Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 484 - Alex Wier

February 26, 2026 Pete Zambito

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Percussion Professor Alex Wier stops by to talk about his job at UWM, Present Music, Chamber Music Playing, and the culture of the arts in Milwaukee (03:10), growing up in St. Louis and Phoenix, his musical beginnings, marching band, and playing video games (24:50), attending the University of Arizona for undergrad (38:35), going to Northwestern University (IL) for his master’s and taking a break from school after the degree (49:40), getting his doctorate from Arizona State (01:04:45), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including segments on developing young percussionists, cooking for children, great movies, TV shows, and books, his varied sports fandoms, and unusual performance experiences (01:14:45).

Finishing with a Rave on the best of the 2026 Winter Olympics (01:39:15).

Alex Wier Links:

Alex Wier’s website

Alex Wier’s University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee page

Present Music

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Norman Weinberg in 2017

She-e Wu in 2025

Andy Miller in 2026

Steve Hemphill in 2020

Jeff Hewitt in 2021

Josh Armstrong in 2018

Mike Sammons in 2022

Other Links:

“Threads” - Paul Lansky

“Timber” - Michael Gordon

JB Smith

Simone Mancuso

“Radio Rewrite” - Steve Reich

“Six Japanese Gardens” - Kaija Saariaho

“Silver Streetcar for the Orchestra” - Alvin Lucier

“Dressur” - Mauricio Kagel

Interstellar trailer

Inception trailer

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift trailer

Eagle Eye trailer

Kurt Vonnegut

Packers-Bears 2025 Wild Card

Arrested Development Season 1

I’m Making a Giant Salad

Severance Season 1

Raves:

USA-Canada Gold Medal Women’s Hockey Game 2026

USA-Canada Gold Medal Men’s Hockey Game 2026

Alysa Liu’s Gold Medal Free Skate

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 483 - Andy Miller

February 19, 2026 Pete Zambito

Indiana University Lecturer in Music Andy Miller stops by to talk about his percussion position at IU and the opportunities for creative concert outlets (03:00), being on the 2025 PASIC New Music/Research panel on Percussion and Dance and his prior teaching position at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (22:15), growing up in Dayton (OH) and getting into music and sports (39:40), attending Wright State (OH) for undergrad (53:30), going to the University of Illinois for the Master’s and changing his career focus (01:00:10), winning a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Colombía, Bang on a Can, and working in commercial cabinetry (01:12:05), his doctoral studies at IU (01:26:45), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including discussions on student mental health, Momofuku noodles, great movies, video games, Dayton pizza, and the writing of Wendell Berry (01:33:30).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2025 animated film Arco (01:52:00).

Andy Miller Links:

Andy Miller’s IU page

Previous Podcast guests mentioned:

Alexandros Fragiskatos in 2021

Drew Tucker in 2026

Meridythe Witt in 2026

William Moersch in 2019

Fernando Meza in 2020

Other Links:

Michael Spiro

Wayne Wallace

Latin American Music Center

Robert E. Brown Center for World Music

“Rhythm Gradation” - Toshi Ichiuyanagi

Bang on a Can Summer Festival

“2x5” - Steve Reich

Jorge Alabé

Lars and the Real Girl trailer

The Room trailer

Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Hollow Knight trailer

Raves:

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 482 - Meridythe Witt

February 12, 2026 Pete Zambito

Orlando (FL) - based Percussionist and Dancer Meridythe Witt stops by to talk about performing as a dancer and drummer in theme parks, the audition process for these gigs, and how she stays “grounded in dance” (02:25), growing up in California, Indiana and Maryland, her musical family and their influence on her life, getting into dance and music early on, and a primer on ballet styles (19:45), attending Radford University (VA) for undergrad, getting degrees in dance and percussion performance at the same time there, creating collaborative opportunities there, and her experiences at PASIC50 on the New Music/Research Panel (44:15), and takes time for the Random Ass Questions, including segments on gestures and counting, baking bread, Bruce Springsteen, Twyla Tharp, rollercoasters, airports, and gymnastics (01:19:20).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2025 documentary film Monk in Pieces (01:43:40).

Meridythe Witt links:

Meridythe Witt’s Webpage

Meridythe’s instagram

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Alexandros Fragiskatos in 2021

Drew Tucker in 2026

Other Links:

George Balanchine

Vaganova Ballet Method

The Drummer’s Cookbook - John Pickering

Advanced Techniques - Jim Chapin

“Take Five” - Dave Brubeck

Jim Petercsak

Robert Sanderl

“Frogs” - Keiko Abe

“Drum Corps on Parade” - John S. Pratt

“to wALk Or ruN in wEst harlem” - Andy Akiho

“Mirage” - Yasuo Sueyoshi

William Newton

Dave Rivers

Born to Run 50th Anniversary

Dark Side of the Moon 50th Anniversary

“Lingus” - Snarky Puppy

LaDuca Dance Shoes

Napoleon Dynamite trailer

Happy Gilmore trailer

This is Spinal Tap trailer

Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen

The Collaborative Habit - Twyla Tharp

“Mallet Quartet” - Steve Reich

Raves:

Monk in Pieces trailer

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 481 - Mika Godbole (Part 2)

February 5, 2026 Pete Zambito

Mika Godbole returns to talk about attending Rowan University (NJ) for her master’s, studying orchestral music and taking auditions, and moving her focus to chamber music (03:25), attending Rutgers University (NJ) for her doctorate, her research on Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians, timpani talk, teaching at York College (PA) and her early freelancing, and how the pandemic allowed her to recalibrate her life (14:45), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including segments on marimba performance, our favorite pop music, marching and indoor percussion, percussion conferences, Indian food, great movies, and so much more (35:00).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2025 film No Other Choice (01:09:00).

Mika Godbole Links:

Part 1 with Mika Godbole

William Paterson University Percussion Faculty

Mantra Percussion page

NJ PAS Facebook page

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Megan Arns in 2017

Julia Gaines-Montag in 2016

Other Links:

So Percussion Summer Institute

Joseph Tompkins

Chris Deviney

Music for 18 Musicians - Steve Reich

NEXUS

Marc Mellits

Doug Perkins

“Thank You (____)” - Jason Treuting

“Englishman in New York” - Sting

“Big Time” - Peter Gabriel

“They Won’t Go When I Go” - Stevie Wonder

“Black Dog” - Led Zeppelin

“Forty Six & 2” - TOOL

“Killing in the Name” - Rage Against the Machine

“The Scythe” - The Last Dinner Party

“Classical” - Vampire Weekend

“oceania” - Björk

The Sandlot trailer

…Say Anything trailer

Batman & Robin trailer

The Love Guru trailer

The Lord of the Rings 25th Anniversary trailer

All Quiet on the Western Front - Erich Maria Remarque

“Kinder than Man” - Althea Davis

Raves:

No Other Choice trailer

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 480 - Mika Godbole (Part 1)

January 29, 2026 Pete Zambito

Educator, Freelancer, Vice President of the New Jersey Percussive Arts Society, and PAS New Music/Research member Mika Godbole stops by to talk about her adjunct position at William Paterson University (NJ) (03:55), her freelancing career and working as a member of the Mantra Percussion Sextet (20:00), her roles with the Percussive Arts Society (39:40), growing up in India and outside of Philadelphia and her early percussion teachers (54:50), and studying at Indiana University of Pennsylvania for her undergrad, working with Gary Olmstead and Jack Stamp, and her gap year as a young adult in Mumbai (01:05:25).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2025 documentary film It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley (01:22:40).

Mika Godbole Links:

William Paterson University’s Percussion Studio page

Mantra Percussion page

New Jersey PAS Chapter page

Previous Podcast guests mentioned:

Megan Arns in 2017

Casey Cangelosi in 2017

She-e Wu in 2025

Alexandros Fragiskatos in 2021

Karli Viña in 2022

I-Jen Fang in 2023

Bonnie Whiting in 2020

Frank Kumor in 2025

Other Links:

Fabio Oliveira

“Timber” - Michael Gordon

Bang on a Can

MASS MoCA

Red Poppy Music

Piano Sonata Op. 111 - L.V. Beethoven

Jack Stamp

Gary Olmstead

Christopher Hanning

“Ol’ Man River” - Paul Robeson

Raves:

It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley trailer

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 479 - Gina Ryan

January 22, 2026 Pete Zambito

Percussionist, Composer, and Professor of Music at the University of Quebec at Montreal Gina Ryan stops by to talk about her teaching activities in Montreal (04:30), working with Sixtrum Percussion Ensemble and Triolet Percussion Group, and her percussion freelancing and composing activities (14:45), growing up in Newfoundland, Canada, creating the “Gina Ryan Summer Percussion Camp”, her connections to members of NEXUS and Michael Colgrass, her other high school activities, and traveling to France (31:40), her college years in Newfoundland and Toronto, doing a residency at Banff, and working for the train company (51:25), moving to Montreal, her graduate school time at McGill (Canada), and returning to Newfoundland to get a second bachelor’s degree (01:07:15), living and teaching in Thailand for a decade (01:22:50), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including segments on great food, good and bad movies, great books, Karaoke, and inspiring art (01:40:15).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2025 film Hamnet (02:07:50).

Gina Ryan Links:

Gina Ryan’s website

Triolet

Sixtrum Percussion

Gina Ryan’s YouTube page

The Thailand International Percussion Festival

Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned:

Triolet in 2026

Victoria Sparks in 2018

Kristie Ibrahim in 2024

Aiyun Huang in 2023

Other Links:

Fabrice Marandola

Canadian Percussion Network

100 Guitars - Tim Brady

Avalon Peninsula Trails

The Godfather trailer

Trolls trailer

Christmas with the Kranks trailer

Father of the Bride trailer

The Art of Hearing Heartbeats - Jan-Philipp Sendker

Flannery - Lisa Moore

The Rocky Horror Picture Show trailer

The Marginalian

“Don’t Speak” - No Doubt

“Creep” - Radiohead

Red Poppy Ladies’ Percussion Ensemble

Raves:

Hamnet - Maggie O’Farrell

Hamnet trailer

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 478 - Triolet

January 15, 2026 Pete Zambito

Triolet Percussion Group (Kristie Ibrahim, Gina Ryan, and Victoria Sparks) stop by to talk about their performance of Jessie Marino’s “The Flower Episode” at PASIC50 (04:15), the Canadian Percussion Network, the Space Between conferences, and more about how Triolet got together as a group (21:30), and updates with the new building at Victoria’s University of Manitoba, as well as updates with Kristie and Gina and the Sixtrum and Strasbourg Percussion Groups (46:30).

Finishing with a Rave on the 1997 film Selena (54:50).

Triolet Links:

Triolet’s PASIC50 page

Triolet’s webpage

Kristie Ibrahim on the podcast in 2024

Victoria Sparks on the podcast in 2016

Victoria Sparks on the podcast in 2018

Gina Ryan’s website

The Canadian Percussion Network’s website

Previous podcast guest mentioned:

Michael Schutz in 2025

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 477 - Lamon Lawhorn (2025)

January 8, 2026 Pete Zambito

Frequent Pete’s Percussion Podcast guest Lamon Lawhorn returns to the podcast to talk about his participation with the M-Boom Tribute Ensemble at PASIC50 this past November (03:20), his path to getting onto the PAS Board of Directors, dealing with feedback received about PASIC applications, the responsibilities of the job, and how to get more involved (26:50), his position as Director of Percussion Studies at Virginia State University and the move from his success at North Carolina A&T (45:25), and his comments on the 2025 Dallas Cowboys and the music and culture that is inspiring him today (01:14:25).

Finishing with a Rave on Mary Roach’s 2003 nonfiction book Stiff (01:33:15).

Lamon Lawhorn links:

Lamon Lawhorn’s Virginia State Page

Lamon Lawhorn’s Website

Lamon Lawhorn’s previous Podcast appearances:

Lamon Lawhorn in Episode 35

Lamon Lawhorn in Episode 67

Lamon Lawhorn in Episode 216

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Thomas Taylor in 2025

Donnie Johns in 2021

Marcia McCants in 2025

Sean Daniels in 2024

Joshua Simonds in 2022

Megan Arns in 2017

Karli Viña in 2022

Nathan Siegel in 2025

Bill Shaltis in 2017

Andrew Eldridge in 2022

Brian Zator in 2017

Casey Cangelosi in 2017

Justin Alexander in 2020

Other Links:

Percussions de Strasbourg

Eric C. Hughes

Chris Hanning

Gene Koshinski

NCPP National Equipment Standards

No Limit vs. Cash Money

Mel Robbins and Jason Wilson

Raves:

Stiff - Mary Roach

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 476 - Drew Tucker

January 1, 2026 Pete Zambito

Bandleader, Percussionist, Arts Administrator, Clinician and Speaker Drew Tucker stops by to talk about the PASIC50 Panel he participated on about Percussion and Dance (05:00), his position as Director of Jazz Road at South Arts, supporting jazz artists, freelancing and getting involved, and the grant process (21:40), growing up in Boca Raton (FL), getting into music and DCI, and more about his music education (50:20), his college years and how his early career moved forward (01:11:30), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including segments on developing musicianship in percussionists early on, adventures in cooking, superhero movies, and memorable performances (01:29:35).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2023 documentary Shari & Lamb Chop (02:01:30).

Drew Tucker links:

Drew Tucker’s website

South Arts

Jazz Road

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Alexandros Fragiskatos in 2021

Joshua Simonds in 2022

Other Links:

311 Tiny Desk Concert

Blue Devils 1994 show

Magic of Orlando 1995

“Señor Mouse” - Chick Corea and Gary Burton

Nancy Zeltsman

“When Doves Cry” - Prince

“Toxic” - Britney Spears

“Head Over Heels” - Tears for Fears

“Sword of Whispers” - Joe Locke

“Dat Dere” - Stefon Harris

Andromeda Turre

The Incredibles trailer

Godzilla Minus One trailer

The Art of Possibility - Ben Zander

Surrounded by Idiots - Thomas Erikson

“Someday My Prince Will Come” - Jake Chapman

PlexusPlay and Matt DiBiase

Raves:

Shari & Lamb Chop website

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 475 - Liz Soflin

December 25, 2025 Pete Zambito

Pusch Ridge Christian Academy (AZ) Director of Percussion Activities and Tuscon-based Freelancer Liz Soflin stops by to talk about her PASIC50 performance of Stuart Saunders Smith’s “By Language Embellished, I…” (04:30), her career in Arizona and more about her freelancing and college teaching (15:30), growing up in Michigan, her beginnings in percussion, and getting involved and drama club and acting (26:35), her undergrad years at the University of Central Michigan and learning from Andrew Spencer (37:00), her masters years at UT-Knoxville and learning from a variety of teachers (46:40), going to the University of Arizona for her doctorate, learning from Norman Weinberg, and establishing her connections with Stuart Saunders Smith (55:40), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments about being a woman in the percussion field, the Tuscon Saguaros, the movies Jaws and Cats, a lot of great books, midwestern food, being a Karaoke DJ, and the Museum of Modern Art in NYC (01:10:40).

Finishing with a Rave on Lenny Wilkens’ 2000 book Unguarded: My Forty Years Surviving in the N.B.A. (01:40:40).

Liz Soflin Links:

Liz Soflin’s Black Swamp Percussion page

Liz Soflin’s Instagram page

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Nathan Daughtrey in 2021

Andy Bliss in 2023

Norman Weinberg in 2017

Ivan Trevino in 2022

Other Links:

Stuart Saunders Smith

Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov

“Peeping Tom” - Dan Senn

Sierra Vista Symphony

The Curious Savage - John Patrick

Lady Windermere’s Fan - Oscar Wilde

Andrew Spencer

David Gillingham

Dave Hollinden

“Limerick Daydreams” - Nathan Daughtrey

“Chameleon Music” - Dan Welcher

“Crown of Thorns” - David Maslanka

“Niagara Falls” - Michael Daugherty

Threads - Paul Lansky

“Bloom” - Ivan Trevino

“Songs I-IX” - Stuard Saunders Smith

Call the Midwife trailer

“Three Winter Carols” - Stuart Saunders Smith

“The Authors” - Stuart Saunders Smith

“To the Earth” - Frederick Rzewski

Tucson Saguaros

Jaws (50th Anniversary) trailer

The Stand - Stephen King

The Running Man - Stephen King

The Running Man (1987) trailer

Creativity Inc. - Ed Catmull

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Outsiders - S.E. Hinton

Big Magic - Elizabeth Gilbert

Writing Poetry from the Inside Out - Sandford Lyne

On Writing - Stephen King

“Separate Ways” - Journey

“Me and Bobby McGee” - Janis Joplin

Eugene Novotney

The Museum of Modern Art (NYC)

“The Starry Night” - Vincent van Gogh

Raves:

Unguarded - Lenny Wilkens (with Terry Pluto)

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 474 - Francis Favis

December 18, 2025 Pete Zambito

University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Percussion Professor Francis Favis stops by to talk about his recent PASIC50 Performance during the New Music/Research session (04:05), his job at UTRGV, the unusual school setup, and mariachi music in south Texas (18:20), growing up in Bloomington Normal (IL), his family’s deep musical roots, early memories of playing drumset, marching band years, and working the school’s computer help desk at his high school (38:30), attending Illinois State for undergrad (52:30), George Mason University (VA) for his master’s (01:01:35), the University of Texas at Austin for his doctorate and the OU/UT football rivalry (01:12:50), his first job at Tarleton State University (TX) (01:28:45), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on performance, great Filipino food, great and terrible movies, science fiction books and movies, Radiohead, and the dangers of turning pages (01:35:30).

Finishing with a Rave of appreciation of the life of musician Raul Malo (02:01:40).

Francis Favis links:

Francis Favis’ Innovative Percussion Page

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Megan Arns in 2017

Julia Gaines-Montag in 2016

Troy Hall in 2020

Clif Walker in 2021

Andy Bliss in 2023

Gary Westbrook in 2017

Ivan Trevino in 2022

Tom Burritt in 2021

Marco Schirripa in 2022

Andy Harnsberger in 2022

Ben Charles in 2017

Bonnie Whiting in 2020

Other Links:

Nief-Norf

Caroline Vaughan-Richards

“Immigrant Song” - Led Zeppelin

School of Rock trailer

“The National Anthem” - Radiohead

“Believer” = Imagine Dragons

Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps

Cavaliers 2016 Indoor “Lost Boys”

“Shadow Chasers” - Michael Burritt

Lost tv soundtracks

David Collier

“Fractalia” - Owen Clayton Condon

Matt James

Jonathan Bisesi

John Spirtas

“Reflections on the Nature of Water” - Jacob Druckman

“Burritt Variations” - Alejandro Viñao

“Mirage” - Yasuo Sueyoshi

Jerry Junkin

Blade Runner 2049 trailer

Rubber trailer

Dune - Frank Herbert

The Martian Chronicles - Ray Bradbury

I, Robot - Isaac Asimov

“Crazy” - Le Sserafim

In Rainbows - Radiohead

The Bends - Radiohead

Monster - R.E.M.

Christopher O’Riley Plays Radiohead

Transplanted Roots Percussion Research Symposium

Raves:

Trampoline - The Mavericks

All Night Live, Volume 1 - The Mavericks

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 473 - Kassandra Kocoshis

December 11, 2025 Pete Zambito

Los Angeles City College (CA) Professor of Music and Freelancer Kassandra Kocoshis stops by to talk about her PASIC50 Presentation on Cajón performance in Flamenco performance and how she came to love this genre of music (05:10), her job at LACC, how she got the job, freelancing in California, and working with the artist Ebi (19:50), growing up in Muncie (IN), her early musical experiences, working with Erwin Mueller at Ball State University while in high school, and her experiences traveling at a young age (53:30), her undergrad years at DePaul University (IL), encountering flamenco music during this time, and freelancing in Chicago after undergrad (01:06:45), heading to CalArts for her master’s and working with Gustavo Dudamel as his personal assistant (01:21:15), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on developing well-rounded percussionists, being a woman in the percussion field, bad impressions, Greek food, World Cup Soccer, great books, working with pop stars, and the artwork of Pablo Picasso (01:31:30).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2025 film 28 Years Later (01:50:10).

Kassandra Kocoshis links:

Kassandra Kocochis’s homepage

Previous Podcast guests mentioned:

Damon Grant in 2021

Erin Walker Bliss in 2024

Other Links:

Indiana Ambassadors of Music

Life is Beautiful trailer

The Producers trailer (2005)

American Gods - Neil Gaiman

Circe - Madeline Miller

Museo Reina Sofia

Guernica - Pablo Picasso

Raves:

28 Days Later trailer

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 472 - Nick Costa

December 4, 2025 Pete Zambito

Philadelphia-based Educator, Drumset Artist, Content Creator and Freelancer Nick Costa stops by to talk about his PASIC50 Presentation (with Marc Dicciani) on effective drumset practicing (04:45), his work as a classroom music teacher, teaching group drum lessons, being a member of the PAS Drumset Committee, and creating content on TikTok and YouTube on drumset performance and restoration (19:45), his freelancing career and working within the drumset industry (41:00), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on getting away from the “tyranny of tradition”, great movies and books, cars, and Philadelphia sports and food (01:22:40).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2012 film The Master (01:53:40).

Nick Costa links:

Nick Costa’s website

Nick Costa’s YouTube page

Nick Costa’s TikTok page

Previous Podcast Guest mentioned:

Other Links:

“Undone: The Sweater Song” - Weezer

Dave Elitch

“Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” - AC/DC

Practically Single

That Thing You Do! trailer

Modern Suits

American Idiot at the 2010 Tony’s

Brian Frasier-Moore

George “Spanky” McCurdy

Lil John Roberts

Christian McBride

Villanova 2018 men’s basketball

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1990 trailer

My Cousin Vinny trailer

Goodfellas trailer

Breath - James Nestor

Wim Hof Method

Allen Iverson highlights

2017 Eagles Super Bowl

Angelo’s Pizzeria South Philly

Reading Terminal Market

Alpen Rose

Pinocchio’s Restaurant

Catching The Big Fish - David Lynch

Raves:

The Master trailer

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 471 - Frank Kumor

November 26, 2025 Pete Zambito

Kutztown University (PA) Percussion Director and Department Chair Frank Kumor stops by to talk about his PASIC50 New Music/Research Day performance of Jennifer Stasack’s “Six Elegies Dancing” and his longtime connection to the piece (03:55), his job at Kutztown University, the connections to the Center for Mallet Research at the school, his percussion staff, and the odd path to his job becoming tenure-track (24:40), growing up in Wilkes-Barre (PA), his beginnings in percussion, and his keyboard and organ experiences growing up (57:15), his undergrad and graduate percussion work at Kutztown, Duquesne (PA), and the University of Kentucky, and his work in the music industry after his doctorate (01:09:40), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on providing percussion ensemble experiences to young percussionists, David Sedaris, great performances, and the Art Institute of Chicago (01:33:15).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2025 film Bugonia (01:47:15).

Frank Kumor links:

Frank Kumor’s Kutztown University page

Frank Kumor’s Remo Drums page

Frank Kumor’s Paiste page

Frank Kumor’s Yamaha page

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Allen Otte in 2024

Scott Herring in 2022

William Moersch in 2019

Matthew Coley in 2021

Rebecca Kite in 2018

Julie Spencer in 2021

Neil Grover in 2023

Other Links:

David Stock

Jennifer Stasack

“Velocities” - Joseph Schwantner

“Two Mexican Dances” - Gordon Stout

Puerto Rico Festival de Percusiôn

Frédéric Macarez

Brett Dietz

Tambor Fantasma

Ballet Mechanique - George Antheil

Steve Weiss

Dana Kimble

The Wells-Rapp Center for Mallet Percussion Research

“Merlin” - Andrew Thomas

George Hamilton Green

“Muskrat Love” - Captain and Tennille

“Run to the Hills” - Iron Maiden

“Fooled Around and Fell in Love” - Elvin Bishop

Joseph Wilcox Jenkins

Martin Weir

Lost in Translation trailer

Twister trailer

David Sedaris

Ramsey’s Diner

Run to the Light - Ivan Trevino

The Art Institute of Chicago

Raves:

Bugonia trailer

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 470 - Michael Schutz

November 20, 2025 Pete Zambito

After talking about some of his experiences at PASIC50, McMaster University (ON) Percussion and Music Cognition Professor Michael Schutz stops by to talk about his PASIC50 Scholarly Research Presentation on Xylophone Music (06:00), his job at McMaster, the percussion ensemble program there, the Canadian Percussion Network, the city of Hamilton, and cold weather (20:55), growing up in Northern Virginia, his musical background , and his years as a soccer goalie (40:55), attending Penn State for undergrad and studying under Dan Armstrong and Giff Howarth (48:05), his master’s degree time at Northwestern (IL), studying with Michael Burritt and being in school with lots of outstanding percussionists (57:20), teaching percussion in Virginia and getting his Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Virginia (01:08:35), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on musicality, great books, the Toronto Blue Jays, and great food in many cities (01:20:40).

Finishing with a Rave on a recent performance by the American Ballet Theater (01:42:50).

Michael Schutz links:

Michael Schutz Homepage

Michael Schutz’s McMaster page

Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned:

Shawn Mativetsky in 2023

Victoria Sparks in 2018

Nicholas Papador in 2024

Gifford Howarth in 2024

David Skidmore in 2025

Sean Connors in 2025

Peter Martin in 2025

Robert Dillon in 2025

Matthew Coley in 2021

Eric Hollenbeck in 2025

Cory Hills in 2024

Jeff Barudin in 2018

Raves:

American Ballet Theatre

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 469 - 2025 PASIC Preview (Part 2)

November 11, 2025 Pete Zambito

PASIC 2025 IS HERE! Here’s Part 2 of our annual PASIC Preview Episodes (for the 50th PASIC)! Included today are conversations with presenters who will be appearing Thursday and Friday during the conference. Discussions are with Nick Costa (02:00), Kassandra Kocoshis (18:15), Lamon Lawhorn (34:45), and Michael Schutz (59:45).

The podcast closes with a shoutout to nearly 10 years of Previous Podcast Guests who are going to be presenting at the 2025 PASIC - thanks and congrats everyone! (01:15:00)

Links:

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 468 - 2025 PASIC Preview (Part 1)

November 11, 2025 Pete Zambito

PASIC 2025 is here! Let’s preview some of the presentations that you’ll be able to see. Today’s podcast focuses on those taking part in the Thursday New Music/Research Focus Day. You’ll get to hear from Francis Favis (02:20), Liz Soflin (18:00), Drew Tucker (31:00), Kristie Ibrahim, Gina Ryan, and Victoria Sparks of Triolet (50:00), and Frank Kumor (01:09:30).

Links:

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 467 - Ken Shorley

November 4, 2025 Pete Zambito

Acadia University (NS) Percussion Professor, as well as Freelancer, Composer, and Researcher Ken Shorley stops by to talk about his unusual faculty position at Acadia, his Freelancing career, traveling and studying musics of the world, and forming a performing duo with his wife (03:40), the Canadian Percussion Network and The Space Between conferences (43:25), growing up in Southern Ontario, along with discussions of his musical and literary influences (52:40), attending York University (ON) for undergrad and sticking around Toronto after graduation before moving to Nova Scotia (01:05:25), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments about physicality in percussion performance, classic movies, the author Helen Humphreys, and memorable live performances (01:20:15).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2025 film One Battle After Another (01:39:40).

Ken Shorley links:

Ken Shorley’s homepage

Ken Shorley’s YouTube page

Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned:

Shawn Mativetsky from 2023

Other Links:

Sahara Jane

Folk Music Ontario

Nova Scotia Music Week

Neil Peart

Trichy Sankaran

John Brownell

“Within You Without You” - The Beatles

Everygreen Club Contemporary Gamelan

Simon Cook

Novation Launchpad series

TorQ Percussion Quartet

Raves:

One Battle After Another trailer

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 466 - Mike Mixtacki

October 23, 2025 Pete Zambito

University of Tennessee-Knoxville Adjunct Professor of Percussion Mike Mixtacki stops by to talk about his new gig, his many jobs in the college world so far, and connecting to the Eastern Tennessee percussion community (02:10), growing up in Madison (WI), his percussion and piano background, earning his Eagle Scout badge, and playing in lots of bands in his early years (21:15), attending the University of Wisconsin for undergrad and Indiana University for his master’s (39:10), working at Northern Illinois University (01:02:50), the University of Texas at San Antonio (01:10:40), his years at Texas Tech University and the importance of having regular life and job discussions with one’s partner (01:17:30), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on cooking situations, bad action movies, Star Wars culture, Culver’s, current events podcasts, and reflecting on the life of Alan Shinn (01:31:30).

Finishing with a Rave on the Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel Wicked (01:57:50).

Mike Mixtacki Links:

Mike Mixtacki’s website

Mike Mixtacki’s Innovative Percussion website

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Andy Bliss from 2023

Erin Walker Bliss from 2024

Liam Teague from 2025

Sherry Rubins from 2016

Ben Wahlund from 2025

Lisa Rogers from 2017

Other Links:

“Down with the Sickness” - Disturbed

“Psychosocial” - Slipknot

“Bacalao Con Pan” - Irakere

Chucho Valdés Tiny Desk Concert

“Quimbara” - Celia Cruz & The Fania All Stars

Tito Puente on Sesame Street

Michael Spiro

Birch Creek Music Performance Center

Ten Summoners Tales - Sting

Cuba and its Music - Ned Sublette

Culver’s

Mehdi Hasan and Mark Ruffalo

The Ezra Klein Show

Raves:

Wicked - Gregory Maguire

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 465 - Shelby Blezinger-McCay

October 16, 2025 Pete Zambito

New York City-based freelancing percussionist and educator Shelby Blezinger-McCay stops by to talk about her job activities, moving to NY from grad school, and her experiences work with So Percussion (03:00), subbing for Broadway shows, NYC transit, and visiting Long Island (23:00), growing up near Dallas, her DCI years, and playing tennis (37:50), her undergrad years at Auburn University (AL) and her experiences of the Alabama-Auburn rivalry (52:15), her grad school years at the University of North Texas and her year performing with the World Percussion Group (01:08:25), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including discussions of intense opinions, being a woman in the percussion field, horror movies, cycling and tennis, and composer Heather Christian (01:30:15).

Finishing with a Rave on the recent collaboration between Marching Mizzou and His Majesty’s Royal Marines (01:56:15).

Shelby Blezinger-McCay links:

Shelby’s Maestra website

Previous Podcast Links:

Brian Zator in 2017

Mark Ford in 2023

She-e Wu in 2025

Raychel Taylor in 2020

Pauline Roberts in 2024

Other Links:

So Percussion

World Percussion Group