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WEST HILLS SYMPHONIC BAND

Meet the Band

Tom Snyder

Tom Snyder

2025 to Present

Principal Conductor & Music Director

Tom Snyder retired in June 2021 to conclude 40 years of public school music teaching, almost all in the West Allegheny SD. Roles throughout his tenure included serving as K-12 Arts Coordinator, high school musical producer, stage manager and band director, middle school music teacher, and elementary instrumental lessons teacher. He is continuing at WA in retirement as assistant producer for the fall and spring musicals. Tom graduated from Clarion State College with a B.S. in Music Education and received a master’s in music education from Duquesne University. He is currently the State Coordinator of the Music Performance Assessment program for the PA Music Educators Association (PMEA) and a concert band adjudicator.

Stephen Baldanzi

Stephen Baldanzi

2025 to Present

Associate Conductor

Stephen Baldanzi is a well-known musician and conductor throughout the Pittsburgh area.  He is the music director of the Allegheny Brass Band.  He has also conducted various musical theater orchestras for Stage 62 Theater Company, Carlynton High School and Shaler High School.   He taught music for 33 years and retired in June 2024 from North Allegheny School District. During his tenure at North Allegheny, he was the director of bands at the North Allegheny Intermediate School as well as the marching band director. Prior to working at North Allegheny, Mr. Baldanzi taught music in the Shaler Area School District and at Carlow Campus School. Mr. Baldanzi earned a Bachelor of Music in composition with a minor in music education from William Patterson University.  He completed a Master of Music in composition at Carnegie Mellon University, studying with Robert Page and Leonardo Balada.

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Board of Directors & Volunteer Staff

President: Chad Toporski

Vice-President: Deb Weible

Secretary: Justin Carson

Treasurer: Kevin Dick


Directors:

  • Brent Alexander

  • Nick Andes

  • Meagan Dickson

  • Vince Gorman

  • Alexis Healey


Booking Manager: Deb Weible

Development Manager: Kelly Englert

Music Librarian: Sue Craft

Program Designer: Kelly Englert

Website & Social Media: Chad Toporski

Member Musicians

Member Musicians

Flute
Toni Baldanzi
Pam Brady
Chris Burgh
Kelly Englert

Tracy Glass
Tina Hosler
Jamie Kasper
Karen Koszak
Leigh Snyder

Ellen Spondike

Ron Steffanina (PERC)


Oboe

Justin Carson
Haley Casperson


Eb Clarinet
Laura Smith


Clarinet
Fred Appel

Vince Coppola
Carol Gilmour

Meagan Dickson

Marena Grondziowski

Jodi Kutzner

Laura Macek

Maria Mangano
Diana Miller 
Ted Nevin

Emily Rickard

James Rumbaugh
Katie Russell
Sara Snyder*
Christine Stevens**
Joe Sullivan


Bass Clarinet
Brent Alexander

Janice Coppola
Bryan Davidson

Rich Pawlish

Alto & Contrabass Clarinet

Brent Alexander


Bassoon
Brett Freithaler
Mark Fromm

Drew McKenzie

Amy Readshaw

Dane Strickland

Contrabassoon
Brett Freithaler


Alto Saxophone
Nick Andes

Fran Balog

Taiylor Baumgardner (Saxes)
Alan Cugini
Trudy Jarvis

Andrew Karns
Joshua Platto

Tenor Saxophone

Cameron Ashbaugh

Kress Oliver


Bari Saxophone

Mark McCollum

Trumpet
Doug Arndt
Steve Baldanzi

Eric Brewer

Matt Campbell
Len Cersosimo

Jon DeGrosky
Ken Gargaro
Mike Holl

Noah Kilgus

Becky Krivanek
Gene Laus

Louise Marino

Matt Nelson

Bill Parker

Bob Poholek

Karl Priore

Tyler Smith


French Horn

Emily Dingfelder

Erica Guidroz

Raquel Karns

Rileigh Karns (Seneca Valley HS)

Peggy Lee

Matt Litterini

Jeremy Miller

Kevin McElheny

Chad Toporski

Marissa Ulmer


Trombone

Courtney Conner

Art Craft

Kevin Dick

Dante DiIanni

Vince Gorman

Brian Harris

Shawn Holl

Jeff Kesser

Justin Miller

John Neurohr

Beth Priore


Euphonium

Scott Eisenreich

Kate Franc

Mindy Harrist

Kit Keiper

George Lepsch


Tuba

Eryn Carranza

Jeff DeGrosky

Alex Kladny

Bob Patterson

Terry Remaly

Dave Wire


String Bass

Mark Perna


Percussion

Alexis Healey

Philip Kronenberg

Rick Laus

Joey Watt

Deb Weible


* Concertmaster

** Assistant Concertmaster

SUMMER MUSICIANS & SUBS

Flute

Roy Abbott

Gennifer Dusold

Zoey Harrist (Carlynton HS)

Deanna Jacobs

Kaitlin McClain

Brooke Venturella


Oboe

Shira Burg

Deanna Jacobs

Jordan Sherman

Alicia Whitney


Clarinet

Julia Brice

Maggie Monahan (Carnegie Mellon U.)

Zach Spondike (Saxes) (Temple U.)


Bari Sax

Maddy Karns (ASX) (Seneca Valley HS)


Trumpet

Jared Famiglietti

Cullen Kesser (Thomas Jefferson HS)

Denny Lodin

Alan Skwarla

Pat Walsh


French Horn

Isaac Miller (Beaver Falls HS)

Charlotte Rudolph

Rich Shyan


Trombone

Paul Burt

Adam Janssen

Steve Stepson


Euphonium

Brandon Tambellini

Hannah Tambellini


Tuba

Sean Emmett (Slippery Rock U.)

Christian Reed

Noah Scheimer


String Bass

Aldo DiIanni


Percussion

Tina Marteney

Ann Pollack

Joey Watt

Cory Webster

Honorary Members

The following individuals have been named Honorary Members of the West Hills Symphonic Band for their distinguished service and support:

Clem Rolin (Conductor Emeritus, 2025)

Sue Craft (2022)

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