Podcast
Pete's Percussion Podcast - Pete Zambito
Hosted by Pete Zambito · EN
A place for long form talk with percussionists and other compelling people.
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Episodes
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Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 486 - Fabrice Marandola
Mar 12Tap to summarizeEpisode 486 - Fabrice Marandola Pete's Percussion Podcast McGill University (QB) Percussion Professor and co-founder of the Percussion Group Sixtrum Fabrice Marandola stops by to talk about his job at McGill, his teaching career in France prior to moving to Canada, the nature of entrepreneurship, and supervising the new percussion space at the University (04:05), all things Sixtrum, along with the importance of applying for grants and being a nonprofit (27:10), growing up in central France and an overview of his career (42:30), the city of Paris and its relationship with the rest of the country, as well as his time as a French folk dancer (53:20), his undergrad years at the Superior National Conservatory of France, and his studies in music theory and harmony (01:09:30), his ethnomusicological background and his studies in Cameroon (01:17:50), and stays around for the Random Ass Questions, including discussions of sound production and musical re-creation, working and performing with his spouse, Kristie Ibrahim, great French authors, adventures in food, and inspiring art (01:29:30).Finishing with a Rave on the best films of the 2026 True/False Documentary Film Festival (02:02:40).Fabrice Marandola links:Fabrice’s McGill pageSixtrumPrevious Podcast Guests mentioned:Kristie Ibrahim in 2024Aiyun Huang in 2023Gina Ryan in 2026Megan Arns in 2017Other Links:TorQ Percussion QuartetPercussions de StrasbourgFrederic MacarezJacques Delécluse“Psappha” - Iannis XenakisApocalypse Now trailerRed Grass - Boris VianClaude Levi-StraussVictor HugoDiscourse on the Method - Rene DescartesRaves:True/False 2026
Transcribe →Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 485 - Jake Nissly
Mar 5Tap to summarizePrincipal Percussionist with the San Francisco Symphony and Director of Percussion Studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Jake Nissly stops by to talk about both of his positions, the orchestral auditions process, his mentors, being versatile in many genres of percussion, and his experiences with the Detroit and Cleveland Symphonies (03:30), specifics about the Principal Percussion Duties and the excellence of Davies Symphony Hall (28:30), his teaching position and his recent commissioning projects (35:15), growing up in Iowa, having family in the arts, being a highly motivated young person, making early connections to Northwestern (IL) and percussion versatility (45:50), his undergrad years at Northwestern and studying with Michael Burritt (01:04:10), going to Juilliard (NYC), freelancing in New York, and eventually earning a spot in the New World Symphony (01:14:00), and finishing with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on working with young composers, his personal commitment to physical and mental health and long-distance running all over the world, lots of great books, memorable Chicago Cubs moments in his life, coaching his son’s baseball team, and the excellence of Steve Reich (01:20:15).Finishing with a Rave on the 2026 Oscar Nominated Animated Short Films (01:58:40).Jake Nissly links:Jake’s SFSO pageJake’s SFCM pageJake’s Vic Firth pageJake’s Aspen Music Festival pageLosing Earth - Adam SchoenbergPrevious Podcast Guests Mentioned:Will James in 2017Steven Schick in 2025Patti Niemi in 2018Matthew Coley in 2021Eric Hollenbeck in 2025David Skidmore in 2025Sean Connors in 2025Peter Martin in 2025Robert Dillon in 2025Other Links:Percussion Concerto - Andy AkihoKatherine SiochiRene OrthPEAUX from Pleades - Iannis XenakisDoug PerkinsMichael Tilson Thomas“Suire for Violin and American Gamelan” - Lou HarrisonSan Francisco Symphony MusiciansMichael BurrittPaul WerticoJames RossGregory ZuberDaniel DruckmanRoland KohloffJoseph PetrasekRobert KliegerEric RenickMichael IsraelievitchSergio CarrenoRichard WeinerMarc DamoulakisCalifornia Percussion & Backline RentalsHow to Write for Percussion - Sam SolomonDavies Symphony HallJack van GeemHaruka FujiTito MuñozClair Omar MusserColts Drum & Bugle CorpsWoody SmithMichael Pfaff (“Tortilla Man”)Bill StewartDave Weckl“If I Wanted To” - Melissa Etheridge“Kiss from a Rose” - Seal“Third Construction” - John CageKris KeetonAnnie Stevens“Michi” - Keiko AbeEric GarciaBrett Dietz“Kin” - Pat MethenyThe Usual Suspects trailerGhostbusters trailerGroundhog Dog trailerThe Matrix trailerBarbie trailer1984 - George OrwellOn the Road - Jack KerouacKafka on the Shore - Haruki MarukamiAbsolutely on Music: Conversations on Seiji Ozawa - Haruki MarukamiMusic Has a Right to Children - Boards of CanadaCubs win the World SeriesThe Bartman IncidentB-Bop’s<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=RDZXJWO2FQ16c...
Transcribe →Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 484 - Alex Wier
Feb 26Tap to summarizeUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Percussion Professor Alex Wier stops by to talk about his job at UWM, Present Music, Chamber Music Playing, and the culture of the arts in Milwaukee (03:10), growing up in St. Louis and Phoenix, his musical beginnings, marching band, and playing video games (24:50), attending the University of Arizona for undergrad (38:35), going to Northwestern University (IL) for his master’s and taking a break from school after the degree (49:40), getting his doctorate from Arizona State (01:04:45), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including segments on developing young percussionists, cooking for children, great movies, TV shows, and books, his varied sports fandoms, and unusual performance experiences (01:14:45).Finishing with a Rave on the best of the 2026 Winter Olympics (01:39:15).Alex Wier Links:Alex Wier’s websiteAlex Wier’s University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee pagePresent MusicPrevious Podcast Guests mentioned:Norman Weinberg in 2017She-e Wu in 2025Andy Miller in 2026Steve Hemphill in 2020Jeff Hewitt in 2021Josh Armstrong in 2018Mike Sammons in 2022Other Links:“Threads” - Paul Lansky“Timber” - Michael GordonJB SmithSimone Mancuso“Radio Rewrite” - Steve ReichJack ForbesGary CookJames RossMike VercelliJonathan LattaWes Hawkins“Six Japanese Gardens” - Kaija Saariaho“Silver Streetcar for the Orchestra” - Alvin Lucier“Dressur” - Mauricio KagelInterstellar trailerInception trailerThe Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift trailerEagle Eye trailerKurt VonnegutPackers-Bears 2025 Wild CardArrested Development Season 1I’m Making a Giant SaladSeverance Season 1Raves:USA-Canada Gold Medal Women’s Hockey Game 2026USA-Canada Gold Medal Men’s Hockey Game 2026Alysa Liu’s Gold Medal Free Skate
Transcribe →Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 483 - Andy Miller
Feb 19Tap to summarizeIndiana University Lecturer in Music Andy Miller stops by to talk about his percussion position at IU and the opportunities for creative concert outlets (03:00), being on the 2025 PASIC New Music/Research panel on Percussion and Dance and his prior teaching position at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (22:15), growing up in Dayton (OH) and getting into music and sports (39:40), attending Wright State (OH) for undergrad (53:30), going to the University of Illinois for the Master’s and changing his career focus (01:00:10), winning a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Colombía, Bang on a Can, and working in commercial cabinetry (01:12:05), his doctoral studies at IU (01:26:45), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including discussions on student mental health, Momofuku noodles, great movies, video games, Dayton pizza, and the writing of Wendell Berry (01:33:30).Finishing with a Rave on the 2025 animated film Arco (01:52:00).Andy Miller Links:Andy Miller’s IU pagePrevious Podcast guests mentioned:Alexandros Fragiskatos in 2021Drew Tucker in 2026Meridythe Witt in 2026William Moersch in 2019Fernando Meza in 2020Other Links:Michael SpiroWayne WallaceLatin American Music CenterJohn TafoyaJoseph GramleyChristopher LambMerce CunninghamBeto TorrensJerry NobleRicardo FloresCarlos VivesRobert E. Brown Center for World MusicMamady KeitaBolo CondeGiovanni HidalgoJuri SeoThomas Turino“Rhythm Gradation” - Toshi IchiuyanagiBang on a Can Summer Festival“2x5” - Steve ReichJorge AlabéLars and the Real Girl trailerThe Room trailerCrime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky Hollow Knight trailerUnderworld trailerMarion’s PizzaWendell BerryRaves:Arco trailer
Transcribe →Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 482 - Meridythe Witt
Feb 12Tap to summarizeOrlando (FL) - based Percussionist and Dancer Meridythe Witt stops by to talk about performing as a dancer and drummer in theme parks, the audition process for these gigs, and how she stays “grounded in dance” (02:25), growing up in California, Indiana and Maryland, her musical family and their influence on her life, getting into dance and music early on, and a primer on ballet styles (19:45), attending Radford University (VA) for undergrad, getting degrees in dance and percussion performance at the same time there, creating collaborative opportunities there, and her experiences at PASIC50 on the New Music/Research Panel (44:15), and takes time for the Random Ass Questions, including segments on gestures and counting, baking bread, Bruce Springsteen, Twyla Tharp, rollercoasters, airports, and gymnastics (01:19:20).Finishing with a Rave on the 2025 documentary film Monk in Pieces (01:43:40).Meridythe Witt links:Meridythe Witt’s WebpageMeridythe’s instagramPrevious Podcast Guests mentioned:Alexandros Fragiskatos in 2021Drew Tucker in 2026Other Links:George BalanchineVaganova Ballet MethodThe Drummer’s Cookbook - John PickeringAdvanced Techniques - Jim Chapin“Take Five” - Dave BrubeckJim PetercsakRobert Sanderl“Frogs” - Keiko Abe“Drum Corps on Parade” - John S. Pratt“to wALk Or ruN in wEst harlem” - Andy Akiho“Mirage” - Yasuo SueyoshiWilliam NewtonDave RiversBorn to Run 50th AnniversaryDark Side of the Moon 50th Anniversary“Lingus” - Snarky PuppyLaDuca Dance ShoesNapoleon Dynamite trailerHappy Gilmore trailerThis is Spinal Tap trailerBorn to Run - Bruce SpringsteenThe Collaborative Habit - Twyla Tharp“Mallet Quartet” - Steve ReichRaves:Monk in Pieces trailer
Transcribe →Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 481 - Mika Godbole (Part 2)
Feb 5Tap to summarizeMika Godbole returns to talk about attending Rowan University (NJ) for her master’s, studying orchestral music and taking auditions, and moving her focus to chamber music (03:25), attending Rutgers University (NJ) for her doctorate, her research on Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians, timpani talk, teaching at York College (PA) and her early freelancing, and how the pandemic allowed her to recalibrate her life (14:45), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including segments on marimba performance, our favorite pop music, marching and indoor percussion, percussion conferences, Indian food, great movies, and so much more (35:00).Finishing with a Rave on the 2025 film No Other Choice (01:09:00).Mika Godbole Links:Part 1 with Mika GodboleWilliam Paterson University Percussion FacultyMantra Percussion pageNJ PAS Facebook pagePrevious Podcast Guests mentioned:Megan Arns in 2017Julia Gaines-Montag in 2016Clif Walker in 2021She-e Wu in 2025Evan Chapman in 2019Other Links:Dean WittenAlan AbelMarkus RhotenSo Percussion Summer InstituteJoseph TompkinsChris DevineyMusic for 18 Musicians - Steve ReichNEXUSMarc MellitsDoug Perkins“Thank You (____)” - Jason Treuting“Englishman in New York” - Sting“Big Time” - Peter Gabriel“They Won’t Go When I Go” - Stevie Wonder“Black Dog” - Led Zeppelin“Forty Six & 2” - TOOL“Killing in the Name” - Rage Against the Machine “The Scythe” - The Last Dinner Party“Classical” - Vampire Weekend“oceania” - BjörkThe Sandlot trailer…Say Anything trailerBatman & Robin trailerThe Love Guru trailerThe Lord of the Rings 25th Anniversary trailerAll Quiet on the Western Front - Erich Maria Remarque“Kinder than Man” - Althea DavisRaves:No Other Choice trailer
Transcribe →Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 480 - Mika Godbole (Part 1)
Jan 29Tap to summarizeEducator, Freelancer, Vice President of the New Jersey Percussive Arts Society, and PAS New Music/Research member Mika Godbole stops by to talk about her adjunct position at William Paterson University (NJ) (03:55), her freelancing career and working as a member of the Mantra Percussion Sextet (20:00), her roles with the Percussive Arts Society (39:40), growing up in India and outside of Philadelphia and her early percussion teachers (54:50), and studying at Indiana University of Pennsylvania for her undergrad, working with Gary Olmstead and Jack Stamp, and her gap year as a young adult in Mumbai (01:05:25).Finishing with a Rave on the 2025 documentary film It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley (01:22:40).Mika Godbole Links:William Paterson University’s Percussion Studio pageMantra Percussion pageNew Jersey PAS Chapter pagePrevious Podcast guests mentioned:Megan Arns in 2017Casey Cangelosi in 2017She-e Wu in 2025Alexandros Fragiskatos in 2021Karli Viña in 2022I-Jen Fang in 2023Bonnie Whiting in 2020Frank Kumor in 2025Other Links:Fabio Oliveira“Timber” - Michael GordonBang on a CanMASS MoCARed Poppy MusicPiano Sonata Op. 111 - L.V. BeethovenJack StampGary OlmsteadChristopher Hanning“Ol’ Man River” - Paul RobesonRaves:It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley trailer
Transcribe →Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 479 - Gina Ryan
Jan 22Tap to summarizePercussionist, Composer, and Professor of Music at the University of Quebec at Montreal Gina Ryan stops by to talk about her teaching activities in Montreal (04:30), working with Sixtrum Percussion Ensemble and Triolet Percussion Group, and her percussion freelancing and composing activities (14:45), growing up in Newfoundland, Canada, creating the “Gina Ryan Summer Percussion Camp”, her connections to members of NEXUS and Michael Colgrass, her other high school activities, and traveling to France (31:40), her college years in Newfoundland and Toronto, doing a residency at Banff, and working for the train company (51:25), moving to Montreal, her graduate school time at McGill (Canada), and returning to Newfoundland to get a second bachelor’s degree (01:07:15), living and teaching in Thailand for a decade (01:22:50), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including segments on great food, good and bad movies, great books, Karaoke, and inspiring art (01:40:15).Finishing with a Rave on the 2025 film Hamnet (02:07:50).Gina Ryan Links:Gina Ryan’s websiteTrioletSixtrum PercussionGina Ryan’s YouTube pageThe Thailand International Percussion FestivalPrevious Podcast Guests Mentioned:Triolet in 2026Victoria Sparks in 2018Kristie Ibrahim in 2024Aiyun Huang in 2023Other Links:Fabrice MarandolaCanadian Percussion Network100 Guitars - Tim BradyNEXUSBeverley JohnstonJohn WyreMichael ColgrassAvalon Peninsula TrailsThe Baschet BrothersD’Arcy GrayCharlene RyanTrevor GrahlThe Godfather trailerTrolls trailerChristmas with the Kranks trailerFather of the Bride trailerThe Art of Hearing Heartbeats - Jan-Philipp SendkerFlannery - Lisa MooreThe Rocky Horror Picture Show trailerThe Marginalian“Don’t Speak” - No Doubt“Creep” - RadioheadRed Poppy Ladies’ Percussion EnsembleRaves:Hamnet - Maggie O’FarrellHamnet trailer
Transcribe →Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 478 - Triolet
Jan 15Tap to summarizeTriolet Percussion Group (Kristie Ibrahim, Gina Ryan, and Victoria Sparks) stop by to talk about their performance of Jessie Marino’s “The Flower Episode” at PASIC50 (04:15), the Canadian Percussion Network, the Space Between conferences, and more about how Triolet got together as a group (21:30), and updates with the new building at Victoria’s University of Manitoba, as well as updates with Kristie and Gina and the Sixtrum and Strasbourg Percussion Groups (46:30).Finishing with a Rave on the 1997 film Selena (54:50).Triolet Links:Triolet’s PASIC50 pageTriolet’s webpageKristie Ibrahim on the podcast in 2024Victoria Sparks on the podcast in 2016Victoria Sparks on the podcast in 2018Gina Ryan’s websiteThe Canadian Percussion Network’s websitePrevious podcast guest mentioned:Michael Schutz in 2025Other links:Fabrice MarandolaSixtrum PercussionLes Percussions de StrasbourgMichael GordonTransplanted Roots Percussion Research SymposiumSocial Sciences and Humanities Research CouncilRaves:Selena Trailer
Transcribe →Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 477 - Lamon Lawhorn (2025)
Jan 8Tap to summarizeFrequent Pete’s Percussion Podcast guest Lamon Lawhorn returns to the podcast to talk about his participation with the M-Boom Tribute Ensemble at PASIC50 this past November (03:20), his path to getting onto the PAS Board of Directors, dealing with feedback received about PASIC applications, the responsibilities of the job, and how to get more involved (26:50), his position as Director of Percussion Studies at Virginia State University and the move from his success at North Carolina A&T (45:25), and his comments on the 2025 Dallas Cowboys and the music and culture that is inspiring him today (01:14:25).Finishing with a Rave on Mary Roach’s 2003 nonfiction book Stiff (01:33:15).Lamon Lawhorn links:Lamon Lawhorn’s Virginia State PageLamon Lawhorn’s WebsiteLamon Lawhorn’s previous Podcast appearances:Lamon Lawhorn in Episode 35Lamon Lawhorn in Episode 67Lamon Lawhorn in Episode 216Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:Thomas Taylor in 2025Donnie Johns in 2021Marcia McCants in 2025Sean Daniels in 2024Joshua Simonds in 2022Megan Arns in 2017Karli Viña in 2022Nathan Siegel in 2025Bill Shaltis in 2017Andrew Eldridge in 2022Brian Zator in 2017Casey Cangelosi in 2017Justin Alexander in 2020Other Links:Joe ChambersEthan StricklandMax RoachDon ParkerMichael BurrittJu Percussion GroupMalcolm JacksonNEXUSPercussions de StrasbourgEric C. HughesChris HanningGene KoshinskiNCPP National Equipment StandardsAnnie StevensMarlon FosterJack DeJohnetteDamion ReidRobert GlasperTerreon GullyNo Limit vs. Cash MoneyMel Robbins and Jason WilsonRaves:Stiff - Mary Roach
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