Jim McIlvain (Trumpet) attended The Juilliard Pre-College studying with Mel Broiles of the Metropolitan Opera. While attending the Indiana University School of Music, he studied with Louis Davidson of the Cleveland Orchestra and completed a Bachelor of Music Degree. Jim is the Principal Trumpet with the Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea, and has played the “Call to the Post” at the Meadowlands, Philadelphia, and Garden State Race Tracks. He has also performed for King Hussein, at his Royal Palace in Morocco, for the 12th birthday of his granddaughter. Jim is also the group’s Webmaster.
John Luckenbill (Trumpet) grew up in Little Silver, NJ, and was a member of the All-Eastern Band. He traveled to the Rose Bowl Parade as a member of the prestigious MacDonalds All-American Band. John studied tuba at Michigan State University and holds a Bachelor of Music Education. John is the substitute bugler at Monmouth Race Track Oceanport, NJ, and is the contractor of the Metro Lyric Opera and the Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea. In the summers, John conducts the Asbury Park Concert Band and the John Luckenbill Concert Band. He was recently selected by the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, as a Master Teacher and his articles have been published in the National Music Educator Magazine. John lives in Shrewsbury, NJ, and he just retired after 45 years as a music teacher in the Long Branch Public Schools.
Nancy Ciacciarelli (Horn) is a graduate of TCNJ (Trenton State College) with a BA in Music Education/Performance. While a student at TCNJ, Nancy was selected to be included in “Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities.” She was also a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.
Nancy is a professional American Federation of Musicians French Hornist. She maintains a busy performance schedule with the St. Peter’s Orchestra by the Sea, the St. Peter’s Brass Quintet, the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey, Boheme Opera New Jersey, the Newtown Chamber Orchestra, the Garden State Symphonic Band, the John Luckenbill Pops Band, and the Trenton Brass Quintet Plus One.
Nancy is a retired NJ music teacher and has spent most of her career in the Hillsborough Township School District. During her career, she has been honored with the Governor’s Teacher Award, earned a place in Who’s Who Among American Women, and served twice as an NJMEA Clinician. She continues to enjoy teaching and is currently the Hillsborough Recreation Department’s Summer Music Academy Program Director.
Nicolas Martin (Trombone), Mr. Martin began his study of trombone at 12 years of age in Southern California, taking lessons with Loren Marstellar. He earned an undergraduate degree in performance from California State University Long Beach where he studied with Greg Woll and Jeff Reynolds, Bass Trombonist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. While in California, Mr. Martin freelanced and won auditions with two prestigious youth orchestras, the Debut Orchestra and the American Youth Symphony, which toured Italy in 1993. He then moved to Boston, MA where he earned degrees in performance and education from New England Conservatory, studying with Norman Bolter, a trombonist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Martin is an active freelance musician and has performed with: the Boston Pops, the Boston Lyric Opera, the Henry Street Chamber Opera, the American Symphony, and two seasons with the Spoleto Opera Orchestra (Italy). Most recently, he earned a Diploma in Computer Programming and Web Development from the Chubb Institute for Technology. He is the Principal trombonist with the Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea.
Richard Hensley (Tuba) grew up in Grant City, a small town in N.W. Missouri. He received a B.A. in Music Education from Northwest Missouri State University and taught music in Leon, Iowa for two years. After three years in the Army performing with the Band of New York, he married a female tuba player, Loretta. Richard then moved to Kansas City to work on his M.A. at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. After graduation, they moved to New Jersey and Richard performed with the National Guard Band, Sea Girt. Richard is the Principal Tuba with the Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea. In addition to his active freelancing career, Richard is a retired letter carrier in Spring Lake NJ. He presently lives in Wilmington Delaware.
John K. Gronert (Drums) began his musical studies in the 4th grade studying with Vinnie Talarico and Art Magyar. John was the first student to complete a Masters of Music Education / Dalcroze Eurythmics from the Manhattan School of Music. He also holds an Elementary Teaching Certificate in Dalcroze Eurythmics from the Dalcroze Institute in NYC. John has studied with some impressive teachers: the legendary Jazz drummer, Joe Morello of the Dave Brubeck Quartet, and Sonny Igoe of the Benny Goodman and the Woody Herman bands. In addition, John has studied percussion with James Lattimer, Paul Price, and James Priess. John has a very active schedule of private drum students and he performs with a wide variety of groups including Jazz Combos, Symphonic Orchestras, Concert Bands, and Theater Pit Orchestras. He has performed with artists such as Charlie Rouse, Richard Davis, Sherry Lewis, Jack Six, and The Jazz Lobster Orchestra. John is a retired instrumental music teacher from the Perth Amboy, NJ school district.
Email jim_mcilvain@yahoo.com
Call John Luckenbill (732) 530-7817