Stolfe's Portside Percussion Studio: Get to know John...

Background:	Trained in percussion performance and music education. John attended the Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University while attaining a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree. He majored in human resource management and employee training/development. Currently I am enrolled at Carthage College, Kenosha, WI completing the requirements for certification in music education. John was fortunate enough to study percussion and drum set with several great educators including Edward Poremba (Chicago Lyric Opera and the Grant Park Symphony), Bruce Carver (Chicago based Studio Musician), Jeff Decker and David Bayles (Yamaha Artist, Milwaukee Conservatory of Music and Milwaukee Ballet), Dom Famularo and Johnny Rabb. As a performer, John has over 25 years experience playing professionally as a concert percussionist and drum set performer. He and his groups have performed all around the US & Canada including New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., Toronto, Canada, and Disney World. Locally, John has performed with many area bands and jazz groups including the Racine Concert Band and the Kenosha Pops Band.
Qualifications:	John has been playing drums since the third grade in Mr. Humphrey's Cadet Band. (I still remember my first teacher!) Since that young start, he has performed in a large variety of musical groups, from local jazz groups to area concert bands and orchestras. Professional Teaching Experience – Private Studio Teaching Private Drum Instructor/Owner September 2005-Present Stolfe’s Portside Percussion Studio 5029 – 6th Ave Kenosha, WI 53140 262-818-1173 www.portsidepercussion.com Currently serve 50+ private students Private Drum Instructor November 2003 – September 2005 Music Go Round 7310 Green Bay Rd Kenosha, WI 53142 262-697-ROCK Skott Moriarity – Manager Responsibilities: percussion instructor Professional Teaching Experience – Schools Percussion Instructor/Percussion Caption Head May 2008 – Present Greendale High School 6801 Southway Greendale, WI 53129 (414) 423-0110 Tom Reifenberg – Director of Bands Responsibilities: Serve as the percussion caption head for the Greendale Panther Marching Band 2008 Wisconsin AA State Marching Band Champions and winner of Best Percussion Caption Award. Percussion instructor for grades 5-12 and created instructional curriculum for the after school lesson program. Assistant Marching Band Director/Percussion Specialist/Jazz Band Director January 2008 - Present Antioch Community HS 1133 Main Street Antioch, IL 60002 847- 395-1421 Responsibilities: percussion instructor for 9-12th grade band program, instruct percussion ensemble, and serve as the Assistant Marching Band Director for the Antioch Sequoit Marching Band. Percussion Instructor November 2003 - 2009 Mahone Middle School 6900 – 60th Street Kenosha, WI 53144 262-605-8127 Kristie Kruse – Director of Bands Responsibilities: percussion instructor for 6th, 7th and 8th grade band programs Percussion Instructor September 2005 – Present Tremper Senior High School 8560 – 26th Ave. Kenosha, WI 53143 262-942-2229 Louis Covelli – Director of Bands Responsibilities: percussion instructor for the Tremper Senior HS Concert Bands & Wind Ensembles and Percussion Ensemble Director leading four percussion ensembles Percussion Instructor September 2007 – May 2009 Lincoln Middle School 6729 – 18 Ave. Kenosha, WI 53143 262-653-6296 Jeremy Kriedemann – Director of Bands Responsibilities: percussion instructor for 6th, 7th and 8th grade band programs Summer Band Percussion Instructor Summer 2005 - 2009 Band of the BlackWatch Kenosha, WI 262-942-2229 Ken Wiele – Director Responsibilities: drum line and concert percussion coach for summer high school program Summer Band Percussion Instructor Summer 2005 - 2009 Rambler Band (7th& 8th grade) Kenosha, WI 262-605-8127 John Nepper - Director Responsibilities: drum line and concert percussion coach for summer middle school program Summer Band Percussion Instructor Summer 2004, 2007-2009 Continental Band (6th grade) Kenosha, WI 262-605-8127 Kristie Kruse, Kathy Ripley – Directors Responsibilities: drum line and concert percussion coach Percussion Clinician December 2004 - 2009 Bullen Middle School Bands 2804 – 39th Avenue Kenosha, WI 53144 262-597-4460 John Nepper – Director of Bands Responsibilities: clinician for annual two day band retreat Percussion Instructor 2005-06, 2006-07 - 2009-10 Kenosha Beats Indoor Drum Line Kenosha Unified School District Kenosha, WI 262-942-2229 Paul Taylor - Director Responsibilities: volunteer drum line coach handling pit and battery percussion for start up organization in the Minnesota Percussion Association Percussion Instructor October 2004 – May 2005 Indian Trail Academy High School 6800 – 60th Street Kenosha, WI 53144 262-653-0317 Keith Robinson – Director of Bands & Orchestra Responsibilities: percussion instructor for the Indian Trail Concert Band Percussion Instructor May 2005 – November 2005 CYO – Emerald Knights Kenosha, WI 262-654-1610 Matthew Garza – Director of Bands Responsibilities: drum line instructor Percussion Instructor 1995-1997 Holy Cross High School (This private school closed) River Grove, IL 60171 John Springbrunn – Director of Bands Responsibilities: marching band instructor, assisted with high school percussion section, faculty representative for TRI-M Music Honor Society, adjudicated school sponsored solo and ensemble contests for local grade schools, was percussion clinician for annual music festival, assisted/performed with pit orchestra for theater program Education BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Roosevelt University, Chicago IL 1992 Major: Management and Human Resource Development Academic Scholarship and Instrumental Performance Scholarship recipient Additional studies in music education, arts management and percussion performance through the Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University Private Percussion Studies: Edward Poremba – Chicago Lyric Opera, Chicago Grant Park Symphony, Roosevelt University – Percussion Instructor David Bayles – Yamaha and Zildjian Clinician, Milwaukee Ballet, UW- Parkside-Percussion Instructor, Wisconsin Conservatory of Music Percussion Dept. Chairperson, recorded/performed with various jazz ensembles around the US Bruce Carver – Chicago area session/recording musician, first call pit orchestra percussionist, educator Jeff Decker – Chicago area educator and performing jazz artist Dave Holland – Drum circle facilitator Dom Famularo – Internationally acclaimed percussion educator
Associations:	Percussive Arts Society (PAS) Member Vic Firth Education Team Member and Endorser Life-time Faculty Member of the TRI-M Music Honors Society Member of The National Association for Music Education (MENC) Wisconsin School Music Association Member (WSMA) Illinois Music Educators Association Member (IMEA) Jazz Education Network (JEN) Member
Testimonials:	"John has a true commitment to his students and strives to make a positive environment for them to learn in. He exposes them to a wide array of artists and percussion instruments. Not only does he help them to grow musically, but also as individuals who are ready to perform in front of audiences. John has a unique talent of relating to kids and making them strive to be the best they can be. " —Lisa Schulz, parent of student “John Stolfe is a phenominal teacher of young percussionists. My son has grown tremendously in the short time he has been taking personalized lessons. His enthusiasm is contagious and my son has found a new interest to learn. John makes learning fun and breaks down lessons in easy to follow formats. I recommend John with no hesitations.” -- Don O'Boyle, parent of student "Like all exceptional teachers, John inspires the members of the BlackWatch drum line to achieve by demonstrating unwavering belief in their abilities while holding extremely high expectations for their development...I have had the chance to observe many teachers in my twenty-five years of teaching and I can say without hesitation that John is quite simply one of the finest examples I have seen." -- Ken L. Wiele, Director of Bands, Tremper HS "John is extremely easy to work with and communicates well with students and other music teachers. He cares about the ensemble as a whole - more than just focusing on percussion. His dedication to his students is unmatched and always provides students with useful, contructive feedback...If you were to watch John teach, you would see and experienced, effective, knowledgeable and caring teacher. John Stolfe is truly an excellent music educator, and I would recommend him to you unconditionally. -- Patrick S. Hayes, Instrument Music Director, Antioch Community HS "I am so impressed with John Stolfe as a teacher and musician. His dedication to his students is inspiring! He commits himself to every lesson and makes it fun and informative. His students enjoy themselves and walk out of each lesson smiling! This is the key to a great instructor! Thanks John for all you do for education! Dom Famularo Drumming's Global Ambassador" —Dom Famularo, Teaching associate
Hobbies:	Besides teaching percussion, John has many passions and interests. When not working or performing, John enjoys outdoor activities with his wife and children. You'll often find him out on the golf course, fishing, at an outdoor concert at Ravinia or Millenium Park, or just spending time at a local sporting event. He loves photography...especially photos of nature. John is an avid Chicago Bears fan and Chicago Cubs fan!!!