THE BAND

Richard DelConte, Robert Russo – Business Managers

Stephen Beamish, Music Director

 

RHYTHM SECTION​

Glenn Gardner, Percussion 

Glenn, a Rochestarian, studied percussion at Eastman School of Music and earned his music degree in Ohio, where he taught for several years.  He's performed for 32 years with the world famous 'Krazy Firemen' touring the US, Canada & nine European Countries.

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Dr. Robert Russo Piano, Vocals

Dr. Bob is a composer, arranger, vocalist, and band leader.  Bob has been involved in the world of music from a young age, a career spanning 50 plus years in many different genres including Rock n Roll, club settings, theatre, big band, and jazz.  He is also a co-founder and manager of ‘Your American Jukebox’.

 

Richard DelConte, Piano, Arranger

Rich began his musical career in the early 60’s when he joined the Duke Spinner Orchestra, playing piano and writing orchestrations. After a 20-year hiatus, Rich returned to the local music scene with the Jack Allen Band.  Upon Jack’s death, Rich and Bob founded the "Your American Jukebox" Big Band using a nucleus of Jack Allen Band alumni musicians.

 

Lynn Eberhardt, Bass

After graduation from the Eastman School of Music, Lynn played for four years with the U.S. Coast Guard Band and taught public school music for more than thirty years. He plays in any setting that includes a bass player, from duos to orchestras, including shows, Dixieland bands, jazz ensembles, and brass quintets.  Playing has taken him to New Orleans, Canada, Germany, Jamaica, and Spain.  He is also a 30-year member of the “Krazy Firemen”, Rochester’s original Oktoberfest Band.

Brass Section

​Stuart Sacks, Trumpet 

Dr. Stu Sacks, a physician, has been in Rochester 28 years.  Stu became a serious classical French horn player in high school. At Penn State, he played trumpet in the school's jazz ensemble and French horn in symphony orchestra. Stu also plays in several local Blues Bands.

 

Dan Fitzgerald, Trumpet 

Following High School graduation, Dan enlisted in the army and played in U.S. Army Band. He also plays with Brass Taxi and Prime Time Brass.  Previous local bands include Melody Makers and the Jack Allen Big Band.

 

George Conte, Trumpet 

George is a very much in demand in the local music scene as both a trumpet player and vocalist.  Other performance credits include TBlast, The Horn Dogs, and.  Melody Makers. ​

 

Jeanette Altavela, Trombone

Dr. Jeanette Altavela, a retired clinical pharmacist,  recently published an article about the clinical pharmacist’s role in Population Health Management in a national journal.  Jeanette has extensive experience beginning in high school, then college & local pit bands supporting shows at Black Friars, Geva, UFC Theatre, Little Theatre and more.

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Jeff Greene, Trombone 

Jeff is a highly respected trombonist and teacher in the area. In 2014 he won the RPO Outstanding Teacher Award for Instrumental Music. Jeff stays busy playing in local pit orchestras, teaching private lessons and is in high demand playing professionally with many prominent local Groups and orchestras. Jeff is also a Jack Allen Band Alumni.

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Ray Elliot, Trombone 

Ray Elliott is a multi-instrumentalist. He has played in many professional and community bands in the Rochester Monroe County area. He plays every low brass instrument including tuba, euphonium, bass, and tenor trombone. He retired from the 98th Division Army Reserve Band in 2001.Ray plays regularly with several area concert bands and big bands.

 

Will Frazier, Trombone

Will has a Masters Degree in trombone performance and a BA in Music Education. He has also completed all course work towards a Doctorate at Ball State University. While at Ball State, Will directed the Studio Jazz Ensemble and combo program, taught private trombone and jazz improvisation, and coordinated the annual Dimensions in Jazz Festival.

Reed Section

Stephen Beamish Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute, Arranger,  Music Director

Steve Holds music degrees from the Eastman School of Music and the University of Buffalo.  He is the former Director of Music for the Irondequoit School District and Director of Music and Performing Arts for the Ithaca School District.  Steve’s performance credits include several upstate musical ensembles, most notably the world famous 'Krazy Firemen' touring the US, Canada, and nine European countries. He is currently the business agent for the Krazy Firemen as well. He continues to serve as a freelance woodwind specialist in the Rochester area. ​

 

Mark Ketchum, Tenor Saxophone

Mark has played with many area bands in his musical career and currently is the lead tenor player for Your American Jukebox. Mark is also in the instrument repair business. Musicians come from afar to Mark’s instrument repair (Allegro Music) in Brockport.

 

Cindy Lau, Baritone Saxophone 

From Ohio, Cindy’s youth was spent playing in big bands, marching bands, pit orchestras, community band, and listening to jazz.  After graduating from the University of Toledo, she moved to Rochester to work for Kodak and discovered a buffet of musical opportunities. Cindy’s day gig is IT project manager and plays in a variety of local bands including the Melody Masters Big Band and the Pittsford Fire Department Band.

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Art Felluca, All Reeds & Arranger 

A graduate of Berklee College of Music and New England Conservatory, Art is in high demand as a player, transcriber, and arranger.  He plays and writes for several ensembles nationwide including the Syndicate Big Band which has played the Rochester International Jazz Festival several Times.

 

Corinne Pedrone, Saxophone 

Over the years Corinne has played and conducted for many musical pit orchestras, as well as many local bands like the Greater Rochester Jazz Orchestra, The Coda Combo, The Music Makers, Your American Jukebox, and is director of a 15-piece swing band called Shahin Swings.

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Vocal Section​

Amanda Stone 

Amanda is a world class vocalist. She has been singing since the age of seven. She’s was classically trained at the Eastman School of Music and received a BA in Vocal Performance from SUNY Geneseo.  A prolific songwriter, she ran the band "Blonde Over Blue" for 8 years. She can also be found performing with other groups such as Twilight, The Real News, The Uptown Groove, and The Silver Arrow Band. 

 

Angie Bemus

Studied vocal performance at The Ohio State University and Eastman School of Music. Performance credits include a traveling song and dance company that provided entertainment at theme parks and cruise ships, performances with Barbara Eden, The Mandrel Sisters, Larnelle Harris, Tennessee Ernie Ford, and Minnie Pearl.  Angie also performs with five big bands and three jazz bands including Your American Jukebox.  She also writes, arranges, and records music for local commercials, studio, radio, and tv work. She maintains a local private studio and when not singing, is a creative director specializing in visual arts and special events.