MusicAlliance

William Banas - “Bill” Banas is MusicAlliance's Board President. A lifelong musician and music supporter, Bill currently plays saxophone and percussion in the New Horizons concert and jazz bands at Baldwin Wallace College. Banas has been a supporter of MusicAlliance since its inception through monetary donations, and by obtaining, fixing, and donating musical instruments to the organization and to specific schools that MusicAlliance serves. He believes that everyone, regardless of age, should have the opportunity to participate in a band program. Banas attended Cleveland State University, Lincoln Welding School, and Cuyahoga Community College and is currently employed as a supervisor at the Victory Metal Company. Banas belongs to the Northeast Yacht Club, where he has been a member since 1987. He is a former two-term Commodore with the yacht club and served as a member of their Board of Trustees for more than 10 years. William is also an avid motorcyclist, and is a member of the Western Reserve Harley Owners Group.

Veronica Akers - Veronica “Roni” Akers has been appreciative of musically talented people since childhood, when she attempted to play clarinet. She met Debra Blechman and Frank Adams and grew to admire their teaching ability as her son entered 4th grade and learned to play the saxophone in his elementary school band. Akers has a Masters in Business Administration which she has utilized in many volunteer activities. She ran the Mentor High School Marching Band Store for three years while her son was involved in high school band, and supported his efforts in the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony. Roni was a booth supervisor for several years at the St. Gabriel Festival and first aide volunteer in the years since. After completing training, she was a volunteer card dealer at a Nautica charity poker tournament benefiting Mentor Schools sports programs. Akers biked and hosted fund raisers for Pedal to the Point benefiting MS research, awarding her VIP status as a rider. Roni has recently celebrated 24 years as a Surgical Nurse. She is an advocate of the practice currently implemented of using soothing music as part of patients recovery from surgery in the post anesthesia care unit. This is supported by research as a means of reducing stress and decreasing the need for pain medication.

Rosemary Campbell - Rosemary C. Campbell, a member of the MusicAlliance Board of Directors, is a graduate of John Carroll University, where she obtained her Bachelor's degree in Communications. Currently, Campbell works as a Business and Process Analyst in the Information Solutions department at the Lubrizol Corporation, where she has worked for 25 years. Campbell spent many years volunteering at The Lake Metroparks Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and at the Cleveland Metroparks. Other volunteering experience includes working for Christmas in July and the Cleveland Food-Bank. Campbell currently spends time volunteering at the Euclid Animal Shelter and enjoys many hobbies, including writing, drawing, painting, hiking and music.

Franklin Adams - Frank Adams is a co-founder of MusicAlliance and serves as a teacher and administrator for the organization. He has been a music educator for 21 years with experience in both public school and parochial school settings. He enjoys sharing his passion for music with the students he works with and in helping them to discover the positive force that music participation can be in their lives. Adams is a nationally published composer of music for school bands (published by C. Alan Publications). His music has been performed nationwide and as far away as Los Angeles.

Mr. Adams received his music education degree from Anderson University where he was named to the National Dean's List and was inducted into the Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society. While a student at Anderson, Adams was mentored by noted orchestrator/arranger Ronn Huff. Mr. Adams has taken Graduate level coursework in the areas of music technology and band instrument repair at Baldwin-Wallace College and Kent State University, and holds a teaching license in Ohio for music K-12. Mr. Adams currently serves as director of the band program at Gesu School (University Heights) which just in two short years under his direction has grown from 29 members to 105 members. He also serves as director of the band program at Communion of Saints School (formerly called St. Ann School - Cleveland Hts.), and at St. Thomas More School (Brooklyn) which has grown from 7 members to 30 since Mr. Adams became the band director there. Adams also served as the band director of St. Gabriel School in Concord, Ohio for 17 years where, under his direction, the St. Gabriel band program experienced nearly 10 straight years of growth, going from the 20 students that Adams inherited when he first started teaching there to 179 band members. As the band enrollment grew, Mr. Adams was able to expand the St. Gabriel program from 2 bands to 5 bands: a 4th Grade Band, 5th Grade Band, 6th Grade Band, 7th & 8th Grade Concert Band, and 7th & 8th Grade Jazz Band (which has performed at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for the past 5 years, and which is the only parochial middle school jazz band to participate each year in the Lakeland Jazz Festival's Tomorrow's Stars Concert).

Adams, who helped to establish MusicAlliance in 2004, serves as the MusicAlliance Honor Band Program Coordinator and is a director and conductor of the MusicAlliance Summer Honor Band I, Christmas Honor Band, and Honor Jazz-Rock Band (which he co-founded). His other duties with MusicAlliance include serving as the designer and webmaster for the organization's website, designing the forms used by MusicAlliance, interviewing prospective new teachers, organizing and performing fund-raising activities, and conducting faculty in-service presentations.

After spending the first four years of his teaching career as a public school band and general music teacher in southwest Ohio, Mr. Adams moved to Cleveland. During his many years of teaching in area parochial schools, which began as a teacher for Musical Youth (a predecessor of MusicAlliance), Adams has been honored with numerous awards including Highest Band Enrollment Percentage Award (for St. Gabriel School), Low Drop Award, Principal's Commendation Award, and Positive & Professional Teacher of the Year awards. He also founded and served as the director of "Phresh Phusion" a jazz-rock ensemble featuring students from high schools throughout Northeastern Ohio, served as the pep band director for Lake Erie College, and has performed in several local community concert bands including the Euclid Orchestral Winds and the Tri-C Civic Band. Adams holds professional membership in the Music Educators National Conference, and the Ohio Music Education Association.

Debra Blechman - Debbie Blechman serves as an administrator and teacher for MusicAlliance. The foundation of her personal philosophy is that music education is a cornerstone for the complete education of a child, therefore every child should have the right to participate in a music education program. A member of the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, Blechman holds a Master of Music Degree from The State University of New York at Fredonia, a Bachelor of Music Degree from The State University of New York at Potsdam where she graduated Magna Cum Laude, and holds a current teaching license in Ohio and New York in music education K-12. Active in professional continuing education, Blechman has participated in workshops for The Alexander Technique; percussion instruments; and Pathwise Training.

Blechman is a co-founder and executive director/business manager for MusicAlliance. Her primary duties are to handle the fiscal responsibilities (bookkeeping, payroll, and management of insurance coverage), serve as secretary of the organization, marketing director, fundraising chair, and customer service representative. In addition, she serves in the supervisory roll of director of in-service programs, interviewing and hiring teachers, as well as assisting teachers in their duties and responsibilities. As a teacher for MusicAlliance, Blechman teaches band instrument lessons at Peaceful Children Montessori School for students in grades four through eight, conducts group band rehearsals, and prepares students to perform as soloists and in small ensembles as well as in the full band setting at concerts. She is also a co-director of the MusicAlliance Eastside Summer Honor Band program and maintains a private lesson studio where she teaches individual saxophone lessons.

After spending the first four years of her teaching career as a public school instrumental music teacher at the elementary and junior high level, Blechman was employed for seven years with Musical Youth, Inc. in northeast Ohio - serving as an elementary and junior high parochial school band director and administrator. Blechman was honored with the Musical Youth Principal's Commendation Award, Musical Youth Professional Teacher of the Year, and Musical Youth Low Drop Award.

Karen DiCarlo - Karen received her music education training and Degree in Northeast Ohio where she has lived for her entire life. Currently, Ms DiCarlo teaches at Assumption Academy in Broadview Hts., St. Bernadette in Westlake, St. Monica in Garfield Hts., and Magnificat High School in Rocky River, and serves as an assistant administrator for MusicAlliance with duties that include LPDC (teacher professional development committee) chairperson and coordinator for the annual MusicAlliance Westside Band Festival.

On Saturday mornings Ms DiCarlo works with the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony as a Manager.

Laura Kennedy - Bio Coming Soon

MusicAlliance fondly remembers and honors Dr. Harvey Sisler who passed away in December 2010. Harvey was a MusicAlliance band teacher for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years. He was a kind, patient, and gentle soul - a multi-faceted, multi-talented man who had a deep love of music and of teaching music, and a genuine caring and compassion for his fellow human beings. He will be greatly missed by staff of MusicAlliance and by the many others whose lives he has touched.

Franklin Adams - See bio listed above under Administrators

Debra Blechman - See bio listed above under Administrators

Suzanne Brhel - Suzanne has been a part time teacher for MusicAlliance since it's inception in 2004. Prior to that she taught full time with Musical Youth from 1993 - 2004 at various parochial schools. She has been the Band Director at St. Michael School in Independence since 1993 where she has a Beginning Band, Advanced Band and a Jazz Band. While with Musical Youth she received many awards including the Principal's Commendation, the Low Drop Award, the Professional Teacher of the Year Award and the Positive Teacher of the Year Award. Suzanne is originally from Western New York. She received her Bachelors of Music Education and Bachelors of Music Performance from Baldwin-Wallace College in 1991 and her Masters of Music Education from The University of Michigan in 1993. Suzanne currently lives in Brecksville with her husband, two children - Laura who is 6 and Amanda who is 1, and two dogs. In her spare time she likes to knit, garden and play the piano.

Katherine DeBlasi - Katherine M. DeBlasi received her Bachelor degree in both classroom and instrumental music education (K-12) from Bowling Green State University. She graduated Magna Cum Laude and was inducted into Alpha Lambda Delta (Freshman Women’s Honorary), Kappa Delta Pi (Education Honorary), and Tau Beta Sigma (Honorary Band Fraternity). She also received a full music scholarship and BGSU Outstanding Senior Bandswoman Award.

Mrs. DeBlasi has taught in many parochial elementary schools and at the high school level over the past 35 years (1976-2011). She has taken her ensembles and groups to the OMEA (Ohio Music Education Association) Junior and Senior High School Solo & Ensemble Contests and OMEA District/State Band and Orchestra Contests earning many Superior ratings. Mrs. DeBlasi has been director of the All-Ohio Catholic Diocese High School Orchestra (1986-89) and was an assistant director of the All-Ohio State Fair Band in Columbus from 2004 -2010. She holds a professional membership in the Ohio Music Education Association and held the position of OMEA Northeast Regional Orchestra Chairperson from 2001-2008.

Mrs. DeBlasi currently teaches instrumental music thru MusicAlliance as the band director at Holy Family School (Parma), Medina Christian Academy (Medina), St. Brendan School (North Olmsted), St. Christopher School (Rocky River), and Ss. Joseph & John (Strongsville). She enjoys performing in the Strongsville Community Band on clarinet and in the St. Columbkille Hand Bell Choir. Mrs. DeBlasi resides in Parma with her husband and has a daughter who is an Occupational Therapist and a son who works in Information Technology.

Karen DiCarlo - See bio listed above under Administrators

Stacey Hiner - Ms Hiner is the youngest of five children and was born and raised in Mentor, Ohio. While in high school, she was in the All-State Band and Orchestra, and studied flute with William Hebert, the piccoloist of the Cleveland Orchestra. She then double majored in Flute Performance and Music Education at Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio. Hiner has taught beginning and middle school band for ten years in Virginia and Phoenix, Arizona, before finally moving back home to be closer to her family. For MusicAlliance, she is currently the director of bands at St. Gabriel School. In her spare time, Ms. Hiner enjoys playing beach volleyball, rollerblading, and boating out on the lake. She is also the proud owner of two cats, Dasher and Chloe.

Laura Kennedy - See bio listed above under Administrators

Bob Kuebler - Bob Kuebler has served as an assistant band instructor for MusicAlliance at St. Gabriel School in Mentor since 2007. He has taught band and orchestra at many Diocesan schools from 1969 to 1981. During this time he led Incarnate Word Academy band to a superior rating at the Ohio Music Education Association Junior High Band Contest. This accomplishment earned his Parma Heights group a special guest appearance with the All-Catholic Orchestra. Mr. Kuebler led North Olmsted’s St. Richard School Band to first place in the Cuyahoga County Fine Arts Showcase. This multi-media presentation, featuring the band and art work related to the music, earned the group an invitation to perform at the National Catholic Music Educators Convention.

Between 1982 and 2006 Mr. Kuebler earned his Master’s degree in Reading Education and served in many teaching roles with the Cleveland Municipal Schools. He earned the Golden Apple Award as Teacher of the Year while at Stephen E. Howe School. Since 1999 he has taught students piano and woodwind instruments at Broadway School of Music in Slavic Village. He also worked as an usher for the Cleveland Indians from 1994-2007.In his spare time he jogs and runs races. He has received “Runner of the Year” awards with two local groups. In 1987 he competed with 124 other invited runners in the “Ultimate Runner” competition held in Jackson, Michigan.

David Littman - Dave Littman has been with MusicAlliance since it’s beginning in 2004. Prior to that Littman was a teacher for Musical Youth Inc. from 1995 to 2004. Mr. Littman currently teaches band at Our Lady of the Lake School, Mater Dei Academy, St. Mary Magdalene – St. Justin Martyr School, and St. Mary School in Chardon.

A graduate of Wickliffe High School, Littman received his Bachelors of Music Education from Cleveland State University. While attending C.S.U. he studied percussion with Tom Freer, and Joseph Adato of the Cleveland Orchestra as well as studying drum-set with Cleveland session legend and Michael Douglas Show veteran Bob McKee.

Mr. Littman is a director of the MusicAlliance Summer Honor Band, Christmas Honor Band, and is a co-founder of the MusicAlliance Honor Jazz-Rock Band. He is also founder of "Abby Normal & the Detroit Lean" (one of the Cleveland area's most popular cover bands). Littman is a current resident of Mentor, Ohio and is a husband and the proud father of four children.

Eduardo Mandujano - A native of Mexico City, Mexico, educator and performer Eduardo Mandujano is the director of bands at All Saints of St. John Vianney School (Wickliffe, OH), Holy Spirit Academy (Bedford, OH), Sacred Heart of Jesus Academy (S. Euclid, OH), St. Martin of Tours School (Maple Heights, OH), and assistant band instructor at Communion of Saints School (Cleveland Heights, OH), and Gesu School (University Heights, OH). He earned Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in flute performance Magna Cum Laude from Youngstown State University (Youngstown, OH) in 2004 and 2006, respectively.

While in Youngstown, Mandujano was the principal flutist of the Dana Symphony Orchestra for several years. In 2003, he won First Prize in the Dana Young Artist Competition, performing the Khachaturian Flute Concerto. In 2004, he was awarded the Just Flutes Bursary, which enabled him to study with Jonathan Snowden in England. His teachers include: Dr. Nancy Andrew, Dr. Kathryn Thomas Umble, William Bennett and Jonathan Snowden.

Most recently, Mr. Mandujano attended Cleveland State University and completed his coursework to obtain an Ohio K-12 Music Teaching License, which he currently holds. In addition, he has attended over 50 flute masterclasses, Alexander Technique workshops designed for musicians and has received Virtus training.

Prior to relocating to the Cleveland area, Mandujano spent three years in Massachusetts, where he worked as a flute finisher and headjoint maker for Verne Q. Powell Flutes. In the past, he has taught for the Warren Junior Military Band (Warren, OH), held a private flute studio in Westborough, MA.and taught flute masterclasses at Youngstown State University and the Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro in Mexico. Many of his former students have pursued careers in music and have received awards and music scholarships from Miami University, Ohio University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Northeastern University, and University of Toledo.

Mandujano has performed as a soloist with the YSU Flute Ensemble, the Dana Symphony Orchestra, the W.D. Packard Concert Band, the Mercer Community Band, the Warren Junior Military Band and the Orquesta Santa Cecilia in Mexico. As a recitalist, he has performed extensively in the United States, Mexico and the Netherlands. In August 2010, he won a position in the flute section of the W. D. Packard Concert Band (Warren, OH) and most recently became the principal flutist of the Cleveland Winds, a professional ensemble based in Cleveland State University. Mr. Mandujano lives in Shaker Heights with his wife Heather, who comes from a family of music educators, works for the Cleveland Institute of Music and is also a flutist.

James Slike - James Slike has spent his entire life living in Madison, Ohio. He grew up with a private school education, starting at Assumption School in Geneva, and then at Lake Catholic High School in Mentor. Graduating in 2007, Mr. Slike then studied at Ashland University, receiving his Bachelor of Music in 2011. Mr. Slike enjoys both teaching and performing, participating in many collegiate ensembles, including choirs, concert bands, marching bands, and jazz ensembles. In addition to his work with MusicAlliance, he is also the choir director of his local church. For the 2011-12 school year, Slike will be serving as band director at Our Lady of Angels School, Mary Queen of Peace School, and St. Bridget School, and will be an assistant band instructor at St. Thomas More School. Mr. Slike is very excited to have the opportunity to share his knowledge and experience with his students.

Thomas Trost - Thomas Trost has been a MusicAlliance teacher since it's inception in 2004. He firmly believes in music education as a necessary staple to any well-rounded education. In particular, Mr. Trost understands that participation in music performance can dramatically influence a student's sense of self-worth which, in turn, can lead to success in many areas of life.

Trost earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from this prestigious Indiana University School of Music, where he studied wind band conducting from Ray Cramer and Steve Pratt. He has also gained extensive knowledge in brass pedagogy though such legendary instructors as M. Dee Stewart and Harvey Phillips. Mr. Trost has earned graduate credit through professional development at Kent State University where he has focused on instrument repair and classroom management. He currently holds an Ohio teachers license with a K-12 music endorsement.

After graduation from I.U., Tom Trost taught for Bristol Tennessee City Schools as an elementary, junior high and assistant high school band director. Following his move to Ohio, he started teaching for Musical Youth at various parochial schools in the Cleveland area, and while with Musical Youth, he received several accolades, including the Principal's Commendation, the Low Drop Award, and the Professional Teacher of the Year Award. He has continued his teaching in parochial schools through MusicAlliance, and is currently band director at St. Clare School, St. Anselm School, and St. John of the Cross School (formerly known as St. Felicitas). In addition to his regular teaching responsibilities, Mr. Trost has been a private brass instructor, a low brass instructor at the I.U. Summer Music Clinic, and a director of both the MusicAlliance Summer and Christmas Honor Bands.

Trost's love of music extends beyond the classroom. He has performed with various community ensembles and has been a church musician for as long as he can remember. Mr. Trost performs professionally as a soloist for weddings and with local cover band, "Abby Normal & the Detroit Lean". Tom Trost's professional memberships include the Music Educators National Conference and Ohio Music Educator's Association. He is also a proud alumni member of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity.

Jason Werden - Jason Werden has been teaching with MusicAlliance since 2009 and currently is the band director for St. Angela Merici School, St. Barnabas School, and St. Francis de Sales School. He believes that music education plays an important role in the development of children, and that participating in a school band program can help students achieve success in school and in life.

Mr. Werden earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from The University of Akron, where he studied applied saxophone with Richard Shanklin. As a member of The University of Akron Symphonic Band, Mr. Werden traveled to Germany, Austria, and The Czech Republic to perform concerts in May 2007. Mr. Werden has also served as the president of The University of Akron's chapter of The Ohio Music Education Association and was inducted into the Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honors Society. As a saxophonist, Mr. Werden has performed with several community ensembles and has appeared as a soloist with numerous wedding bands and jazz ensembles, and he has also played in pit orchestras for performances at Playhouse Square in Cleveland. Mr. Werden holds professional memberships with the National Association for Music Education and the Ohio Music Education Association, and holds a multi-age (k-12) teaching license in music.