Pete's Percussion Podcast - Pete Zambito

Episode 521 - PASIC 2026 Preview (Part 2) Pete's Percussion Podcast PASIC 2026 Week is Here! Part 2 of the annual PASIC Preview Episodes is here, including conversations with Emma Kieselhorst (02:20), Lamon Lawhorn [interviewing Pete] (24:20), and Vivienne and Jordan Shippy of Metaphor Percussion (38:10).Links:PASIC 2026 Preview (Part 1)Emma KieselhorstPete ZambitoMetaphor Percussion

Episode 520 - 2026 PASIC Preview (Part 1) Pete's Percussion Podcast PASIC 2026 is here! Let’s preview some clinics, presentations, and performances happening this year. Presenting on Thursday are Tim Feeney (02:10), Ross Karre (18:55), Ethan Strickland (33:20), and Gregory Beyer (42:50).Links:Tim FeeneyRoss KarreEthan StricklandArcomusical

Episode 519 - Gabriela Ordonez Villalobos (Part 2) Pete's Percussion Podcast Mexico-based percussionist, educator, and entrepreneur Gabriela Ordoñez Villalobos returns to discuss the end of her orchestral tenure and heading to UNLV for her master’s degree, improving her English speaking, teaching steel band and rock music history, returning to her studies later in her career, and freelancing in the Las Vegas area (02:10), staying at UNLV for her doctorate, her dissertation research on playing Flamenco music on marimba, and her post-doctorate career working in Las Vegas as an arts administrator prior to moving back to Mexico (23:30), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on her experiences as a woman in the percussion field, making clothing decisions, the Las Vegas Raiders, The Mexican National Soccer team and the recent World Cup, playing for actual lions, and Led Zeppelin’s Physical Graffiti album (48:15).Finishing with a Rave on Peter Wolf’s memoir Waiting on the Moon and Wolf’s appearance on the Marc Maron WTF podcast in 2025 (01:26:45).Gabriela Ordoñez Villalobos links:Part 1 with Gabriela Ordoñez VillalobosGabriela’s Flamenco Music DissertationGabriela’s Instagram FeedOther Links:Dean GronemeierTimothy JonesAlex StopaSam WetzelThe Canadian Percussion Network“Asturias” - Isaac Albéniz/transc. L.H. StevensMexico vs. England 2026 World CupPuss in Boots: The Last Wish trailerThe Historian - Elizabeth KostovaLas Porky’s Physical Graffiti - Led ZeppelinRaves:Waiting on the Moon - Peter WolfPeter Wolf on WTF with Marc Maron

Episode 518 - Gabriela Ordonez Villalobos (Part 1) Pete's Percussion Podcast Percussionist,  Educator, Entrepreneur, and Freelancer Gabriela Ordoñez Villalobos stops by to talk about her job as the Artistic Director of the Juventud Center at Sewá Charter School in Chihuahua (Mexico) and her freelancing career (03:40), her work setting up and running the Festival Internacional de Percusiones de Chihuahua, the challenges and successes there, and the grant writing process (18:35), growing up in Chihuahua, her father’s love of rock music, her background in drumset, Mexico’s Rock music scene, music education in Mexico and Mariachi Programs in the U.S. (38:40), and talks about her experiences at the Chihuahua Conservatory of Music, her years in gymnastics, and eventually earning the full-time timpani position in Chihuahua (01:00:20).Finishing with a Rave on the 2016 film Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (01:30:00).Gabriela Ordoñez Villalobos links:Gabriela’s Flamenco Music DissertationGabriela’s Instagram FeedOther Links:El Sistema in VenezuelaTimothy JonesDean GronemeierManáZeferino NandayapaRaves:Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping trailer

Episode 517 - Morgan Parker (Part 2) Pete's Percussion Podcast New York City-based drummer and percussionist Morgan Parker returns to talk about moving to leaving Kansas and heading to NYC after undergrad, the pandemic occurring during her NYU masters, studying with great teachers and getting connected, and taking tap dance lessons (03:00), then settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including segments on the importance of listening to recordings, Morgan’s experiences as a woman in the percussion world, great movies and books, bad jobs, crazy live gigs, and experiencing newer artists live (27:25).Finishing with a Rave on the 2026 film Primetime (01:11:25).Morgan Parker Links:Part 1 with Morgan ParkerMorgan Parker’s websiteMorgan Parker’s Maestra PageOther Links:Jonathan HaasJames SaporitoValerie NaranjoIn the HeightsHamiltonMuscle Shoals Sound StudioThe Rocky Horror Picture Show trailerDude, Where's My Car? trailerBack to the Future trailerBack to the Future Part 2 trailerFerris Bueller’s Day Off trailerThe Breakfast Club trailerThe Subtle Art of Not Giving a F___ - Mark MansonKeith Moon Drum SoloJohn Bonham Drum SoloJack Stack BBQPancho’s Mexican FoodYUNGBLUDTravis Barker: Louder Than Fear trailerRaves:Primetime trailer

Episode 516 - Morgan Parker (Part 1) Pete's Percussion Podcast New York City-based freelancing drummer and percussionist Morgan Parker stops by to talk about her career in NYC, her recent 2-year tour with A Beautiful Noise, and her upcoming PASIC performance supporting Valerie Naranjo (04:00), her work as a Broadway sub, and what 2 years of touring meant for her gear and how she managed her physical and mental health (22:35), growing up in rural Kansas, getting involved in music and how it saved her life, the importance of musical style, how she manages social media (50:20), and the importance of her teachers in and out of her years at Kansas Wesleyan University, attaining both music performance and music education degrees simultaneously, and her experiences in student teaching (01:21:10).Finishes with a Rave on the 2000s TV Series Slings & Arrows (01:43:25).Morgan Parker Links:Morgan Parker’s websiteMorgan Parker’s Maestra pagePrevious Podcast Guests mentioned:Mackenna Tolfa in 2026Other Links:A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond MusicalMJ The MusicalFiddler on the RoofValerie NaranjoJonathan HaasKeith LevensonThe WhoThe Doo Woo ProjectRaves:Slings & Arrows

Episode 515 - Kat Otto-Gentry Pete's Percussion Podcast Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts (in Kansas City) band director and Lincoln University (MO) alum Kat Otto-Gentry stops by to talk about her new job there and the changes from her previous post at FL Schlagle High School (03:55), growing up in Kansas City, her parents the radio DJs, drumming from a young age, playing cello and sousaphone, and meeting former LU band director Rhonda Harper (16:40), Kat interviews Pete about his years teaching at Lincoln (39:00), Kat discusses her own time as an undergrad at Lincoln (58:00), her post-Lincoln career beginning at Lee A. Tolbert in KC and her learning curve about the teaching profession (01:12:30), teaching at Schlagle, replacing a legend, her thoughts on attaining future degrees, and her decision to leave her alma mater (01:21:30), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on her experiences in the band world as a woman, grilling food, the Kansas City Chiefs, great KC Ethiopian food restaurants, and the JS Bach Cello Suites (01:45:05).Finishing with a Rave on the recent Missouri Symphony Performance of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (02:15:40).Kat Otto-Gentry Links:Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts Staff PagePrevious Podcast Guests Mentioned:Charles Smotherson in 2017Other Links:F.L. Schlagle High School Youth JazzLincoln University Music DepartmentSunset Reggae with Sister GThe Grand Emporium, Kansas CityVH1 Save the Music FoundationVerdine WhiteThe Warm DemanderWicked trailerTeam America: World Police trailerA Song For You: My Life with Whitney Houston - Robyn CrawfordBlack Garlic restaurantBlue Nile CafeYo Yo Ma on ArthurYo Yo Ma playing JS Bach’s Cello Suite in G Major, PreludeRaves:Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in concert

Episode 514 - Steph Davis Pete's Percussion Podcast Boston-based marimbist, educator, collaborator, composer, arranger, and Africana historian Steph Davis stops by to talk about with entrepreneurial and performance career, his teaching at Boston Conservatory, living and working in Boston, and playing gyil (03:35), growing up in Orlando (FL), getting into percussion, his years as a gymnast, and his love of reading (28:50), attending Boston Conservatory for his undergrad and masters, studying with Nancy Zeltsman, moving to a new city, and getting into the foodie culture (46:05), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including segments on making a career on marimba, maintaining physical and mental health, the Twilight movies, Toni Morrison, and Lauryn Hill (01:13:40).Finishes with a Rave on the 2026 film Is God Is (01:42:20).Steph Davis links:Steph Davis’ websiteSteph Davis’ Boston Conservatory pageSteph Davis’ Marimba One pageCastle of Our Skins“Of Thoughts and Thinking” - Tony LymonPrevious Podcast Guests mentioned:Britton-René Collins in 2023Julie Spencer in 2021Other Links:Matt SharrockVicente LusitanoJoseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-GeorgesGabriela Lena FrankNew Gallery Concert SeriesValerie NaranjoNancy ZeltsmanHarry PotterThe Twilight SagaEnder’s Game - Orson Scott CardSweet Song - Nancy Zeltsman“Variations on Lost Love” - David Maslanka“Scenes from Mexico” - Alice GomezSamuel SolomonMarti EpsteinJohn MurphreeMoonlight trailerTwilight trailerSong of Solomon - Toni MorrisonThe Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - Ms. Lauryn HillNicki MinajClose Up - SBB & DBRZora Neale Hurston’s Anthropological LegacyRaves:Is God Is trailer

Episode 513 - Mackenna Tolfa Pete's Percussion Podcast Percussionist and Freelancer Mackenna Tolfa stops by to talk about her long run with the Blue Man Group, getting the job and the physical and acting demands of the role, the daily schedule, and cooking on tour (02:10), growing up in Green Bay (WI), surrounded by music at an early age, her extensive piano and percussion background, and her fondness for the composer Sergei Rachmaninov (30:50), her undergrad years at the University of Minnesota and studying with Fernando Meza (47:30), her post-undergrad years, the Blue Man Group auditions, the importance of social media for her success, and her Broadway gigs and the Dust Bowl Radio Hour (59:25), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on mental health in school programs, social media, thrifting, traveling, great books and music, her love of sports, and the importance of the music of AURORA (01:14:00).Finishing with a Rave on the 2000 film Miss Congeniality (01:49:30).MacKenna Tolfa links:MacKenna Tolfa’s websiteMacKenna Tolfa’s InstagramMacKenna Tolfa’s FacebookPrevious Podcast Guests mentioned:Fernando Meza in 2020Britton-René Collins in 2023Eriko Daimo in 2025Nicole Patrick in 2020Julie Spencer in 2021Other Links:Blue Man GroupClayton CraddockDavid AnaniaPhilip MayerKeiko AbeKansasBilly JoelRushYesJosh Groban“Prelude in G minor” - Sergei RachmaninovPiano Concerto No. 2 - Sergei RachmaninovConcerto in F - George GershwinMean GirlsThe Lion KingChris CerretoKasey DillonPatrick NewtonDisclosure Day trailerThe Odyssey trailerHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - JK RowlingThe Courage to be Disliked - Ichiro KishimiAlexander ScriabinGraystone Ale HouseErling HaalandJordan LoveAURORARaves:Miss Congeniality trailer

Episode 512- Michelle Colton Pete's Percussion Podcast Toronto-based Percussion Educator, Composer, and Freelancer Michelle Colton stops by to talk about her sessional teaching work at the University of Toronto, teaching in the local school district, and the freelancing scene there (03:25), her time as the Ontario Chapter President of PAS (19:15), growing up in Marion (IA), her musical family, soul and funk music, marching band, and marathon running (25:50), attending the University of Iowa for undergrad, her wide variety of experiences there, and eventually meeting her husband Alejandro Cespedes (41:50), going to the University of Toronto for her grad degrees, studying with lots of great professors, and her dissertation on percussion gestures (50:25), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on developing well-rounded percussionists, being a woman in the percussion world, keeping up her mental and physical health, great food, audiobooks, and her compositional inspirations (01:09:20).Finishing with a Rave on a recent University of Missouri Faculty Music Recital (01:38:00).Michelle Colton Links:Michelle Colton’s websiteMichelle Colton’s YouTube pageMichelle Colton’s University of Toronto pagePrevious Podcast guests mentioned:Victoria Sparks in 2018She-e Wu in 2025Michael Schutz in 2025Todd Meehan in 2017Other Links:Alejandro CéspedesCommunity Music Schools of TorontoNewJeans“Havana” - Camila Cabello“Tom Sawyer” - RushCanadian Percussion NetworkTom MackeyPure Funk“Natural Woman” - Aretha Franklin“Stay” - Lisa Loeb“If I Ain’t Got You” - Alicia Keys“If” - Janet JacksonKeiko AbeIowa Flood of 2008John RudolphDan MooreDane RichesonAnthony Di SanzaOrlando CottoNEXUSBeverley JohnstonChristopher LambMargaret AtwoodRussell HartenbergerSteve ReichChristos HatzisMississauga Children’s ChoirLiquidrum’s Marimba MovesTomaso’s PizzaMe - Elton JohnThe Woman in Me - Britney SpearsBecoming - Michelle ObamaSpare - Prince HarryBorn a Crime - Trevor Noah“Uninvited” - Alanis Morisette and Brandi Carlile“Adia” - Sarah McLaughlinUnsuk ChinRaves:Mizzou School of Music Faculty