About Mr. Ziccardi

Mr. Ziccardi, a Quarterfinalist for the 2021 and 2022 GRAMMY Music Educator Awards, is excited to be working in the Avonworth School District where he teaches 4th-8th Grade Band, 3rd Grade General Music, is the Assistant Director and Percussion Instructor of the High School Marching Band, Director of the High School Musical Pit Orchestra, and Director of the Jazz Band. He is a graduate of West Virginia University (WVU) where he earned his Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree. He also earned a Master of Music in Music Education degree from Boston University and a K-12 Principal Certification from the University of Pittsburgh. Although his primary instrument is percussion, he loves practicing and playing all of the band instruments as well.

During Mr. Ziccardi's current 9-year tenure at Avonworth, the elementary band program expanded from about 50 involved students to now having nearly 300 students involved with performing in the band. Further, the 6th-grade band is proud to have competed in the Pennsylvania Music Educator's Association (PMEA) Music Performance Assessment in 2023, 2024, and 2025 and has been awarded Superior Ratings (the highest rating possible) in all 3 performances. There was only one total other 6th grade and/or elementary ensemble (band, choir, and orchestra) to receive this distinction across the entire state of Pennsylvania in both 2023 and 2024.

While at WVU Mr. Ziccardi performed in a variety of music ensembles including the Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Jazz Big Band, Basketball Pep Band, Steel Drum Ensemble, Fife and Drums, Concert Band, Mountaineer Chorale, African Drum Ensemble, and in the pit orchestra for musicals. He was also the recipient of the Theodore Presser Foundation award, Don Wilcox Concert Band award, and a winner of the “Young Artist Concerto Competition."

Outside of school Mr. Ziccardi enjoys traveling, cooking, playing soccer, and spending time with his wife, son, and family. He also actively performs as a musician in the area with the Butler County Symphony Orchestra, several musical theater organizations, multiple jazz ensemble organizations, and more. Watch Mr. Ziccardi perform his favorite percussion piece of music on the xylophone in the first video below!