Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 508 - Jim McCarthy

August 20, 2026 Pete Zambito

Saskatchewan-based instrument designer, builder, tuner, and band arranger Jim McCarthy stops by to talk about all of his current work, along with the mallet bar retuning process (03:45), his Canadian Percussion Network conference presentations on his contrabass marimba and vibraphone motor manipulation (18:20), growing up in Adelaide (AUS), his interest in many musical genres and beginning on drumset, and the sports, music education, and weather scene in southern Australia (50:05), his time in undergrad at the University of Adelaide (01:10:00), his post-undergrad years freelancing, performing, arranging, and teaching, along with commentary about his volleyball career (01:23:30), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on marimba design, Australian accents, personal health, movie comedies, great books, and traveling around the world (01:39:40).

Finishing with a Rave on the classic novel Vanity Fair (02:15:00).

Jim McCarthy links:

Make a Marimba homepage

Jim’s “Vibes Motor Unlimited” page

Jim McCarthy’s bio at the Make a Marimba webpage

Stick Technique - Jim McCarthy

Jim McCarthy’s Percussion Clinic page

Previous Podcast guests mentioned:

Michael Schutz in 2025

John Wooton in 2022

Other Links:

James Bailey PAS Hall of Fame page

Helmholtz Resonators

Arturo Sandoval

Gary Burton

Australian Contemporary Percussion - Louise Devenish

Tower Heist trailer

The African Queen trailer

Dodgeball trailer

Monty Python and the Holy Grail trailer

Talladega Nights trailer

The Man Who Captured Eichmann trailer

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series - Douglas Adams

Last Chance to See - Douglas Adams

The Many-Colored Land - Julian May

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - Robert Pirsig

Jonathan Livingston Seagull - Richard Bach

Raves:

Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 507 - Leonardo Soto

August 13, 2026 Pete Zambito

Principal Timpanist for the Houston Symphony (TX) Leonardo Soto stops by to talk about his main gig, teaching at the University of Miami (FL), working at summer festivals, secrets of auditioning, and maintaining a busy schedule (03:35), his previous orchestral jobs at the Detroit Opera (MI) and Charlotte Symphony (NC) and his experiences on the audition circuit later in his career (33:45), growing up in Chile, his father the drummer and pop musician, the legacy of Chilean orchestral percussionists, studying percussion in Chile, and the challenges of equipment and music resources in the country (45:20), his master’s degree work at Carnegie-Mellon University (PA), studying with Tim Adams and (later) Tom Freer, early audition experiences, and learning English through Seinfeld and the Rush Hour movies (01:04:05), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on student learning styles, his sporting activities and doing cardio, playing athletic timpani music, Rafa Nadal, Chilean soccer, cooking mishaps, great books, and seeing the artwork in The Vatican (01:27:20).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2026 documentary Cookie Queens (02:04:55).

Leonardo Soto links:

Leonardo Soto’s Houston Symphony page

Leonardo Soto’s University of Miami page

Leonardo Soto’s Remo page

Timpani Concerto - Andy Akiho (Leonardo Soto, soloist)

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

She-e Wu in 2025

Pablo Rieppi in 2024

Andrés Espinoza in 2018

Other Links:

Matthew Strauss

Brevard Music Center

Grand Teton Music Festival

National Youth Orchestra

La Sonora de Tommy Rey

The All-American Drummer: 150 Rudimental Solos - Charley Wilcoxin

Etudes for Timpani - Richard Hochrainer

Rafa Nadal

The Inner Game of Music - Barry Green

City Lights trailer

Cinema Paradiso trailer

The Undefeated Mind - Alex Lickerman

The Alchemist - Paulo Coehlo

Meditations - Marcus Aurelius

Myriam Hernandez

The Vatican

Raves:

Cookie Queens trailer

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 506 - Reed Puleo

August 6, 2026 Pete Zambito

Denver-based percussionist and educator Reed Puleo stops by to talk about establishing himself in the Denver area and his Fulbright Award to study and work in Austria (02:20), growing up in New Jersey, family members in the arts, his early start in percussion ensemble and percussion performance, and his marching band experiences (34:25), attending Boston Conservatory (MA) for undergrad (47:35), living and studying in Amsterdam after undergrad, the challenges of being there at the time, and heading to the University of Michigan to complete his masters during and after the COVID epidemic (01:02:00), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including segments on developing young percussionists, maintaining his physical and mental health, cooking, great movies, New Jersey foods, and Curb Your Enthusiasm (01:17:35).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2023 documentary Karen Carpenter: Starving for Perfection (01:44:40).

Reed Puleo Links:

Reed Puleo’s webpage

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Michael Jones in 2026

Other Links:

Lucerne Festival Academy

Impulse New Music Festival

Kenneth Piascik

“Three Brothers” - Michael Colgrass

“Ostinato Pianissimo” - Henry Cowell

“Variations on a Ghanaian Theme - Dan Levitan

“Hop(2)” - Paul Lansky

From My Little Island - Robert Aldridge

American Songbook II - George Crumb

A Different Man trailer

Unfrosted trailer

The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger

Jannik Sinner

“Mr. Brightside” - The Killers

Rose Garden

Raves:

Karen Carpenter: Starving for Perfection trailer

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 505 - Luke Helker

July 30, 2026 Pete Zambito

Fort Hays State (KS) Director of Percussion Studies Luke Helker stops by to talk about the FHSU job and about recruiting to a small regional college (02:45), his recent presentation at the Canadian Percussion Network’s annual conference and its beginnings (17:05), growing up in Pennsylvania, his vast array of musical influences and experiences, getting to travel with family, and his years of undergrad at Millersville University (PA) studying percussion and audio production (25:50), his grad school years at the University of Kansas, his time as a wedding DJ, studying under Mike Compitello and Sam Um, and his early teaching experiences (49:10), and then Luke settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including segments on marching vs. concert percussion, great and terrible movies, John Steinbeck, metal music, Philly sports, and the artist Alphonse Mucha (01:11:30).

Finishing with a Rave on the book and movie versions of The Odyssey (01:48:05).

Luke Helker Links:

Luke Helker’s website

Luke Helker’s Fort Hays State website

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Michael Jones in 2026

Other Links:

Ryan Pearson

“Child of Tree” - John Cage

“The Ice is Talking” - Vivian Fung

“Allegro ma non troppo” - Unsuk Chin

“Echolalia” - Mark Applebaum

Oklahoma!

ABBA

Mozart for Monday Mornings

Stick Control - George L. Stone

Syncopation - Ted Reed

Toccata for Percussion Instruments - Carlos Chavez

Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture - PI Tchaikovsky

Symphony No. 2 - Jean Sibelius

“Starships” - Nikki Minaj

“Fireball” - Pitbull

“At Last” - Etta James

“I Loved Her First” - Heartland

“Celebration” - Kool and the Gang

“Shout” - The Isley Brothers

“Wobble” - V.I.C.

“Yeah!” - Usher and Lil Jon

“Turn Down for What” - DJ Snake and Lil Jon

Ed Sheeran

“Art of Almost” - Wilco

Reflections on the Nature of Water - Jacob Druckman

Huberman Lab podcast

NOPE trailer

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift trailer

Orbital - Samantha Harvey

The Winter of Our Discontent - John Steinbeck

Phillies 2008 World Series

Eagles vs. Patriots Super Bowl LII

Jaylen Brown

Wawa

“Friends in Low Places” - Garth Brooks

Alphonse Mucha - Nelson Atkins Museum

Raves:

The Odyssey - Homer (translation by Emily Wilson)

The Odyssey trailer

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 504 - Kathy Armstrong

July 23, 2026 Pete Zambito

Carleton University (ON) Ethnomusicologist and Director of Fine Arts Kathy Armstrong stops by to talk about her job, teaching West African drumming and dance, Baobab, and traveling and learning in Ghana for many years (03:30), her recent Canadian Percussion Network Conference presentation and the importance of Global Percussion Studies in standard Western Percussion tradition (21:45), growing up in the Scarborough area of Toronto, her early musical influences (including Soul and Funk music), her wonderful public school music background, the idea of “rhythmic tapestry”, and her experiences in the Girl Guides of Canada (36:10), attending the University of Toronto, studying with members of NEXUS, her post-undergrad experience and branching out into an entrepreneurship mindset (57:15), and finishing with the Random Ass Questions, including segments working in world percussion, the importance of maintaining physical and mental health, baking, sports, and great movies and poetry (01:18:00).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2026 FIFA World Cup (01:45:05).

Kathy Armstrong links:

Kathy Armstrong’s website

Kathy Armstrong’s Carleton University page

Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned:

Daniel Noonan in 2026

Chrissie Souza in 2024

Sarah Hasekamp in 2024

Fabrice Marandola in 2026

Kristie Ibrahim in 2024

Other Links:

NEXUS Percussion

Stevie Wonder

Breakfast in America - Supertramp

Earth, Wind, and Fire

Tower of Power

Led Zeppelin

Nina Simone

Earth, Wind & Fire documentary

Summer of Soul trailer

Peter Gabriel live in 1986

The Specials

“Come Talk to Me” - Peter Gabriel

“English Folk Song Suite” - Ralph Vaughan Williams

Sting

Paul Simon

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Fall On Your Knees - Ann-Marie MacDonald

Outlander - Diana Gabaldon

K.C. and the Sunshine Band

“Shake It Off” - Taylor Swift

Kirk Franklin

“Le Freak” - CHIC

Northern Super League

The Professional Women’s Hockey League

Rumi

Mary Oliver

Raves:

The 2026 FIFA World Cup

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 503 - Daniel Noonan

July 16, 2026 Pete Zambito

Recent Mizzou Masters of Music degree graduate in Percussion Performance Daniel Noonan stops by to talk about his degree recital and his interest in avant-garde music (04:00), his assistantship with the New Music Ensemble, working with new composers, and international travel (18:30), his experiences playing in various ensembles, the Odyssey Chamber Music Series in Columbia, and some of the other Mizzou Graduate Percussionists Daniel worked with (34:25), growing up in Morganton (NC), the issues of access to quality instruction in rural areas, his marching band experiences, and English class and his favorite books from the time (48:45), attending Western Carolina University for undergrad, Cullowee (NC), and studying under Dr. Adam Groh (01:02:00), getting to Mizzou and studying with Dr. Megan Arns (01:18:15), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including segments on early percussion education, cooking gumbo, The Hitchhiker’s Guide book series, Ireland, and the great foods of North Carolina (01:28:10).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2026 film Disclosure Day (01:55:30).

Daniel Noonan Link:

Daniel Noonan’s Instagram

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Julia Gaines-Montag in 2016

Megan Arns in 2026

Matthew Hinkle in 2026

Nathan Daughtrey in 2021

Cara Wildman in 2021

Other Links:

“Song for Low Tree” - Matthew Burtner

“Toccata” - Anna Ignatowicz

“She Who Sleeps with a Small Blanket” - Kevin Volans

“Rebonds B” - Iannis Xenakis

So Percussion Summer Institute

“Millenium Canticles” - Missy Mazzoli

“Ionisation” - Edgard Varese

Eighth Blackbird

Bang on a Can

Machu Picchu

Odyssey Chamber Music Series

The Pieces that Fall to Earth - Christopher Cerrone

“White Pines” - Michael Burritt

“Pillar 1” - Andy Akiho

Les Misérables - Victor Hugo

“XY” - Michael Gordon

Dubliners - James Joyce

Matt Henley

Diana Loomer

“Third Construction” - John Cage

“Canticle No. 3” - Lou Harrison

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

“meditation for metal pipes” - Emma O’Halloran

Fantastic Mr. Fox trailer

Madame Web trailer

Avatar: Fire and Ash trailer

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams

Discworld - Terry Pratchett

Monty Python’s Flying Circus opening credits

Robert Honstein

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard

JD’s Smokehouse

Cook Out

Bojangles

Raves:

Disclosure Day trailer

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 502 - Greg Herron

July 9, 2026 Pete Zambito

Maryland-based freelance percussionist and educator Greg Herron stops by to talk about his new job as McDonogh School Upper School Band Director and Music Technology teacher, along with his private percussion teaching practice (02:25), his start to freelancing, and his career and life in Boston, Mexico, studying in Cuba, and heading back to Baltimore (11:50), growing up in many locations in the U.S., his active musical background, studying at the University of Miami (FL) and Boston Conservatory (MA), the many teachers who influenced him, and the importance of networking for freelancing gigs (41:50), and finishing with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on instrument rentals, working with administration, and taking care of his physical and mental health (01:24:05).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2018 book Atomic Habits (01:38:25).

Greg Herron links:

Greg Herron’s webpage

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Jenna Duranko in 2026

Other Links:

The Karate Kid trailer

Caleb Herron

I’m Possible - Richard White

Dontae Winslow

D.J. Sparr

“Eruption” - Van Halen

Lion Performance Hall

Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer - Jim Chapin

Raves:

Atomic Habits - James Clear

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 501 - Michael Jones

July 2, 2026 Pete Zambito

New York-based Percussionist, Recording Artist, Researcher and Educator Michael Jones stops by to talk about his current teaching job at Bard College (NY) and his work throughout the school (04:40), how his graduate studies at UC-San Diego influenced his solo CD projects (17:30), his philosophical research on ontology and percussion instrument ideology and modernity, and questions about what “total percussion” means today (30:30), growing up in Connecticut, his progressive metal music background, high school band, and his involvement in the Live Action Role-Playing community (58:25), his undergrad years at the Hartt School of Music (CT) and studying under Ben Toth and many of the other faculty there (01:12:45), more about his graduate work at UCSD, studying under Steven Schick, and many of his UCSD student colleagues (01:25:35), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including segments on the impact of YouTube on young musicians, discussions of mental health, metal music, great books, and the San Diego Superbloom (01:39:40).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2026 documentary Earth, Wind & Fire (02:08:20).

Michael Jones Links:

Michael Jones’ website

Michael Jones’ Bard College page

Michael Jones’ Discography

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Steven Schick from 2025

Rebecca Lloyd-Jones from 2022

Nicholas Papador from 2024

Other Links:

“Psappha” - Iannis Xenakis

The Percussionist’s Art - Steven Schick

Amy Cimini

Unsound Supplies - Fanny Gribenski (editor)

Anthropocene Period

Writing the Implosion - Joseph Dumit

Between the Buried and Me

From Me Flows What You Call Time - Toru Takemitsu

Percussion Group Cincinnati

Herbert Brün

Bill Solomon

“Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird” - Lukas Foss

William Winant

“Bone Alphabet” - Brian Ferneyhough

“Persephassa” - Iannis Xenakis

Zen and the Art of Archery - Eugene Herrigel

Fiona Digney

Princess Mononoke trailer

Star Wars: The Last Jedi trailer

Rakesfall - Vajra Chandrasekera

Swann’s Way - Marcel Proust (Lydia Davis translation)

Meshuggah

San Diego Superbloom

Nardelli’s

Zetsu No. 8 - Nishida Jun

Raves:

Earth, Wind & Fire documentary trailer

Pete's Percussion Podcast: EPISODE 500!!! - The Return of Megan Arns

June 18, 2026 Pete Zambito

It’s Episode 500, and the 10-year Anniversary of Pete’s Percussion Podcast! After Pete talks about the early days of the show (01:45), he welcomes back his Mizzou colleague, member of the Percussive Arts Society Board of Directors, Percussionist, Educator and Administrator Megan Arns back to the show for the first time in 8 years! Megan talks about her early years in percussion and her experiences and jobs prior to taking the Percussion Director Position at Mizzou in 2014 (12:00), her 12 years so far at Mizzou, what’s she’s learned, her administrative role, the job market and the challenges for future percussion teachers (17:30), working with grad students these days and her own experiences as a grad student (36:30), why she’s involved in PAS Leadership now, having a family and the challenges and opportunities of continuing to keep a professional career (44:00), her work with the Switch~ Ensemble (01:03:30), when her mentor Michael Burritt came to visit Mizzou in the spring (01:11:00), and a brief Random Ass Questions segment including managing her own physical and mental health, her knowledge of children’s media, new and upcoming travels, her father the college professor, “full send”, and some kudos to Pete for the podcast (01:21:35).

Finishing with the Raves, including some FAQs about the podcast and Pete’s heartfelt thanks to the guests and the fans of the show (01:38:00).

Megan Arns Links:

Megan Arns’ website

Megan Arns’ Mizzou page

Switch~ Ensemble website

Bill Kalinkos

Previous Megan Arns’s podcast appearances:

Megan in 2016

Megan in 2017

Megan in 2018

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned in this episode:

John Parks IV in 2018

Troy Hall in 2020

Clif Walker in 2021

Mark Ford in 2023

William Moersch in 2019

Joshua Simonds in 2022

Other Links:

Lewis & Clark Fife and Drum Corps

Colts Drum & Bugle Corps

Michael Bump

Michael Burritt

Royal Hartigan

“Kakamora” from Moana

Experimental Media and Performing Arts Theater

KPop Demon Hunters trailer

Moana trailer

Frozen trailer

Wicked trailer

“Takedown” from KPop Demon Hunters

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 499 - Matthew Hinkle

June 11, 2026 Pete Zambito

Recent Master of Music in Percussion Performance graduate from the University of Missouri Matthew Hinkle stops by to talk about his Master’s degree recital program (03:35), his graduate assistantship duties in percussion and recording services (11:10), his interactions with the Mizzou faculty, his enjoyment of the grad cohort there, and his future in percussion (29:00), growing up in the St. Louis area, getting into percussion, and his years in DCI and WGI (44:40), his time attending community college while prepping for DCI auditions as well as getting starting working with high school drumlines (01:00:45), his undergrad years at Lindenwood University (MO) (01:07:15), his path to getting to Mizzou and more about his time as a percussion student (01:16:10), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on WGI and DCI and how they supplement the undergrad percussion student, the bad movie Anaconda, cooking, great books, classic video games, and the music of Richard Strauss (01:27:20).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2026 film I Love Boosters (01:54:40).

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Megan Arns in 2016

Julia Gaines-Montag in 2016

Troy Hall in 2020

Clif Walker in 2021

Connor Stevens in 2021

Other Links:

Great Plains International Marimba Competition

“Caleidoscopio” - Gene Kosinski

“Canaries” - Elliot Carter

“The Anvil Chorus” - David Lang

“Khan Variations” - Alejandro Viñao

“White Pines” - Michael Burritt

The Missouri Symphony

Blue Devils DCI

Freedom Percussion WGI

2019 Blue Devils show

Sebastian Buhts

David Arns

Interstellar trailer

Anaconda trailer

The Percussionist’s Art - Steven Schick

Meditations - Marcus Aurelius

Gone With the Wind - Margaret Mitchell

Ein Heidenleben - Richard Strauss

Raves:

I Love Boosters trailer

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 498 - Sam Quinones

June 4, 2026 Pete Zambito

Following Pete’s thoughts about his experiences at the Canadian Percussion Network’s “The Space Between V” conference, Author and journalist Sam Quinones (The Perfect Tuba) stops by to talk about Sam’s career in journalism, growing up in California, crime reporting, and writing about tuba players and band directors (06:05), his relationship with music, his love of various genres and styles, and his background in punk rock (16:20), his first jobs in writing and building his writing skill set, talking to interesting people, and some of his favorite writers (25:00), his early research on the book, Tuba Fats, and Robert Caro (36:05), the connections between addiction and fulfillment through hard work in music, along with the needs of bands directors to become advocates for their work (41:50), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, with segments on the challenges for young journalists today, The Godfather films, and great music from The Rolling Stones, Sun Ra, and Emmylou Harris (01:05:45).

Finishing with a Rave on the Sam Quinones book The Perfect Tuba: Forging Fulfillment from the Bass Horn, Band, and Hard Work (01:20:10).

Sam Quinones Links:

Sam Quinones’ website

The Perfect Tuba - Sam Quinones

Other Links:

The Stockton Record

The Los Angeles Times

June 17, 1994 trailer (The OJ Simpson chase)

Folk Music Center

“Carol” - The Rolling Stones

“Mama Tried” - Merle Haggard

“Stand By Your Man” - Tammy Wynette

“Jambalaya” - Clifton Chenier

“La Puerta Negra” - Los Tigres Del Norte

“Sweet Emotion” - Aerosmith

“What’s Your Name” - Lynyrd Skynyrd

“Chain Saw” - The Ramones

“Clampdown” - The Clash

“California Uber Alles” - Dead Kennedys

Killings - Calvin Trillin

Robert Caro

The Corpse Had a Familiar Face - Edna Buchanan

On Writing Well - William Zinsser

Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro

The Godfather trailer

The Godfather Part II trailer

Goodfellas trailer

“Me and Billy the Kid” - Joe Ely

“Space is The Place” - Sun Ra

Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town - Emmylou Harris

Raves:

The Perfect Tuba - Sam Quinones

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 497 - Candice Hill

May 28, 2026 Pete Zambito

Kansas City-based freelancing percussionist, educator, Steel Pan artist, composer and arranger Candice Hill stops by to talk about her career in KC and getting started there, along with her time performing with the Kansas City Chiefs drumline (03:45), teaching and performing in town, arranging and composing, and her work “Red City Calypso” (21:30), growing up in Columbia (MO) and her family musical background (34:45), her undergrad years at Missouri State University, marching band and lessons, getting into steel pan performance, and Music Education vs. Music Performance degrees (44:55), attending Northern Illinois University for her master’s in Steel Pan Performance, studying with Liam Teague and Cliff Alexis, dealing with performance anxiety, and keeping up with her non-steel band percussion skills (01:04:15), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including segments on being a woman in the field of percussion, Pete getting to work with Candice and Emily Lemmermann for the Missouri Mass Steel Band performance last month, Dirty Dancing, Crafts and Baking, experiencing Panorama in Trinidad and Tobago, bad cleaning jobs, and the excellence of Steel Band all over the world (01:27:20).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2026 film Michael (01:54:30).

Candice Hill Links:

Candice Hill’s website

“Red City Calypso” - Candice Hill

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Emily Lemmermann in 2019

Julia Gaines-Montag in 2016

Scott Cameron in 2016

Liam Teague in 2025

Rich Holly in 2020

Raychel Taylor in 2020

Amanda Duncan in 2023

Elizabeth DeLamater in 2019

Other Links:

Matt Arnet

“Tornado” - Mitch Markovich

“Because” - The Beatles

“Island in the Sun” - Len “Boogsie” Sharpe

Yuko Asada

Mia Gormandy-Benjamin

Robert Chappell

Scott McConnell

Dirty Dancing trailer

Unheard Voices - Myrna Nurse

Cricut crafts

“Pan by Storm” - Skiffle Bunch

Ben Yancey

Raves:

Michael trailer

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 496 - Terry Sweeney

May 21, 2026 Pete Zambito

Sandbox Percussion Member and Educator Terry Sweeney stops by to talk about his work with Sandbox, their teaching at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Mannes (NY), and the Bob Van Sice influence (03:50), the beginnings of Sandbox Percussion, Terry’s challenges of performing in Sandbox and finishing his master’s degree at the same time, the Brooklyn studio, and the challenges and workings of scheduling (19:40), growing up in Michigan, his drumset and drumline background, and connecting with Gwen Dease through Interlochen (57:00), attending Peabody Conservatory (MD) for undergrad and studying with Bob Van Sice, and heading to Yale University (CT) for grad school, continuing with Van Sice, and some of the other folks he worked with during his time there (01:11:00), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on working with Andy Akiho, training for triathlons, his fandom for popcorn, and the work Canto Ostinato (01:18:15).

Finishing with a Rave on the band Sound Society (01:51:20).

Terry Sweeney links:

Sandbox Percussion

Terry at Sandbox

Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned:

Victor Caccese in 2019

Ian Rosenbaum in 2025

Jonny Allen in 2026

Gwen Dease in 2017

Garrett Arney in 2019

Amy Smith in 2018

Julie Hill in 2019

Julie Davila in 2019

David Skidmore in 2025

Sean Connors in 2025

Peter Martin in 2025

Robert Dillon in 2025

Other Links:

Robert Van Sice

“Extremes” - Jason Treuting

“Mallet Quartet” - Steve Reich

“Drumming” - Steve Reich

“Porgy and Bess” xylophone excerpt

Modern School for Xylophone, Marimba, and Vibraphone - Morris Goldenberg

Yale Percussion Group

“Mirage” - Yasuo Sueyoshi

Paul Berry

“Time for Marimba” - Minoru Miki

Aftersun trailer

A Rainy Day in New York trailer

My Struggle - Karl One Knausgard

Canto Ostinato - Simeon ten Holt

Raves:

Sound Society

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 495 - Genevieve Hilburn (Part 2)

May 14, 2026 Pete Zambito

California-based Percussionist, Educator, and Adjudicator Genevieve Hilburn returns for Part 2 of our conversation! She’s here to discuss getting into the Master’s Program at East Texas A&M University, studying with Brian Zator and his community of percussion experts, and the focus on developing young percussionists there (04:20), Genevieve’s experiences with the drumline at the school, her post-master’s degree plans, getting her jobs at CSU-Bakersfield and Bakersfield College, and her thoughts on the job considerations and preparations for graduate students (27:05), and she settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including segments on counting rests, being a woman in the percussion world, “programmatic intent”, vintage clothing and furniture, Wes Anderson Movies, great books, Australia, the Blue Coats, and so much more (48:50).

Finishing with a Rave on the books that supported Pete’s teaching of his Music and the Movies course at Mizzou (01:35:40).

Genevieve Hilburn Links:

Part 1 with Genevieve Hilburn

Genevieve Hilburn’s Bakersfield College page

Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned:

Britton-René Collins in 2023

Brian Zator in 2017

Lauren Teel in 2017

The Vesna Duo in 2022

Louis Raymond-Kolker in 2024

Mark Ford in 2023

Julie Davila in 2019

Kathryn Irwin in 2024

Alexis C. Lamb in 2021

Gwen Dease in 2017

Casey Cangelosi in 2017

Kevin Bobo in 2017

Victoria Sparks in 2018

Other Links:

Sean Clark

Cavaliers 1995 DCI Show - “The Planets”

Moonrise Kingdom trailer

The Grand Budapest Hotel trailer

The Royal Tenenbaums trailer

Fantastic Mr. Fox trailer

Star Wars, Episode 1: The Phantom Menace trailer

To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

Braiding Sweetgrass - Robin Wall Kimmerer

Dashner Design and Restoration

The Crocodile Hunter

H-E-B Tres Leches Cake

TIERRAS South Texas Percussion Competition

2019 Blue Coats Warmup

Raves:

Audio-Vision: Sound on Screen - Michel Chion

Reel Music: Exploring 100 Years of Film Music - Roger Hickman

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 494 - Genevieve Hilburn (Part 1)

May 7, 2026 Pete Zambito

California State University – Bakersfield and Bakersfield College Percussion Professor Genevieve Hilburn stops by to talk about her teaching at both schools (04:20), the influence of DCI and WGI on teaching in California schools and the challenges of teaching in the performing arts (15:00), getting into the WGI judging circuit, her work with the Percussive Arts Society and her freelancing career (29:45), growing up in Southern California, her early years in music, and her time in the Girl Scouts (49:40), and her time in undergrad at the CSU – Northridge (01:01:50).

Finishing with a Rave on a recent performance with the Missouri Symphony on their “Best of Broadway” concert (01:08:00).

Genevieve Hilburn links:

Genevieve Hilburn’s Bakersfield College page

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Britton-René Collins in 2023

Brian Zator in 2017

Lauren Teel in 2017

The Vesna Duo in 2022

Louis Raymond-Kolker in 2024

Other Links:

James Logan Band and Color Guard

Raves:

The Missouri Symphony Orchestra

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 493 - Jenna Duranko

April 30, 2026 Pete Zambito

Maryland-based Freelancing Percussionist, Recording Artist, Composer, Author and Admissions Counselor Jenna Duranko stops by to talk about her career, her seminary studies, playing in senior-living spaces, and her recent album Mosaic (04:20), growing up in Frederick (MD), her early musical background in choir, piano and French horn, and her time in the girl scouts (24:00), attending Radford University (VA) for undergrad, recent podcast guest Meridythe Witt, becoming a percussion major and starting from scratch, and majoring in Music Business (34:20), her 7 years working in radio, creating a career through solo marimba performance, how the pandemic changed her career and called her towards ministry, and her current composition project (53:40), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including segments on why musicians always need to be paid, Tervis Tumblers, the band B*Witched, The Pittsburgh Steelers, library work, Macado’s Restaurant, and the Artemis II (01:12:40).

Finishing with a Rave on Pete’s experiences with the 2026 Missouri Day of Percussion and co-leading the Mass Steel Band (01:38:15).

Jenna Duranko links:

Jenna Duranko’s Facebook page

Jenna Duranko’s Instagram page

Mosaic - Jenna Duranko

Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned:

Meridythe Witt in 2026

Jeff Calissi in 2017

Megan Arns in 2017

Emily Lemmermann in 2019

Brian Zator in 2017

Connor Viets in 2024

Other Links:

Robert Sanderl

Lancaster Theological Seminary

Preaching and Music - Catherine Williams

“Michi” - Keiko Abe

“Wind in the Bamboo Grove” - Keiko Abe

Taubmann Museum of Art

National Ovarian Cancer Coalition

Rizpah

B*Witched

Tervis Tumblers

The Legend of Bagger Vance trailer

Gone with the Wind trailer

The Giver - Lois Lowry

Ben Roethlisberger highlights

Aaron Rodgers highlights

Mike Tomlin

Macado’s

Highlander Pizza

Raves:

2026 Missouri Day of Percussion

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 492: Caitlin Cawley

April 23, 2026 Pete Zambito

New York City-based Freelancing Percussionist, Teacher and Composer Caitlin Cawley stops by to talk about her professional life and her work with the percussion groups Talujon and Mantra Percussion (04:20), growing up on Long Island, her musical beginnings, and her time in the Juilliard pre-college program (22:00), attending Boston University and Manhattan School of Music for her undergrad and grad career, and how the pandemic and a health scare changed the scope of her percussion future (47:40), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including discussions of her experiences in the percussion world as a woman, great science-fiction books and series, New York Pizza, the New York Rangers, great visual art, and KPOP Demon Hunters (01:17:20).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2025 documentary film Thank You Very Much (01:44:40).

Caitlin Cawley Links:

Caitlin Cawley’s website

Talujon

Mantra Percussion

Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned:

Mika Godbole in 2026

Ian Antonio in 2023

Maria Finkelmeier in 2018

Other Links:

“Get Off of My Cloud” - The Rolling Stones

“Honky Tonk Women” - The Rolling Stones

“Sonic Meditation 1” - Pauline Oliveros

The Fifth Element trailer

Whiplash trailer

The Great Cities - NK Jemisin

The Dune Series - Frank Herbert

Ursula K. Le Guin

The Daevabad Trilogy - S.A. Chakraborty

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi - S.A. Chakraborty

Empire AI - Karen Hao

R.F. Kuang

Katie Ledecky

New York Rangers 1994 Stanley Cup

Joe and Sal’s Pizza

KPop Demon Hunters trailer

Raves:

Thank You Very Much trailer

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 491 - Bob McCormick

April 16, 2026 Pete Zambito

Current Tampa-based Percussion Freelancer and Educator and Retired Director of Percussion Studies at the University of South Florida Bob McCormick stops by to talk about his current life and how he stays healthy (03:40), growing up in Cleveland and Southern California, his early musical influences and his time in undergrad (10:55), his work with the Army band and getting his master’s degree (27:30), his year of playing in Harry Partch’s Ensemble (36:15), teaching briefly at Florida State University before heading to USF, building the program there, literature choices in the early years, and the importance of investing in recordings (45:00), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including his feelings on current percussion literature, the PASIC New Music/Research Day, the musical landscape during the first half of the 20th century, Tony Cirone’s “Symphony Special”, and so much more! (01:19:20)

Finishing with a Rave about Pete performing How to Train Your Dragon live in concert with the Missouri Symphony (01:39:05).

Bob McCormick Links:

McCormick Percussion Group Homepage

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Lee Hinkle in 2026

Kevin von Kampen in 2024

Neil Grover in 2023

Jeff Moore in 2023

Andrea Venet in 2018

Chrissie Souza in 2024

Sarah Hasekamp in 2024

Other Links:

“Zyklus” - Karlheinz Stockhausen

“Canaries” - Elliott Carter

Ed Thigpen

Larry Austin

Stuart Saunders Smith

Thad Anderson

Svet Stoyanov

“Synchronisms No. 5” - Mario Davidovsky

“Marimbastuck” - Maki Ishii

Payton MacDonald

Baljinder Sekhon

Michael Colgrass

2001: A Space Odyssey trailer

The Sound of Music trailer

Artful Noise - Tom Siwe

The Rest is Noise - Alex Ross

Pierrot lunaire - Arnold Schoenberg

Wozzeck - Alban Berg

Raves:

How to Train Your Dragon in Concert

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 490 - Lee Hinkle

April 9, 2026 Pete Zambito

Pennsylvania State University Percussion Professor Lee Hinkle stops by to talk about all things Penn State, getting hired during the pandemic, negotiating the job, and entrepreneurship classes (03:35), his predecessor Dan Armstrong, the facilities, recruitment, and Penn State football (18:20), freelancing and his faculty teaching load (32:55), his recent album release Modern American Percussion Concerti (41:00), growing up in central Florida, the folk musicians in his family, marching band, drumset, and martial arts (50:20), attending the University of South Florida for undergrad, focusing on percussion and voice performance, and the importance of vocal pedagogy in musical performance (01:02:35), attending the University of Maryland for his master’s and doctorate, then transitioning to a faculty position soon after (01:19:20), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including the tearing down the silos of the percussion world, his active physical health regimen, student memes, great books, scuba diving and submersibles, and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (01:35:05).

Finishing with a Rave on a recent live performance by the UK band The Last Dinner Party (01:58:40).

Lee Hinkle Links:

Lee Hinkle’s Website

Modern American Percussion Concerti - Lee Hinkle

Williamsport Symphony Orchestra

Lee Hinkle’s Penn State Page

21st Century Consort

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Cameron Leach in 2023

Dan Piccolo in 2020

Gwen Dease in 2017

Jauvon Gilliam in 2019

Other Links:

Dan Armstrong

Gregory Drane

Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin

Altoona Symphony Orchestra

Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra

Nittany Valley Symphony

Washington Master Chorale

Evelyn Glennie’s Concertos page

American Composers Alliance

“Conjurer” - John Corigliano

“The Wanton Song” - Led Zeppelin

“What is Hip?” - Tower of Power

311 Tiny Desk Concert

“Signed, Sealed, Delivered” - Stevie Wonder

“Longview” - Green Day

“A Love Supreme” - John Coltrane (Elvin Jones, drums)

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” - Nirvana

Isshin-ryu

Annetta Monroe

The Harry Partch Ensemble

Lou Harrison

John Cage

John Tafoya

John Tafoya’s Orchestral Repertory Books

Shutter Island trailer

Signs trailer

Rachael Ray

Jack Reacher series - Lee Child

The Devil in the White City - Erik Larson

A Walk in the Woods - Bill Bryson

Guns, Germs, and Steel - Jared Diamond

Collapse - Jared Diamond

Pacific Crest Trail

Stanley Submarines

Ninth Symphony - L.V. Beethoven

Raves:

The Last Dinner Party’s website

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 489 - Mike Vercelli

April 2, 2026 Pete Zambito

West Virginia University Director of the School of Music and Director of the World Music Performance Center Mike Vercelli stops by to talk about his work at WVU along with their incredible percussion inventory (03:10), his work navigating the new financial reality for colleges and the importance of developing entrepreneurship in students (18:00), growing up in New Hampshire, his percussion and music background, his unusual lessons background, and playing in rock bands and youth orchestra (29:50), attending UConn for undergrad, his various teachers at the program, and the growth of men’s and women’s college basketball there (38:30), his master’s degree at Bowling Green State (OH) and his first prominent experiences in world percussion, including his first trip to Ghana (45:05), taking time away from school, teaching and freelancing in Ohio and Arizona, heading to the University of Arizona for his doctorate, and his 6 months of study in Ghana (54:05), and finishing with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on the inclusion of world percussion in a western arts curriculum, making hot sauce and spicy foods, travel writer Paul Theroux, New England seafood, bad jobs, wild performance situations, and the Smithsonian African American History Museum (01:19:15).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2026 film Project: Hail Mary (01:52:15).

Mike Vercelli Links:

Mike Vercelli’s WVU page

Learning Gyil - Mike Vercelli

Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned:

Jason Baker in 2020

Alex Weir in 2026

Norman Weinberg in 2017

Josh Armstrong in 2018

Daniel Smithiger in 2017

Megan Arns in 2017

Other Links: