John Blasko is a resident of Medina, OH and recently earned his bachelor's degree in Music Education from Case Western Reserve University.  At the university, he performed with many ensembles such as the Case Symphonic Winds, University Circle Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble I, Case/University Circle Orchestra, and various chamber groups.  He has also appeared with professional ensembles such as The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, Mansfield Symphony Orchestra, and Master Singers, Inc.  John was the featured soloist with the Case Symphonic Winds in December 2006 and with the Wadsworth Community Band in the summer of 2005.  He is still active in community ensembles around the area.

Currently, John is substitute teaching and low brass studio teacher while he is in search of a full time position in music education.

John Connors is a 2007 graduate of Highland High School and recently finished his second year at Ohio University, pursuing a Bachelor of Music Degree in Trombone Performance. While at Ohio, he has played in the Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble I, the Wind Ensemble, the Symphony Orchestra, and the Marching 110. To date, John has been playing the trombone for 9 years. In addition to being a full-time student, John is also a Specialist in the US Army, serving as a trombone player in the 122nd Army Band of the Ohio National Guard. He also recently performed on the stage of Carnegie Hall in New York City with the National Collegiate Wind Ensemble, directed by H. Robert Reynolds. John has been of fan of the Medina Community Band since his parents brought him to the summer concerts as a young child. He was very excited to be welcomed into the band in the 8th grade, and this summer is his 7th playing on the gazebo. John feels that performing summer concerts in the square have been some of his most enjoyable musical experiences thus far. He is a resident of Granger Township.

John Fenzel was born in Cleveland (OH) and attended the Cleveland Municipals Schools.  He started playing trombone in seventh grade under Edmund Siennicki (former member of Medina Community Band) and played his first solo at his ninth grade graduation.  John continued to play trombone through high school in the jazz band, marching band, and concert band.  Following graduation from high school, he joined the United States Navy.  Upon his discharge from the service, John started working for Ohio Bell Telephone Company. 

He married a few years later, bought a house, and started raising a family.  During that time, the trombone sat in a closet until his oldest daughter decided to play trombone in the Highland High School Marching Band.  John was involved with the Highland High School Band Boosters.  When then Highland band director, Mark Scatterday learned of John’s past trombone playing, he encouraged John to start playing again.  Scatterday pointed John to the Medina Community Band. 

Looking back at those first rehearsals in community band, John remarked that he remembered a few “very bad tries at a couple of scales,” “starting a march – playing the first note, and nothing more for the rest of the march.”  John was totally blown away by the experience and came back.  He kept working on the music until he could actually play some of the pieces all the way through.  That was in 1981, and John has been a member ever since.  John felt that says a lot about the leadership of Marcus Neiman and the people that play in the band.  John is retired now and currently playing in not only the Medina Community Band, but also the Brunswick Community Band, and the Lee County Community Band in Ft. Myers (FL). 

He indicated that music is an important part of his life, it never came easy, and it took a lot of practice hours just to be an average player.  It was all worth it for the good times and great people that he met throughout the years.  The joy of making music is such a wonderful feeling especially when it is shared with others.

Rod Hannah, Rod graduated from Norton High School in 1963, got his bachelor's degree from Kent State University, and his master's degree in math from Ohio State University.  He taught math and physics at Norton High School for thirty years, retiring in 1997.  While getting a degree in math, music has always been a big part of his life.  He was voted "Most Musical" in his senior class.  He played cornet in high school and in the Medina Community Band when he first joined.  He told Marcus that he always wanted to play the trombone for those great counter melodies in the marches but his high school director wouldn't let him switch.  Marcus said go ahead and so he did.  The trombone section welcomed him with open arms and he has found a home there in the third section.  He always says that people remember and whistle the melodies but the harmonies are what make the chills go up your spine.  He was invited to join the Sounds of Sousa band and has been a member since its inception.

Rod has been married to Carolyn since 1970 and has two children, Luke and Liz, and two grandchildren, Madelyn and Cooper.

Lee Harper, Lee has been a trombone player in the Medina Community Band since 1986.  She began playing trombone at age 13, when her band director in North Olmsted, Casey Kreichbaum, suggested that trombone was the instrument for her.  Lee served in the United States Air Force as a member of the Women’s Air Force (WAF) Band from 1957-1960.  She is a former member of the “Let’s Dance” Orchestra.  Today, she plays in a number of musical groups, including the Sounds of Sousa Band, Cleveland Women’s Orchestra, St. Paul’s Brass, and in pit orchestras for school and community theater groups.   Lee has two grown children and three grandchildren.  When she’s not playing her trombone, Lee works at the Medina Post Office, where she has been a clerk for 29 years.   Lee is a resident of Medina.

 

Robert Kason began the study of the trombone in 2004 through the adult outreach program at Baldwin-Wallace College and participated in the “New Horizons” adult band program.  Bob has been receiving private lesson instruction on trombone with David Betts of the Baldwin-Wallace outreach Department and Cuyahoga Community College Music Department since 2003.

The violin was the first musical instrument Bob studied from elementary school through college.  The violin was then put aside and practically forgotten for the next 40 plus years.  During the late 1990s, upon hearing the Medina “Historic” Symphony Orchestra and a need for string players, the old violin was taken out of the closet, dusted off, and tuned up.  Bob joined the orchestra, directed at that time by Edmund Siennicki.  Playing music again with the orchestra rekindled a desire to increase the musical experience, so when the opportunity came to learn the trombone, a brass instrument, and play in a concert band, for the first time, Bob took a leap and jumped right in.

Bob took an old trombone that was gathering dust in his attic, he had purchased it at a garage sale many years earlier, and started lessons and played in the New Horizons Band for the initial two years of his instruction. Marcus Neiman gave Bob the opportunity with the Medina Community Band.  The entire Medina Community Band trombone section was extremely helpful and encouraging to the “new rookie” in their midst, and Bob made it through that initial season, relatively unscathed.  Every rehearsal, and concert, was an extraordinary learning experience.

In addition to the Medina Community Band, Bob now plays with the North Royalton Community Band, Cuyahoga Community College Concert Band, and currently a trombonist with the newly formed Brunswick Community Band.

The trombone has regenerated interest in the violin and Bob has restarted violin lessons, trying to regain that old feeling and currently is playing violin with the Parma Symphony Orchestra and the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra.

Participation in the Medina Community Band has been a great, positive learning experience.  The overall professionalism exhibited by Marcus Neiman, all the Band members, and especially the trombone section, who welcomed an inexperienced newcomer to their ranks is a testimony to the excellent quality of people who reside in Medina County.

Kenneth Kriebel is a retired manufacturing manger from the fastener, capital equipment and sheet metal industries. Born and raised in Montgomery County, PA he worked in Ohio for over 25 years. He has played trombone for over 60 years, playing in the Lansdale High School Band, numerous big band dance bands, 440^th Army Band and the Red Hill Community Band. Presently living in Wadsworth.

 

 

Section Leader

Robert Lichtenberg is a Sales Engineer in the telecommunications industry, currently employed by Global Crossing in Cleveland, Ohio.  Rob attended the University of Cincinnati and Bowling Green State University, studying Engineering and Computer Science.  Rob has studied with Steve Johnson of Oberlin, and has played with the Northern Ohio Youth Orchestra, University of Cincinnati's Symphony Band, Bowling Green State University's Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble and Marching Band, and is currently involved with the Sounds of Sousa Band.  Rob and his wife Suzanne are residents of Copley.

Himabindu Mikkilieni graduated from Gahanna High School.  She continued her education and graduated from The University of Akron with the goal to enter the field of medicine.  After attending The Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy (NEOUCOMP), she is currently working as a resident physician.  She has been playing trombone for 14 years and has been a member of Medina Community Band since 2005.  Bindu keeps coming back to MCB because it’s a great way to relax and make music.