ARTISTIC STAFF: Concert Band
ROBERT DAVIS (He/Him) Artistic Director
Robert Davis has served as the Lead Artistic Director of the Columbus Pride Bands since the spring of 2017, having previously served as Assistant Artistic Director. Robert currently serves as the Director of Bands at Watkins Memorial High School in Pataskala, Ohio. At Watkins Memorial, Robert leads all aspects of the high school band program including two concert bands, jazz ensemble, marching band, pep band, the musical pit orchestra, and assists with the middle school bands. During his time at Watkins Memorial, the band program has participated in a commissioning project with John Mackey, hosted composer Michael Markowski, worked with notable educators including Frank Battisti, and continues to consistently earn high ratings at adjudicated events.
Before moving to Columbus in 2015, Robert earned a Master of Music Degree in Instrumental Conducting from the University of WisconsinMilwaukee where he studied conducting with Dr. John Climer. While a student at UWM, Robert was the recipient of a Chancellor’s Award and several Graduate Travel Grants which allowed him to pursue additional study with prominent band conductors around the country. Robert began his teaching career at Anna Local Schools in western Ohio, and he is a proud alumnus of Ohio University. Robert holds professional membership in the National Association for Music Education, Ohio Music Education Association, National Band Association, American School Band Directors’ Association, and is an alumnus of Kappa Kappa Psi.
ARTISTIC STAFF: Concert Band
JENNIFER OLIS,
(She/Her)
Assistant Artistic Director
Jennifer Olis has served as Assistant Artistic Director of Columbus Pride Bands since the spring of 2019. She currently is the Director of Bands in the Grandview Heights School District in central Ohio. At Grandview, Jennifer teaches the high school concert band, high school marching band, high school jazz band, eighth grade band, and assists with the fifth, sixth, and seventh grade bands. She also leads chamber ensembles, the musical pit orchestra, and the pep band program. Prior to coming to Grandview, Jennifer taught for five years in the Logan Hocking School District in southeastern Ohio and six years at Muskego High School in southeastern Wisconsin. Under her direction, the Muskego High School Wind Ensemble performed at the 2009 and 2014 Wisconsin State Music Association Conferences. In 2012, Jennifer was one of three selected participants in the National Band Association Young Conductor Mentor Project where she studied with renowned conductors and educators Mark Camphouse, Paula Crider, and Gary Hill.
An avid supporter of new works for concert band, Jennifer has participated in several commissioning projects resulting in works by composers Zachary Koors, Taras Nahirniak, Michael Sweeney, and John Mackey. She is the recipient of The Ohio State University Outstanding Graduate Associate Award (2017) and The Ohio State University Fellowship Award (2015). She is a member of NAfME, Sigma Alpha Iota, Tau Beta Sigma, Kappa Kappa Psi, Pi Kappa Lambda, and Phi Kappa Phi. She earned her Bachelor of Music Education and Trombone Performance degrees from Ohio University and Master of Music degree in Wind Conducting from The Ohio State University, where she studied with Dr. Russel Mikkelson. Jennifer and her husband, Michael, live in Pickerington with their children Molly and Julian.
ARTISTIC STAFF: Jazz Band
Megan Jacoby-Banks (She/Her) Co-Artistic Director
Megan has been with the Columbus Pride Bands since 2016, serving in many roles from drumline instructor to section leader. She also served as the Pep Band director at the 2024 Pride Bands Alliance National Conference. This year, Megan has taken the role of Co-Artistic Director, alongside Joshua Powell, for the new Columbus Pride Jazz Band. Megan has a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Toledo and a Master’s Degree in Music Technology from Southern Utah University. For the past 10 years, Megan has taught band and choir in the Columbus City Schools local school district. Outside of teaching, Megan is an active performer in the Columbus local music scene. She is a freelance drummer/percussionist and is the bandleader and songwriter of Made of the Mist, a local queer alternative band. When Megan isn’t immersed in the world of music and performance, she spends her time motorcycling, hiking, and video gaming.
Josh Powell, (He/Him) Co-Artistic Director
Joshua has been with the Columbus Pride Bands since 2020. This year, Josh has taken the role of Co-Artistic Director forming the new Pride Jazz Band. He graduated from Ohio University in 2013 studying Music Composition and Audio Production. Since graduation Josh has directed non-profit youth bands and chamber ensembles. Joshua is also part of a saxophone quartet “Cinq!” that made its debut performance this year in the Columbus State house during the National Pride Band Conference. Outside of music, in 2021, Joshua took over ownership of the historic 90 year old restaurant, Clay’s Cafe, in Hebron, Ohio just east of Columbus. He has utilized the business as a platform to further his philanthropic efforts in music and youth organizations.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
President: TJ Klopfstein
Vice President: Ryan Dickerson
Treasurer: Bill Thacker
Secretary: Steven Carpenter
DIRECTORS
Archives: Stephen Phillips
Communications: Eloise Jones
Community Liaison: Donna Jacoby-Banks
Marketing: Tony Killian
Membership: Danny Yeager
Sales: Jacob Lowry
Development: Zach Meyer
Web/Media: Nathan Russell
The Columbus Pride Bands is a proud member of the Pride Bands Alliance and the Association of Concert Bands
OUR FAMILY OF BANDS
PROGRAM
JAZZ BAND
Autumn Leaves .............................................................. arr. Joseph Kosma
Jingle Bells ........................................................................... arr. Rick Stitzel
Christmas Time is Here....................................................... Vince Guaraldi
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas ......................... arr. Alan Baylock
A Chili Pepper Christmas ................arr. Doug Beach & George Shutack
CONCERT BAND
Christmas on Broadway ................................................ arr. John Higgins
Patapan (Percussion Feature) .......... Traditional Carol arr. Porter Eidam
You Better Sleigh! .................................................................... JaRod Hall
Winter Magic .............................................................................. PinkZebra
Gloria ............................................................................... Randol Alan Bass
INTERMISSION
Let the Bells Ring .................................... Traditional arr. Robert Buckley
A Rollicking Hanukkah ................ Traditional arr. Randall D. Standridge
Winter Light ........................................................................... Matt Wasson
Russian Christmas Music ......................Alfred Reed arr. James Curnow
Santa’s Journey (Bringing Joy to the World) ................. Roy W. Kaighin
A Holiday Sing-Along ........................................................ arr. John Moss
SAXOPHONES
Kurt Filippone
Eloise Jones
Nathen Stenner
Deed Van
JAZZ BAND MUSICIANS
TRUMPETS
Jose Ayala
Lashanda Cavin
Jeremy Kaufman
Jack Riggs
TROMBONES
Bill Baker
Betsy Cleland
Jennifer Olis
Nathan Russell
RHYTHM
Megan Jacoby-Banks
Gini Pikaart
Kayla Forshey
Loren Lander
CONCERT BAND MUSICIANS
PICCOLO
Matthew Lippert
FLUTE
Jan Bednarczuk
Addy Bemis
Miranda Bickert
Ian Boden
Cole Campos
Vanessa Cox*
Ash Harmon
Christina King
Grace Lillie
Matthew Lippert
Abigail Mason
Devon Piskac
Anna Reynolds
Andy Riggs
Hannah Sieber
Christine Swoboda
Rosena Trover
Sami Wallick
Cameron Ratliff
OBOE
Allie Fair
Kayla Forshey
Chelsea Hartz
Zachary Meyer*
Jarred Small
ENGLISH HORN
Jarred Small
BASSOON
Molly Brown
Elizabeth Mak
Nat Hickman
Langston Pierce II
CLARINET
Sara Arnett
Carl Cummins
Lesly Day Brusoe
Ryan Dickerson
Isaac Dryer
Erin Engle
Bathany Fetch
Kayleigh Fisher
Eloise Jones
Keeta Jones
Emily Killian
Chloe Knoll
Mallory McNabb
Kel Price
Eli Raver*
Faith Scully
Amanda Smith
Kell Sprangel
Alex Zawisa
BASS CLARINET
Rachel Hisey
Darryl Wylie
ALTO SAXOPHONE
Ziana Brooks
Theo Gutchall
Donna Jacoby-Banks
Rosie Massey
Jesse Neubauer
Joshua Powell
Cagney Seay
Deed Vann
TENOR SAXOPHONE
Caleb Griffith
Leo Mollohan
MJ Schnurr
Micah Shaffer
BARI SAXOPHONE
Julie Quinn
CONCERT BAND MUSICIANS
TRUMPET
Stephen Bohland
Lashanda Cavin
Sofia Closson*
Brian Finley
Jason Fulks
Dennis Hubach
Jules Hoag
Jeremy Kaufman
TJ Klopfstein*
Spencer Litzenberger
Louisa Mayer
Belinda Reynolds
Samual Richards
Jack Riggs
Spencer Rucker
Kevin Vaselakes
Alex Vilkinofsky
FRENCH HORN
Andrew Bickert
Chris Daniels*
Jeremy Helsel
Emma Hockenbery
Tony Killian
Michael Lindner
TROMBONE
Rachel Ammons
Betsy Cleland*
John Climer
Loren Lander
Julie Langenfeld
Grace McCracken
Jeffery Riggs
Robbie Schelling
Jack Sullivan
Tori Taylor
Joel Wallick
Mary Weckman
BASS TROMBONE
Nate Russell
EUPHONIUM
Bill Baker
Ty Duong
Jeremy Ogden
Stephen Phillips*
TUBA
Jose Ayala III
Rich Guinther
Kory Munk
Bill Thacker
Tony Vitale
PERCUSSION
Emil Boyne
Drew Brown
Steven Carpenter*
Marc Conte
Naysa Dunlap
Ash Gillis
Megan Jacoby-Banks
Xandon Johnson
Natalie Jones
Gini Pikaart
Ender Stoker
PIANO
Grace Lillie
STRING BASS
Loren Lander
*Section Leader
SPONSORS
GOLD LEVEL $2500
SILVER LEVEL $1000
BRONZE LEVEL $500
Clay’s Cafe
Wells CPA, LLC.
Rettig Music
Grants
Winter Wonderland has been made possible by a grant from the Ohio Arts Council! This grant helps us continue to fund our concert band performances at great local theater venues in Columbus, such as our concert today, here at the Lincoln Theatre. We want to thank OAC, the Governor, and Ohio General Assembly for providing grant awards that support arts in Ohio.
Columbus Pride Bands is a nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code. Your gift for which you received no goods or services, may be tax-deductible under current tax law. Please consult your tax professional.
DONORS
CONDUCTOR $1000
Leigh E. Briggs
Jeffrey Chaddock
Bill Thacker
Teresa Flemings
DIRECTOR $500
Stephen and Beth Cuff
Jeff Goss
John Kennedy
Dale Masel and Roberto McClin
Connie Pillich
Stephen Sollars
Christine Swodoba
Kevin Vaselakes
Moira Wilmes
SUPPORTER $250
Patrick Conley & Robert Davis
Aaron and Jacob Lowry-Gilbert
Mary and Nick Weckman
Elaine Puckett
Rumours
PARTNER $100
Donna Jacoby-Banks
John & Gayle Bodle-Rhoades
Arnold Buck
Teri Coffey
Stephen & Michelle Davakis
Brian Finley
Tony Killian
Travis Chi Wing Lau
Allyson Ruebusch
Becky and Larry Trover
Shane Wealti
PARTNER cont.
Susan and John Climer
Larry Trover
Bradley Speck
Celia Canjura
Derek Herrmann
Joseph Bonasera
Travis Lau
Frederick Martens
Jack Riggs
Jennifer Gibson
Kyra Knoll
Chip Wendell
TJ Klopfstein
Jerry Comer
FRIEND
$50
Bob Barnes
Corey Dykstra
Brittany Fyffe
Amy Hoskinson
Katherine Langenfeld
Jeffrey Martin
Leah Musie
Thomas and Roxanne Pikaart
Michael and Louise Vaselakes
Morgan Webb
Clay Parlette
Michael Squires - in memory of Rahn Kanipe
Eloise Maun
Leah Musie
Emily Boroff
Morgan Webb
Ryan Dodds
Susan Hoag
William Legare
OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT THE BAND
KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS
For our Kroger shopper patrons, consider the Columbus Pride Bands as your selected organization to receive your Kroger Community Rewards. This is a great and easy way to be a sustaining donor to the band thoughout the year. This programs provides the band upwards $500 annually.
Search for: COLUMBUS PRIDE BANDS
Any transactions using your Shopper’s Card number associated with your digital account will be applied to the program, at no added cost to you. Kroger donates annually to participating organizations based on your percentage of spending as it relates to the total spending associated with all participating Kroger Community Rewards organizations.
kroger.com/i/community/community-rewards
BOOK AN EVENT
The band can accomodate events large and small. Example of past performances include; weddings, drag shows, holiday events, and pep rally style settings.
VOLUNTEER
We have various ways you can volunteer time to the band. We have multiple events through the year where volunteers can assist with the band including; ushering and collecting tickets at concerts or carrying water during parades. We are also looking fo volunteers who have special skills such as; grant writing, audio and visual media editing, social media skills, outreach and networking.
SPECIAL THANKS
King Avenue UMC
Mary Ann Brandt
The Worthington Partnership
Gresso’s
Cavan’s Irish Pub
Club Diversity
Wells CPA
Harmony Project
SLIDESHOW
Jenn Olis
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Don Sgontz
Norman Ai
