Introducing the band

On Drums: Rick Puzzo

Rick is a veteran of 9 1/2 years in the US Air Force, where he held the position of criminal investigator. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Applied Percussion from West Virginia University and is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree at the University of Arizona.

From 2001 to 2010, he was the principal percussionist with the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic in Washington DC. He performed as a section percussionist with other orchestras on the East coast, in Manchester, England, and in several musical theater groups in central Virginia.

His performance credits are too numerous to mention, but include the Pittsburgh Opera, West Virginia Symphonette, and the Orlando Concert Band. He is a former member of the Fredericksburg Big Band.and played the drumset and percussion with a regional Virginia dance/swing band called 'Alias.' He is also a marimba soloist of note and has appeared as soloist at many prestigious events throughout Virginia, New Jersey,and Washington DC.

As a teacher, Rick is involved in providing private and group lessons, as well as composing, arranging, and instructing marching percussion. He has taught in high school programs, at the collegiate level and in the Drum Corps International with the Jersey Surf from 2004 through 2007. Additionally, Rick was a percussion contest judge in the Atlantic Indoor Association.

He joined the Retro Swing 7 in the summer of 2011 in order to broaden his experience with playing a trap set in a small swing/jazz ensemble.