Dan Caruso , Sound Design & Percussion
Connor Sullivan, Cello
(drums) Dan has been studying drums and percussion for over 20 years. Combining his passion for music and the arts with his skills and interests in engineering and technology, Dan attended SUNY Fredonia and earned bachelors degrees in both Sound Recording Technology and Applied Music: Percussion. Through many opportunities over the years, he has formed a diverse background of influences, allowing him to adapt to multiple styles of music and any situation as a sound designer and audio engineer. Dan is the drummer for the Buffalo-based progressive hard rock band BlueShift, and is a freelance drummer, audio engineer, and educator.
Conor is currently pursuing both a business administration degree and music performance degree at the University at Buffalo. I am a cellist with a long history of performing, starting in high school. I have participated in numerous performing ensembles and musicals at Lancaster High School, Depew High School, the Lancaster Youth Bureau, the Lockport Palace Theater, the University at Buffalo, and many others. I have performed all over the east coast, and favorites include Walt Disney World, Met Life Stadium, Lucas Oil Stadium, the Carrier Dome, and Kleinhan’s Music Hall.
Chang Park, Cello
Chang is a media practitioner and a classical cellist from Queens, New York. He is currently studying Digital Media Studies in University at Buffalo, concentrating in media production. With his strong background in various performance ensembles and new media productions, he plans to further create and spread musically engaging, and interactive experiences.
Lisa Gagnon, Cello
is currently a senior at the University at Buffalo pursuing a joint degree in English and Linguistics and a Music Performance minor. A Buffalo native, she played cello in the Greater Buffalo Youth Orchestra for 3 years and participated in Conference All State in 2011. At UB, Lisa has studied with professor Jonathan Golove, served as principle cellist in the UB Symphony Orchestra, and performed in the theatre productions "How Did We" and "The Glass Menagerie." As part of the Bell Canto Quartet, which formed in January 2015, Lisa has performed at numerous weddings, coffee shops and receptions all over Western and Central New York. Lisa is also passionate about making the creative arts available to everyone, and has been a violin and cello teacher at Buffalo String Works (a non-profit after school program for Buffalo Public School students) since January 2016. Aside from playing music, Lisa also enjoys writing, traveling and making visual art, and is always eager to collaborate and stretch the boundaries of genre and medium.
Rob Webster, Bass
A Buffalo native, Rob has shared the stage (in an accompanimental role) with a number of distinguished artists including Jeffrey Khaner and Yo-Yo Ma. A regular bassist in the Buffalo and WNY classical and contemporary scene, Rob has played with such ensembles as the Southern Tier Symphony, the Western New York Chamber Orchestra, the Erie Chamber Orchestra, the Nickel City Opera Company, and various community and pick-up groups. His educational history includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from SUNY at Fredonia and an expected (May 2017) Master’s in Music Performance from SUNY University at Buffalo. Most recently, Rob played a recital (in accordance with the academic requirements at UB) featuring solo music for double bass including Hindemith, Koussevitzky, and Bach. Rob plays on a 1937 bass assembled by the Czech luthier Herald Jaeger.
John Slobdozian, Guitar
John is a student at the University at Buffalo studying for a dual degree in Guitar Performance and History. He is a guitar teacher at the Lockport Music Center and has been playing guitar for over nine years and has played piano for over six. He has performed in school ensembles as well as in pit bands in local musicals and has worked with Stanzi on her previous project "Excursions Into Unknowable Worlds" and is excited to continue working with her!
Luis Blanco, Saxophone
Luis has been playing the saxophone for 17 years, initially inspired by Gato Barbieri. He has studied under Anthony Masi back in his hometown of Rye Brook, New York and Harry Fackelman at the University at Buffalo.
James Prude, Guitar
Kelly Cornelius, Pecussion
Kelly is a native of the DC and Baltimore Metro Areas who is now residing in Buffalo. Kelly studied western classical music from a very young age before abandoning it for studies of the visual arts. Kelly holds a BFA from Shepherd University with a focus in interdisciplinary audio/visual and performative work. The fields of music improvisation for dance, photography, film, video, installation, and sound design are of the artist’s interests and explorations. Kelly also studies and enjoys Indian Classical Music. Bringing a passionate focus to tala and the rhythmic universe explored through various percussion instruments.. She has had the blessing to study with many fine artists of the percussion and music world including Zakir Hussain and Ty Burhoe among many other teachers and mentors.
Hamed Zamani Keshmarzi, violin
Eric Vlesmas, Bass Guitar
Stanzi Vaubel, Cello
