FLORIDABRASS
Drum & Bugle Concert Ensemble
Brandon, FL
Marty Angiulli - CORPS DIRECTOR
Recently Inducted into the Buglers Hall of Fame (2013) Marty marched with Utica Boys, Black Hawks, Executives, Interstatesmen, Brigadiers and finally the New York Skyliners. After drum corps he occasionally played clubs in and around the Tampa area. He was instrumental in forming Florida Brass along with Roy Grant.
Ralph Venezia - MUSIC DIRECTOR
Ralph Venezia has been active in the Pageantry Arts as a performer,teacher, designer and clinician. He is the Brass instructor of the Florida Brass. He has been a performer, assistant drum major and brass instructor for the Hawthorne Caballeros. A trumpeter and percussionist he has performed with the Ridgewood Concert Band, Village Band, Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra and Orlando Concert Band. He was the principal designer for the Pequannock High School band and Color Guard and numerous high school bands in the tri-state area including Randolph, West Milford, Wayne Hills and the Norwich Free Academy. He also served on the staff of the five time Florida State Champion Cypress Creek High School in Orlando. As a composer his Three Coins In The Floutain was recently premiered by the Central Florida Sunshine Flutes and he is the principal arranger/ composer for Canticle Flute Ensemble of Orlando Florida. A graduate of Oklahoma City University he studied trumpet with Roger Stewart and composition with Frank Lynn Paine and Ray Luke. Mr. Venezia is a facilitator for Disney Youth Programs, and the Seas With Nemo And Friends education team. Adventures by Disney in Lake Buena Vista Florida. He resides in Kissimmee with lives his wife The Reverend Deborah Venezia and Princess Margaret, The Kountess of Kissimmee, a Basset Hound and Brother Cadfael, the Prince of Wails, a Cardigan Welsh
Larry Pawlowski - BRASS TECHNICIAN
Larry Pawlowski is a recently retired Band Director after thirty-one years of service. Larry’s concert bands at Lincoln Park High School in Chicago, IL received Superior placing in both State and City competition. At De La Salle Institute in Chicago, the concert band received seven top three honors including one first place at the Chicago Catholic School competition. Additionally, he served as a marching and drum instructor with Andrew High School in Tinley Park, IL for five years and with Warren Township in Gurnee, IL for over twenty years.
Larry marched for nine years in The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps and then went on to instruct them for six more. He also instructed four non-consecutive years with the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps, additionally assisted in many trumpet audition camps.
Larry has also had a long history with All Age Corps. He marched with the Bushwackers and then instructed them for two more. He also marched with the Hawthorne Caballeros. He was Brass Caption Head, Arranger, and Program Coordinator for the Chicago Vanguard. He was also Brass Caption Head and Program Coordinator for the Kilties Drum and Bugle Corps. Larry instructed many years with the Govenaires Drum and Bugle Corps fulfilling the role of Brass Caption Head and sometimes Music Director. In 2009 while he was Brass Caption Head, the Govenaires won High Horns and the DCA Class A Championship.
Larry performed with the Northwest Chicago Orchestra for two years and The Jack Foy and Skyliner Jazz Band for many years. He recently studied trumpet with Dr. Leah Schuman of the Vander Cook School of Music. Larry is currently playing trumpet in the St Augustine Concert Band and the St Augustine Orchestra. He is also playing in the Coquina Crossing Combo Band. He is currently an instructor for Florida Brass Alumni Corps.
Larry was honored to be elected to the 2019 class of the Buglers Hall of Fame.
Jeff Mitchell - BRASS TECHNICIAN
Jeff brings a wealth of drum corps and musical experience to the Florida Brass. He holds a degree in Music Theory & Composition, studying under Dr. Gundaris Pone, at SUNY New Paltz.
Jeff began his instructing career in 1973, working with the Kingston Indians. He moved from an assistant brass instructor to become the brass caption head, brass arranger, and program coordinator. Over the years he has worked with several drum corps, most notably the Sunrisers, Bushwackers, and Hurricanes. In addition, as a member of Three Tenors, won two first place medals in DCA I&E competition.
Jeff also has a lengthy history as a music adjudicator. Over the years, he was selected to judge the DCI World Class Finals seven times, along with championships for Drum Corps Japan, Drum Corps Europe, and Bands of America. He currently judges for Bands of America, FFCC, NYSFBC, ISSMA, and FMBC. He has been the brass caption head for DCI, DCE, DCA and also judge coordinator for the New York State Field Band Conference.
Stephen Cooley - Assisting HORNS (Winter Months)
Steve Cooley began his career playing a baritone horn for the junior Appleknockers from 1961 - 1972. In 1970, he became their brass arranger and instructor. He has also arranged for the Dunkirk Patriots, Hamburg Kingsmen, Pittsburgh Rockets, Rochester Phoenix, Rochester Crusaders, Steel City Ambassadors, and Guelph Royalaires. He began a 25 year association as arranger and instructor with the Erie Thunderbirds in 1979. He was the arranger and instructor for the Syracuse Brigadiers when the corps became active again as a parade unit in 1991 and when they returned to the contest field in 1992. Steve also was brass instructor for the DCA World Champion Empire Statesmen in 2004. Steve has judged music with the New York All American Judges, New York State Federation of Contest Judges, DCA, and DCI.
Ron Daw - DRUMS
Ron joined the Pittsburgh Rockets in 1969 marching with them until 1972, while also teaching area Jr. Corps and high school band drum lines.
In 1973 he moved to Miami and, at the request of Dick Filkins, joined the Miami Vanguards. He also judged some local area high school band competitions and did a stint playing in a country band.
After many years, once again, at the request of Dick Filkins, Ron joined the Florida Brass.