The 14th Annual Mark Wood Rock Orchestra Music Festival!
Empowering musicians of all ages to think and act creatively in today’s world.
CHUCK BONTRAGER
Chuck Bontrager is the very definition of the the versatile 21st-century musician: classically trained yet experienced in multiple performance styles; fluent in several variations of his instrument (viola, violin, baritone viola (chin-cello), mandolin and mandola, and especially his 7-string Viper electric violin). He is capable as a performer, arranger, and conductor, and wholly dedicated to the advancement of his instrument and the education of new generations.
As a performer, Chuck currently serves as Concertmaster of the Chicago company of Moulin Rouge: The Musical. He has performed in over twenty other productions on the Broadway In Chicago series as well as shows with Drury Lane Oak Brook, Marriott Lincolnshire, Chicago Shakespeare, Court, Northlight, Steppenwolf, and The Goodman theaters. He has been heard with every major symphony orchestra in the Chicago area, including the Chicago Sinfonietta, the Lake Forest Symphony, the Lyric Opera Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He also performs regularly as String Captain with local tribute giants Tributosaurus, his Tool tribute band, Vicarious, and heavy-prog newcomers Nomadic. Chuck teaches at Columbia College Chicago and the Merit School of Music. He is an experienced private lesson and group class teacher, chamber coach, Rock Band instructor, and clinician; his Bowed Metal demonstrations are a frequent addition to local school curricula, most recently at Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park, Illinois, and with the Audience Matters outreach program sponsored by the Chicago Sinfonietta.
KUNG FU TREACHERY starring PAUL RANIERI, ROB BAMBACH, JASON GIANNI, MATT VANACORO
Bass Player Paul Ranieri was born in New York City and raised in a musical and artistic environment. He started studying music and playing bass at age 11. Influenced early on by the music from cartoons, science fiction and monster movies; and then later by all the greatest rock, funk, and jazz bass players, Paul is now involved in many diverse musical projects and has developed a melodically ferocious and powerful playing style all his own. With a degree in Jazz Performance from New York’s New School University and Mannes College of Music, Paul’s talents encompass a high level of technical expertise and professionalism. Paul is currently the bassist for producer, inventor, Emmy Award-winning composer, and highly acclaimed international recording artist Mark Wood, and has been touring the US with Mark’s “Electrify Your Strings” series of music education programs; working alongside Mark to participate in the creation of rock orchestras with student musicians at schools and universities across the nation. Paul has been a teacher and music educator since 1990, having taught at San Diego’s only professional bass shop and music school; Bass Alone and at Sam Ash Music University and also has a successful private teaching practice. Paul is also leader of the band Dangered Ace, whose debut CD “GoTenGo” was recently released to great acclaim.
Guitarist Rob Bambach is our resident MWROC guitar guru and part of The Mark Wood Experience. He found his calling at the early age of 4. His older sister brought home an acoustic guitar but quickly put it down. Rob picked it up and, as the song says, “that one guitar did his whole life change.” Rob committed himself to studying music seriously, as a student of a number of great professionals and studying at community college and then the Manhattan School. Rob has worked with and played alongside many world class musicians, including Andy Cichon, Chuck Burgi, David Sanborn, Steve Vai, Maceo Parker, Livingston Taylor, Mark Wood, Taylor Dayne, Rob Balducci and many others. There is never a dull moment for Rob. He composes, teaches a number of wonderful students, plays 200-250 gigs a year from local bars to Broadway, records, and spends all the time he can with his other true love, his family. Rob couldn’t be happier.
Drummer/Author Jason Gianni is an instructor at the prestigious Drummers Collective in NYC and an adjunct instructor at the New School in NYC and the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. He holds a Master of Music degree from Pennsylvania State University, a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Delaware (both in Percussion Performance) as well as a Jazz minor degree. A session drummer for countless television and radio commercials, he is most known for being the drummer for the theme song for the popular cartoon, ‘Spongebob Squarepants’ He is the co-author of the popular drum book entitled ‘The Drummers Bible’ and is the featured drummer on the 2008 Hudson Music DVD called ‘Set Up, Tune and Play Your Drums.’ Jason was the back up drummer for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and is a guest artist on their popular platinum selling CD entitled, ‘Night Castle.’ He was a regular sub for drummer Mike Portnoy for progressive artist, Neal Morse, he had been an active drummer for the Broadway & touring hit musicals ‘Rock of Ages,’ ‘Kinky Boots,’ ‘Americano,’ and ‘Little Shop of Horrors,’ is the drummer for the Mark Wood Band (original violinist of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra) and was the house band drummer for the Hispanic version of the TV show ‘The Voice’ entitled, ‘La Voz, Kids’ on the Telemundo network. In recent years, Jason has toured with the Ed Palermo Big Band, Marc Martel & the Ultimate Queen Celebration, Rebel Rebel: The Many Lives of David Bowie, The Royal Scam: Tribute to Steely Dan and Rubix Kube: NYC 80s Tribute. As a clinician, Jason has performed & taught classes throughout Italy, Switzerland, China, in Spain at the La Rioja Drum Festival, and was a featured performer at both PASIC & Philly DrumPhest. He is proud to endorse drum companies such as Yamaha Drums, Paiste Cymbals, Remo Heads, Vic Firth, Humes & Berg, Kickport Products, Prologix Percussion and Hudson Music.
Keyboard player Matt Vanacoro is a graduate of Manhattanville College’s music program and NYU’s prestigious Music Technology program, and is a skilled pianist and composer with a strong background in contemporary music and jazz. Always a dynamic performer, Matt has studied jazz piano and guitar with New York Jazz Legends Charles Blenzig and Jay Azzolina. Matt has integrated his love of composing and theory with his keyboard skills to craft the perfect fit for a myriad of live situations. He has performed, recorded and collaborated with local and national touring acts up and down the east coast in a range of styles from pop sensation Aaron Carter, NY jazz vocalist Amy Regan, Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater, Mark Rivera of Billy Joel and numerous others. His music has been featured in television and film, from Oprah Winfrey’s television show to films by Lionsgate. Matt’s biggest influences as a musician are Trey Anastasio of Phish, Chick Corea and Al DiMeola of Return to Forever, and Herbie Hancock / Thelonious Monk. He endorses Nord Keyboards, Traveler Guitars, Gator Cases, Morely Wah Pedals and Source Audio distortion pedals.
