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:

WVU’s World Music page

Teaching Percussion - Gary Cook

Jonathan Latta

Scott Shinbara

Erick Saoud

Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring trailer

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey trailer

Captain America: The First Avenger trailer

On the Plain of Snakes: A Mexican Journey - Paul Theroux

Raves:

Project: Hail Mary trailer

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 488 - Jenny Klukken

March 26, 2026 Pete Zambito

Minneapolis-based musician, educator, percussionist, recording artist, and visual artist Jenny Klukken stops by to talk about her portfolio career and the challenges of playing marimba in small rooms (04:50), her recording and compositional process, her new album Marimba Standard, and the importance of entrepreneurship in the arts (24:30), growing up in rural Minnesota, her enjoyment of jazz and early country music, Spotify Wrapped, and focusing on listening to albums (43:25), attending the University of Minnesota for undergrad, working through 4-mallet grips, her experiences attending the Zeltsman Marimba Festival, her puppetry career as “Jenny and the Pets”, and combining musical artistry with her visual artistry (01:05:45), and finishing with the Random Ass Questions, including her experiences as a woman in the arts, cooking stories, movies that inspire and/or infuriate, pet names and their backstories, living on a dairy farm, and Pat Metheny (01:35:25).

Finishing with a remembrance on the passing of an important living being (02:00:00).

Jenny Klukken Links:

Jenny Klukken’s website

Jenny Klukken’s new album Marimba Standard

Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned:

Fernando Meza in 2020

Eri Isomura in 2024

Josh Graham in 2025

Marco Schirripa in 2022

Other Links:

Pete’s Marimba album

“Shadows of the Night” - Pat Benatar

Angela Myles Beeching

“Don’t Fence Me In” - Gene Autry

“Crowded Table” - The Highwomen

Nickel Creek’s NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

The Emperor’s New Groove trailer

The Devil Wears Prada trailer

The Little Mermaid trailer

Rebecca trailer

Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier

Jane Eyre - Charlotte Brontë

James - Percival Everett

“Kin” - Pat Metheny

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 487 - Jonny Allen

March 19, 2026 Pete Zambito

Sandbox Percussion Group member, as well as freelancer, percussionist, and educator Jonny Allen stops by to talk about all things Sandbox Percussion, including the beginnings of the band, member responsibility to each other, and getting to teach (03:20), their work with Andy Akiho on Seven Pillars (29:05), Jonny’s work with the American Modern Opera Company (40:45), growing up in Connecticut, his drumset and marching band beginnings, and his sports background (44:55), going to Eastman (NY) for undergrad and studying with Michael Burritt and John H. Beck (54:00), going to Yale (CT) for grad school and studying with Robert Van Sice (01:06:05), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including sections on percussion logistics, problems using Zoom, New Haven pizza, great books and podcasts, New England Patriots Football, and Dutch Minimalism (01:21:30).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2026 Oscars Telecast (01:51:00).

Jonny Allen links:

Jonny’s Sandbox Percussion page

Seven Pillars - Andy Akiho

American Modern Opera Company

Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned:

Victor Caccese in 2019

Ian Rosenbaum in 2025

David Skidmore in 2025

Sean Connors in 2025

Peter Martin in 2025

Robert Dillon in 2025

Todd Meehan in 2017

Megan Arns in 2017

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 486 - Fabrice Marandola

March 12, 2026 Pete Zambito

McGill University (QB) Percussion Professor and co-founder of the Percussion Group Sixtrum Fabrice Marandola stops by to talk about his job at McGill, his teaching career in France prior to moving to Canada, the nature of entrepreneurship, and supervising the new percussion space at the University (04:05), all things Sixtrum, along with the importance of applying for grants and being a nonprofit (27:10), growing up in central France and an overview of his career (42:30), the city of Paris and its relationship with the rest of the country, as well as his time as a French folk dancer (53:20), his undergrad years at the Superior National Conservatory of France, and his studies in music theory and harmony (01:09:30), his ethnomusicological background and his studies in Cameroon (01:17:50), and stays around for the Random Ass Questions, including discussions of sound production and musical re-creation, working and performing with his spouse, Kristie Ibrahim, great French authors, adventures in food, and inspiring art (01:29:30).

Finishing with a Rave on the best films of the 2026 True/False Documentary Film Festival (02:02:40).

Fabrice Marandola links:

Fabrice’s McGill page

Sixtrum

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:

Kristie Ibrahim in 2024

Aiyun Huang in 2023

Gina Ryan in 2026

Megan Arns in 2017

Other Links:

TorQ Percussion Quartet

Percussions de Strasbourg

Frederic Macarez

Jacques Delécluse

“Psappha” - Iannis Xenakis

Apocalypse Now trailer

Red Grass - Boris Vian

Claude Levi-Strauss

Victor Hugo

Discourse on the Method - Rene Descartes

Raves:

True/False 2026

Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 485 - Jake Nissly

March 5, 2026 Pete Zambito

Principal Percussionist with the San Francisco Symphony and Director of Percussion Studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Jake Nissly stops by to talk about both of his positions, the orchestral auditions process, his mentors, being versatile in many genres of percussion, and his experiences with the Detroit and Cleveland Symphonies (03:30), specifics about the Principal Percussion Duties and the excellence of Davies Symphony Hall (28:30), his teaching position and his recent commissioning projects (35:15), growing up in Iowa, having family in the arts, being a highly motivated young person, making early connections to Northwestern (IL) and percussion versatility (45:50), his undergrad years at Northwestern and studying with Michael Burritt (01:04:10), going to Juilliard (NYC), freelancing in New York, and eventually earning a spot in the New World Symphony (01:14:00), and finishing with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on working with young composers, his personal commitment to physical and mental health and long-distance running all over the world, lots of great books, memorable Chicago Cubs moments in his life, coaching his son’s baseball team, and the excellence of Steve Reich (01:20:15).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2026 Oscar Nominated Animated Short Films (01:58:40).

Jake Nissly links:

Jake’s SFSO page

Jake’s SFCM page

Jake’s Vic Firth page

Jake’s Aspen Music Festival page

Losing Earth - Adam Schoenberg

Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned:

Will James in 2017

Steven Schick in 2025

Patti Niemi in 2018

Matthew Coley in 2021

Eric Hollenbeck in 2025

David Skidmore in 2025

Sean Connors in 2025

Peter Martin in 2025

Robert Dillon in 2025

Other Links:

Percussion Concerto - Andy Akiho

Katherine Siochi

Rene Orth

PEAUX from Pleades - Iannis Xenakis

Doug Perkins

Michael Tilson Thomas

“Suire for Violin and American Gamelan” - Lou Harrison

San Francisco Symphony Musicians

Michael Israelievitch

Sergio Carreno

Richard Weiner

Marc Damoulakis

California Percussion & Backline Rentals

How to Write for Percussion - Sam Solomon

Colts Drum & Bugle Corps

Woody Smith

Michael Pfaff (“Tortilla Man”)

Bill Stewart

Dave Weckl

“If I Wanted To” - Melissa Etheridge

“Kiss from a Rose” - Seal

“Third Construction” - John Cage

The Usual Suspects trailer

Ghostbusters trailer

Groundhog Dog trailer

The Matrix trailer

Barbie trailer

1984 - George Orwell

On the Road - Jack Kerouac

Kafka on the Shore - Haruki Marukami

Absolutely on Music: Conversations on Seiji Ozawa - Haruki Marukami

Music Has a Right to Children - Boards of Canada

Cubs win the World Series

The Bartman Incident

B-Bop’s

Music for 18 Musicians - Steve Reich

Mallet Quartet - Steve Reich

Drumming: Part 1 - Steve Reich

Music for Pieces of Wood - Steve Reich

Clapping Music - Steve Reich

Raves:

The 2026 Oscars Animated Film Shorts Nominees

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