Played clarinet in Nathan Hale Junior High School Band, John Adams High School Marching Band, and the 14th Infantry Marching Band. During school years, studied clarinet with the Hruby Conservatory of Music. Inspired by hearing the MCB Concert in Medina’s Gazebo on July 4, 2000, I decided to relinquish my 40 year hiatus and relearn to play the clarinet. Became a member of the Medina Community Band in February 2001 and am currently studying with Mary Ann Grof-Neiman.
B-flat Soprano Clarinet
Amy Dragga was born and raised in the Medina area. A graduate of Highland High School and
student of Vicki Smith, Amy studied music education at The Ohio State University. She graduated from the University of Akron with a B.A. in English and achieved a Master of Library Science from Kent State University. Although music was always her first love, her career took a much different path. A fundraiser by trade, Amy has helped raise money for many critical projects in Northeastern Ohio such as the renovation and expansion of Severance Hall, construction of the Lerner Research Institute, Cole Eye Institute and Taussig Cancer Center buildings at the Cleveland Clinic, and the Ann and David Brennan Critical Care Center at Summa Health System in Akron. She currently serves as Director of Development for Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Amy has performed with MCB since 1988 and has appeared as a soloist. She is also a member of the Sounds of Sousa Band. She studied with James Pyne at OSU and Mary Ann Grof-Neiman and has performed with conductor Frederick Fennell, composer Gunther Schuller, and clarinetist Richard Stoltzman.
E-flat Clarinet and B-flat Soprano Clarinet
Soloist, Section Leader and Music Librarian
Mary Ann Grof-Neiman is currently the Program Administrator at the Cleveland Institute of Music’s Preparatory and Continuing Education Division. She received her bachelor of science in music education degree from the Bowling Green State University. Ms. Grof-Neiman has served as clarinetist for the Blossom Festival Band, Lakeland Civic Band, Lakeside Symphony Orchestra, Youngstown Symphony, Erie Philharmonic, and currently performs with the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra, Lakewood "Home Town" Band, Medina Community Band, and is solo clarinetist with the Sounds of Sousa Band. She maintains private studios at Baldwin Wallace College through their Conservatory Outreach Program as well as her home in Medina. She has served the Ohio Music Education Association as a Woodwind Adjudicator for the last 15 years and is a member of AFM Local 24.
B-flat Soprano Clarinet
Harold Kasten-Krause is employed as the Superintendent of Utilities for the Village of Lodi, Ohio and is a registered Professional Engineer. He is a direct descendant of one of the clarinetist in President William McKinley's Army Band. Harold learned to play the clarinet at the age of 40, when he inherited the family clarinets. Harold lives in Medina with his wife Melanie and has two sons, Tristan and Jordan.
B-flat Bass Clarinet
Tom Kenat, has played in the band since 1983. He began playing clarinet in junior high and was in the Lakewood High School band. At Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Mellon) he played bass and contrabass clarinet in the Kiltie Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble for seven years, while earning his engineering degrees. A Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, he consults for KenaTech Process Engineering, and rebuilds and repairs pipe organs. An avid sailor, he also does custom marine and specialty woodworking. Tom has two children and three grandchildren.
B-flat Soprano Clarinet
Jenn Kilbane is a Client Relationship Manager for Nationwide Better Health. She
received her Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology from the Ohio State
University. She has been playing the clarinet since fifth grade. During her
high school band career she served as clarinet section leader and field
commander. She was a recipient of the John Phillip Sousa Award and Arion Award
and participated in district and state honor bands. In college she was a member
of the University of Pittsburgh Varsity Marching Band. She also participated in
symphonic band and pep bands. She became a member of Kappa Kappa Psi, national
honorary band fraternity and served as the Northeast District Member at Large.
She was been a member of the Medina Community Band since October 2007. Jenn
Kilbane and her husband Brian reside in Medina.
B-flat Bass Clarinet
Dayna Lanyi, Dayna played clarinet at Linden-McKinley (Columbus, OH). Following the last parade of her senior year, she put it away for 40 years. She graduated from the School of Education at The Ohio State University and held school administrative positions in Arlington and Alexandria, VA. After retiring, Dayna moved aboard a boat and traveled up and down the east coast; the last trip via the Erie Canal and Great Lakes/River system/Gulf of Mexico landing her in Fort Myers, FL. She met her husband, Jerry, while playing in the Lee County Community Band there. He brought her back to Ohio where she joined him in the Medina Community Band in 2007. The bass clarinet is a new instrument for her since September, 2008. She maintains a home in Florida where she continues to play in the Lee County Community Band as well as in a German band. while in Ohio, Dayna is a supervisor of student teachers with Ashland University.
B-flat Soprano Clarinet
and Saxophone Soloist
Edward Lichtenberg started with MCB in 1993; retired in 1998 as assistant superintendent for Midview Schools (Lorain County) after 32 years in education. Before becoming assistant superintendent, he was a middle school administrator and director of bands at Midview, where his concert bands consistently earned superior ratings in class A. Active as an Ohio Music Education Association adjudicator, Ed is a member of the Medina Community Band and the Sounds of Sousa Band and serves as a guest conductor and clinician. He is a staff member for the Ashland University Adult Music Camp. He and his wife Judy reside in Medina and are the parents of Medina Community Band members Rob and Beth (Burdick) and father-in-law to Christopher Burdick.
B-flat Soprano Clarinet
Brenda Marshall (Seville) I started playing my sister-in-law's clarinet in fourth grade. By high school (Cloverleaf) my parents bought me a new clarinet, since I was still at it and the old one was held together by a rubber band. At the University of Akron (B.S. Elementary Education) I was in the marching band and symphony band, taking concert trips to Europe and Toronto. And I was a member of the national honorary band sorority Tau Beta Sigma, Epsilon Iota chapter. In 1994 I saw Marcus while working retail in Medina and decided to join the community band. Playing in a concert band is very special. By reading strange markings on paper a group of people turn it into wonderful music, like magic. I started the band website while taking care of my mother at home. Playing music has been good therapy over the years, has helped see me through the loss of jobs and my mother. I am currently seeking employment.
B-flat Soprano Clarinet
Laura Nary is a North Royalton resident. The 2nd clarinet section enjoys her off-beat sense of humor. Laura teaches music to first thru fourth grade students at Royal View School in North Royalton. Son Mike, plays french horn in the band, but played sousaphone when he dotted the "i" at OSU.
B-flat Soprano Clarinet
Catherine Palcza comes from a musical family on the east side of Greater Cleveland. She received her education in music at Motter’s School of Music, The Cleveland Music School Settlement, Baldwin-Wallace Summer Music Clinic, Case Western Reserve University and Kent State University. Winner of the annual Kent State School of Music Concerto Competition for the woodwind division in 1989 as a music performance major, Cathy currently plays occasional jobs in a woodwind trio and performs with the Cuyahoga Falls Community Band. Since presenting her Senior Recital in 1991 at Kent State, Cathy has continued as a freelance performer, local clarinet and recorder instructor, and is a married mother of 3 children. As hobbies she enjoys pursuits that involve fabrication, measuring and puttering.
B-flat Soprano Clarinet
Robert Romaniello
Quality Manager from Medina, Father of 2 teen-aged musicians, Loves Classical and Classic Rock Music, Ham Radio Operator, Marathon Runner and Cancer Survivor
Learned Clarinet on my own, started when I was 35. Joined a community band in Long Island, NY. Quit playing for 15 years. Member of the Medina Community Band for 6 years.
B-flat Soprano Clarinet
Section Leader
Vicki Smith is a band director in the Copley-Fairlawn City Schools, prior to her appointment for that position; she was director of bands at Highland High School. She is a graduate (both bachelors and masters degree) from The Bowling Green State University. Vicki was named “2007-8 Educator of the Year” by the Copley High School.
She is an adjudicator and in constant demand as a woodwind specialist and clinician. She also was the guest conductor for the 2006 Medina County Schools Junior High/Middle School All-Star Band.
B-flat Soprano Clarinet
Assistant Section Leader
Carl Stefaniak is a dentist with an office in Independence. He lives in Hinckley with his wife, Martha. They have two sons, both in college pursuing professional careers in music. Carl has been playing clarinet for five years, studying with Mary Ann Grof-Neiman, and playing with the community band for four years. He enjoys woodworking in his spare time.
B-flat Bass Clarinet
Holly Troche, Holly joined the Medina Community Band in 2003 in the bass clarinet section. She also occasionally helps out in the percussion section playing xylophone and bells. Her other musical interests include playing the flute and playing and composing music for piano. By day, she works as an analyst and technical writer for a toxicology research firm and also owns her own veterinary practice offering chiropractic services for horses. In what little time is left for hobbies, reading and gardening are the favorite activities. She lives in Westfield Center and looks forward to many more years of participating in the band.
Contrabass Clarinet
David Van Doren has been a member of the Medina Community Band since 1987. Prior to that he played in the Wooster Community Band and also at the University of Illinois and Michigan State University during his college years. Although he played regular clarinet in his other band experiences he has played the oboe for the Medina Band and now plays the contrabass clarinet. Dave is also the band historian.
B-flat Soprano Clarinet
Assistant Section Leader
Michael Williams joined the MCB in 2007. Originally from Parma Ohio, he attended the University of Akron graduating with a degree in Music Education in 2002. While at the university he was a member of Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity, a 4 year member of “Ohio’s Pride” the University of Akron Marching Band and played in both the University’s Concert and Symphonic Band. Additionally, he worked as a camp counselor for Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake Michigan. Currently lives in Cuyahoga Falls and is employed as a Senior Training Specialist for Allstate Insurance in the Risk Management Department.
