester Symphony Orchestra. Eric teaches both contemporary and jazz drumming as well as concert percussion (snare, mallets, timpani) to beginners as well as adults. On the kit Eric is inspired by the playing of Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Virgil Donati, Danny Carey, John Otto, Noah "Wuv" Bernardo, Dave Grohl, Travis Barker, Larone McMillian, Josh Freese, Brad Wilk, Tony Royster Jr. and Sean Kinney. Eric is a performing drum set player, timpanist and hand drummer
Robert 'Hutch' Hutchinson
Percussion Instructor
Robert 'Hutch' Hutchinson took his first drum lesson at age 7 and started his first rock band at 16 years old. Hutch was a member of several notable bands, including Elysian Field (1972-1973), Whisper (1978-1979) and Holding Pattern (founded in 1979). Hutch recorded an LP with Holding Pattern that was sold in the U.S., Europe, Canada, Mexico and Japan, and in 2006 he performed in Tokyo, Japan with the group.
Hutch studied at the Faunt School of Creative Music in Studio City, California from 1997-2000, and has been teaching professionally for over 12 years. Hutch studied with Ozzie Osgood for over 5 years, then with Jim Rozzelle at The Hartt School (University of Hartford) and finally with Tom Mendola at the Faunt School. Hutch is currently studying under master Afro-Cuban percussionist Idalberto Perdomo.
Venlo Odom
Sales & Service/Percussion Instructor
Venlo is a professional musician who has played with such greats as Barry White, The O’Jays, Miki Howard and Donnie McClurkin. Venlo is also the organizer and leader of Motown 'n' More, a professional self-contained 10 piece Motown tribute band performing hits by The Supremes, Temptations, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Jackson 5 and many more. Venlo has performed and toured worldwide on a professional level for over 40 years and understands what it takes to get a good sound, stage presence and exceptional presentation. He has played such major venues as Mohegan Sun's Wolf Den, B.B. King's (NYC) and The Apollo Theatre with some of music's top R&B recording artists. While in Australia, Venlo was invited to join the Venetta Fields Band. Venetta is an original Ikette with the famed Ike and Tina Turner Revue. Venlo was privileged to share the stage with Mickey Rooney, Barbara Streisand and George Benson to name a few.
Upon returning to the USA, Venlo continued his musical journey becoming Music Director for Miki Howard. He has also been recruited by his good friend, Travis Milner (Gerald Levert, Norman Brown, The Temptations) to play with Ms. Melba Moore. Venlo is currently a student himself, enrolled at Eastern Connecticut State University where he is working toward a B.A. in Music Performance with a minor in Music Therapy, to go along with his A.A.S. in Music Business from Five Towns College. He is also co-writing a Gospel CD with another good friend, Nathan Best (Miki Howard, Karen White, Levert, and a former member of The O'Jays).
Maria Centola
Piano Teacher
Maria Centola holds a B.A. in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the Gnessin’s Academy of Music in Moscow, Russia and G.P.D. and M.Mus. degrees in Piano Performance and Chamber Music Performance from the Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford. She has served on the faculty of prestigious schools such as Connecticut College, The Hartt School of Music and most currently at Miss Porter's School.
As a performer, Maria has appeared in concerts and international festivals performing classical, jazz and latin music throughout the United States, Russia, Italy, Spain and Canary Islands. She plays piano, organ, accompanies vocalists and instrumentalists, directs musicals, conducts choirs and small orchestras. Maria is the Artistic Director of Connecticut’s Argentine Tango Ensemble InfiniTango, pianist of The Jalapeño Quartet and Music Director at Wapping Community Church in South Windsor, CT.
