Dennis J. Zeisler has been on the faculty of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia for more than two decades, serving as Director of Bands, Professor of Clarinet and Saxophone, and Chairman of the Music Department. Under his direction, The Old Dominion University Wind Ensemble has developed into a premiere performing ensemble and has received critical acclaim for performances of works by Colgrass, Ring, Sochinski, Camphouse, Hailstork, Smith and Erickson. They have recorded for TRN Music Publishers and Frank Erickson Publications. As Chair for the last twelve years, he has overseen the steady growth of the Old Dominion University Music Department at the undergraduate and graduate level. Professor Zeisler has a B.M., B.M.E., and M.M. from the University of Michigan, where he was solo clarinetist of the Symphony Band under the direction of Dr. William D. Revelli. He was solo clarinetist of the Detroit Concert Band under the direction of Dr. Leonard Smith and clarinet soloist with the United States Military Academy Band at West Point. Mr. Zeisler had his New York debut in Carnegie Recital Hall in May 1974 and has performed at three International Clarinet Society Conferences. He is on the faculty of Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan where he is principal clarinetist of the faculty orchestra and conductor of faculty and staff ensembles. In 1998, Professor Zeisler was awarded membership in the prestigious American Bandmasters Association. In 1999, he received the Orpheus Award from Phi Mu Alpha for "significant and lasting contributions to the cause of Music in America", and the Virginia Music Educator of the Year Award from the Virginia Music Educators Association. He is founder and conductor of the Virginia Wind Symphony, a professional wind group made up of primarily music educators from throughout the southeastern Virginia area.

Virginia Wind Symphony Personnel

Piccolo
Vince Zentner - Freelance Musician
 
Flute I
Gay Goldsmith - Health Care Consultant
Tara Rooksby - Private Instructor
Leah Greber - Ocean Lakes High School
 
Flute II
Sharon Garcia - Northside Middle School
Carrie Swatsworth-Estes - Nansemond-Suffolk Academy
Stephanie Fischer - Western Branch High School
 
Oboes
Carol Zeisler - Northside Middle School
Gayle Petrick - U. S. Army Retired
 
Bassoons
Suzanne Daniel - Church Musician
Kecia Yates - Private Instructor
 
Eb Clarinet
Mike Oare - Great Bridge Middle School
 
Bb Clarinet 1
Jo Marie Larkin - Salem Middle School
Lee Cooper - Green Run High School
Michelle Knipple - Matthew Whaley Elementary School
Steve Ambrose - Fine Arts Coordinator, VB Schools (ret)
Nicole Sherlock - Indian River High School
 
Bb Clarinet 2
Steve Clendenin - Granby High School
Dionna Sexton - Norview Middle School

Roland Ventura - Salem High School

Eddie Knakal - Private Clarinet Instructor

Mike Kirby - Hickory Middle School
 
Bb Clarinet 3
Beth Stone - Grafton Middle School
Peter Forman - US Air Force (ret)
Andrew Callow - Regent University
Tina Hans - Hugo Owens Middle School
Bryan Wills - Cox High School
 
Bass Clarinet
Jonathan Lichtenstein - Announcer, WHRO-FM

Alan Brown - Virginia Beach Symphony

 

Contra Bass Clarinet

Noreen Garza - Navy School of Music
 
Saxophones
Victor Hugo - King's Fork Middle School
Vernon Corbin - Booker T. Washington Middle School
Frank Garcia - Tallwood High School
Nathaniel Kinnison - Malibu Elementary School
Trumpets
Renae Adrian - Virginia Arts Festival
Robyn Card
William Bartolotta - ODU Faculty
 
Brian Walden - Armed Forces School of Music
John Chenault - Hickory Middle School
Jim Reid - Plaza Middle School
Simon Garza - Salem High School/80th Division Band
Andre Paquette - Suffolk City Schools
 
Horns
Rob Carroll - Great Bridge High School
Jonathon Twitero - Tabb Elementary School

David Enloe - Hickory High School

Nancy Johnston - Virginia Beach Symphony
C. S. White - Navy School of Music
Marianne Carlton - Norview Middle School

Matthew Boatright - Armed Forces School of Music

 
Trombones
Steve Adrian - Armed Forces School of Music
Bryan Sherlock - Armed Forces School of Music
John Sexton - Calcott Elementary School
Lucian Cobb - ODU Student
Jay Larkin - Indian River High School
 
Euphoniums
Dean Englert - ODU Faculty/Norfolk Academy
David Terray - Larkspur Middle School
Jonathan Schiffler - ODU Graduate Student

 

Tubas
JC Cipriano - Navy School of Music
Mark Shumate - Armed Forces School of Music
Jonathan Schiffler - ODU Graduate Student
Mike McDonald - Cape Henry Collegiate
 
String Bass
Yi-Fang Wu - ODU Graduate Student
 
Harp
Vince Zentner - Freelance Musician
 
Keyboard
Marianne Carlton - Norview Middle School
 
Percussion
Brian McWithey - Mechanical Engineer

Robert Grifa - Greenbrier Middle School

Jim Stanley - Phoebus High School
Zach Rooksby - Hickory High School
Lisa Hagen - Kempsville Middle School
Matthew Phillips - Oscar Smith Middle School
Tim Rossettini - Denbigh High School
Keven Kelleher - ODU Faculty
Chris Koroshetz - Armed Forces School of Music
Elizabeth Lutes - ODU Student

Content © 2004 The Virginia Wind Symphony