Meet the Western Range Band
Western Range
Texas Swing, Honky Tonk and Vintage Rock!
Susan Chiovarou is the rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist for Western Range. She shines whether she’s singing lead or lending her beautiful harmonies to vintage rock classics from Carl Perkins to Wanda Jackson or beautiful honky tonk and Texas swing ballads. Susan loves the meaningful and authentic lyrics of the songs that Western Range brings to life.
Susan has been a vocalist and guitarist since her high school days and is at home whether she is singing folk, rock, jazz, or even wedding music. In Northern Pennsylvania, she fronted the jazz-focused James Ronan Group. In the Central Pennsylvania region, Susan has performed in the ensemble for many memorable musical theatre productions with FUSE Productions, State College Community Theatre, and the Nittany Theatre at the Barn.
Lead guitarist Mac Himes is considered by many to be the most accomplished professional guitarist in the Centre Region. With Western Range, Mac loves bringing his jazz-influenced guitar style to the music of pioneering electric guitar greats like Chet Atkins, Don Rich (from the Buck Owens band), Eldon Shamblin (from the Texas Playboys band), and Scotty Moore (from Elvis' band).
Mac has been both a performing jazz guitarist and guitar teacher for over 15 years in the central Pennsylvania region. In addition to his gigs with Western Range, Mac performs with the Rick Hirsch 4, the Zeropoint Big Band, as well as his own jazz trio. A doctoral candidate in music education at the Penn State School of Music, Mac received a masters in music composition from Penn State and B.A. in music from Peabody Institute. He is a faculty member at the Penn State School of Music, and you will love his authentic, creative guitar work when you hear him jamming with Western Range!
Western Range drummer Kyle Haust is one of the premier percussionists in the Centre Region of Pennsylvania. As one who really respects and studies honky tonk and Texas swing music, Kyle brings an incredibly authentic sound to his work with Western Range. Few drummers anywhere can match Kyle's versatility and playing abilities and he will get your feet tapping whenever you hear Western Range on the band stand or festival stage.
Kyle plays an amazing array of musical styles ranging from jazz to punk to classical. Just wait until you hear his hard-driving rhythms as well as his work behind the beautiful ballads of Western Range.
Kyle earned his bachelor's degree from the University of North Florida and a Professional Performers Certificate in percussion from Penn State. He also earned his master's degree in percussion performance from Penn State and he is principal percussionist and principal timpanist for the Nittany Valley Symphony. He performs as house drummer for FUSE Productions and Singing on Stage musicals.
Bassist and backing vocalist Phil Burlingame has been a fan of all forms of American roots music for decades - but he especially loves the Texas Swing, classic honky tonk and hard-driving vintage rock that define the distinctive Western Range sound.
Phil has played many musical styles. He was the bassist for classic rock bands in Northern and Western Pennsylvania and he has played bass for big bands, Dixieland bands, jazz combos and his own quartet. Locally he was the bassist for the Slide Zone (jazz octet) and has performed with the Keystone Society of Swing and the Les Shaw Band.
Phil has also played bass for musical theatre productions at State College Community Theatre, Nittany Theatre and FUSE Productions.