Staff Bios

Band Director - In 2010 Chris became the new band director at his alma mater, Norwalk High School in Norwalk, CT. His duties include supervising the marching band, 3 concert bands, 2 jazz ensembles, 2 winter guard, indoor percussion ensemble and the pit orchestra. The Norwalk indoor percussion ensemble was a WGI World Championships A class finalist in 2010 and an Open class finalist every year since 2011. In 2014 the ensemble won the WGI Silver Medal, in 2015 they won the WGI Bronze Medal and in 2016 the ensemble won the WGI Silver Medal.

The award winning marching band has won the National Class Musical Arts Conference Championship in 2013, 2014 and 2016 as well as the USBands National Championship in 2014 & 2017. Chris has judged numerous marching bands, state and regional music festivals for CMEA, USSBA and MAC.

He is a member of the WGI Percussion Advisory Board and is an executive board member and percussion coordinator for the Musical Arts Conference (MAC). Chris is an artist for Yamaha Marching Percussion and REMO drumheads as well as an education team member for Vic Firth.

Sara Golding-Bianco

Assistant Director - Sara Golding-Bianco has been a music educator in Norwalk for 15 years, at both the elementary and middle school levels. She has taught at Naramake, Jefferson, and Marvin Elementary Schools before joining the West Rocks community in 2010. Ms. Golding is a graduate of Norwalk High School (2000) as well as Western Connecticut State University (2004 and 2007). She received both a B.S. in Music Education and an M.S. in Music Education from WCSU.

Ms. Golding is the Assistant Director of the Norwalk High School Marching Band. She has worked with the band since 2010, first as a Brass instructor and now as Assistant Band Director. She also directed the Norwalk HS Jazz Ensemble from 2011-2016.

At West Rocks, Ms. Golding is the Chorus and Drama Club director. As the Drama Club advisor, she has produced and directed Seussical Jr., Beauty and the Beast Jr., Aladdin Jr, G2K Cinderella, The Little Mermaid Jr., Elf The Musical Jr, Hairspray Jr., and Annie Jr..

Each year, she is amazed by the group of students that make the NHS Band such a big part of their high school years. She feels very fortunate to be able to give them the experience that will last a lifetime. It is a privilege to be able to see the students grow for 7 years through middle and high school. She is humbled by the support of the NHS Band Family and the community.

Ms. Golding lives in Darien with her husband, Rich, and their son, Matthew.

Doug Oravez

Visual Captain Head- Doug’s drum corps odyssey started in the 1960’s with the Norwalk Hot Shots. It was there, under Art Hlywa and later Pepe Notaro that he learned to play the soprano. In due time, he advanced his playing skill to the level of lead soprano. In 1970 Doug came to the Hurricanes and found a place in the lead section, eventually becoming a featured soloist for the Corps through 1999. He is most notably known for the solo he played for so many years, from the Magnificent Seven...the Hurricanes signature song. He served as a marching instructor for the Corps from 1999 through 2011, and in 2012 closed out his distinguished career serving as Director of the Hurricanes. Doug was so highly regarded for the respect he commanded, as well as for his ability, that he was tagged with the moniker “The General.”
Doug has also been a visual instructor for the highly recognized Norwalk High School Marching Band since 1988. In addition, Doug was named “Hurricane of the Year” in 1974 and has been honored with induction to the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame as an associate member and to the Hurricanes Hall of Fame.

Holman Carvajal

Visual Staff - Holman Carvajal is a graduate of Brien McMahon High School. He started marching in 2002 and has been part of the activity ever since. In 2005 Holman decided to march with the Connecticut Hurricanes where he marched 11 seasons straight. In 2006 he got his first teaching job at Brien McMahon. Holman taught there for 6 years and then went on to teach at Stamford High School. He truly loves this activity and pursues excellence every given day at every rehearsal. Holman is looking forward to another phenomenal season!

Michael O’Callaghan

Brass Staff - Michael Denis O'Callaghan is a composer, trumpeter, and tenor vocalist, from Norwalk, CT. Michael is a master’s student at New York University’s Steinhardt School studying music composition. He graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2016 as a jazz studies major and is a proud alumnus of Norwalk High School. As a NHS marching band member he played trumpet and mellophone and was the brass captain and trumpet soloist as a senior. At NYU Michael studies composition with Caroline Shaw. He currently studies voice with Rod Nelman. In 2017 he studied composition with Conrad Cummings at the Juilliard School Evening Division. His piece, in Just-, based on the poem by E.E. Cummings, was selected for a concert showcasing the work of Evening Division composition students at Juilliard in April, 2017. Michael is a founding member of the ensemble Freighthopper in which he plays trumpet and sings. Along with Julien Monick he was awarded a UCONN IDEA Grant for Freighthopper to record their first full length album, "Granted" released in 2016. He recently started a trio performing primarily his original music and will be recording his first album as a leader in late 2018.

Steven Lyons

Brass Captain Head - Stephen Lyons is excited to be joining the Norwalk High School Marching Band's instructional staff. When he isn't teaching in the world of pageantry, Steve works at Chase Collegiate School in Waterbury, where he teaches 4th-12th grade band, AP Music Theory, and Sound Design for Theater. He also performs frequently as a trumpet player with the Chelsea Symphony, New Bedford Symphony, Time and Changes Jazz Orchestra, and New London based funk/soul group Bank Street Groove.

Alec Parker

Brass Staff - Alec Parker recently graduated Norwalk High School and will be attending Western Connecticut State University, majoring in music education. While at Norwalk High, he participated in marching band winning 2 national championships, as brass captain and trumpet section leader. Alec was also lead trumpet in wind symphony, pit orchestra, and jazz orchestra. During his senior year he participated in the Western Regional Concert Band. Alec forward to another great marching season!

Thomas Petrahai

Brass and Visual Staff - Thomas first became involved in the marching arts at Bunnell High School Marching Band at the age of thirteen where he was a member for five years. He has since been a member of the 7th Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps for four seasons, and the Boston Crusaders for their 2017 season.

He currently studies Music Education at The Hartt School of Music, with an emphasis on euphonium with James Edward Jackson III."

Glen Ullman

Brass Staff - Glen is a 2015 graduate of the University of Connecticut, where he studied music education and viola. He was a trombone section leader in the UCONN Marching Band, and played baritone with the 7th Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps. Since graduating, Glen has been an instrumental music teacher at various schools in Seymour, Trumbull, and Norwalk, as well as a brass instructor for the Danbury High School Marching Band. He is also an instructor with Kids Empowered by Your Support (KEYS), a non-profit organization that provides free music lessons to underserved students in Bridgeport. Glen is very excited to work with the Norwalk High School Marching Band this season.

Brandon Eckert

Percussion Captain Head - Brandon is a Norwalk native and marched 4 years with the Norwalk High Marching Band, before graduating in 2011. Along with the marching band he participated in Winter Percussion, Concert band, Jazz band, and the spring musical. Before teaching at NHS, Brandon spent 2 years with the Bethel High School Marching Band. During his time there as percussion caption he helped capture 2 back to back best percussion trophies. Since 2013 Brandon has acted as the snare tech and battery coordinator for NHS. Being able to teach at his alma mater is vey special for him.

Ricky Cherry

Percussion Staff - Ricky is excited to return to Norwalk High School in 2018. He been with us since winter 2014 as the Bass Drum Technician. Ricky has been involved with Connecticut-area high schools since 2008. He has worked with Brien McMahon High School, Shelton High School, Stamford High School and Westhill High School.

He’s currently on his 4th year at Stamford High School as well. This is his 3rd as Battery Coordinator for the percussion ensemble.

Ricky was also a member of the Connecticut Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corp from 2009 through 2014 and served as an in-line technician in 2014. He was a member with United Percussion in 2012 and the Cadets2 in 2015. He was on the instructional staff at Cadets2 in 2016 (winners of the DCA High Percussion Award & World Championship) and 2017. He is currently the Battery Coordinator at The Connecticut Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corp.

Ricky is currently employed by Ventus Networks and Resides in Norwalk, Connecticut.

Konrad Dziemian

Percussion Staff - Konrad graduated from Westhill High School in Stamford. It was there where he learned mallet percussion in the indoor percussion program. He played marimba with the Connecticut Hurricanes in 2011 and 2012 then with Fusion Core in 2013-2015.

Konrad previously taught at Westhill HS and New Milford HS before coming to Norwalk.

AJ Frierson

Percussion Staff - AJ Frierson, from Norwalk, CT, began his marching career in 2007 with the Norwalk High School Marching Bears. After graduating in 2011, AJ marched with the Connecticut Hurricanes from 2011-2014. From 2015-2016 AJ marched with Cadets2 and he was Drum Captain when the corps won the 2016 DCA World Championship. AJ taught at Brien McMahon High School from 2014-2015, Stamford High School from 2016-2018 and Norwalk High from 2016-Present. AJ is excited to continue his experience with the Norwalk High School Marching Band and looking forward to giving his all to help develop the Norwalk percussion ensemble.

Michael Malagise

Percussion Staff - Michael recently graduated from Norwalk High School playing percussion in the Front Ensemble for all 4 years. He helped the band win 2 National Championships along with 2 WGI percussion medals. He has been a part of various ensembles throughout his high school career playing a wide range of percussion instruments. Michael will be attending Norwalk Community College this fall and looks to transfer to Western Connecticut State University to study music education. He is looking forward to helping out this year and can’t wait to see how the band progresses.

Guillermo (Will) Rojas

Woodwind Captain Head - Guillermo Alonso Rojas, also known as Will, is a Connecticut certified music educator, saxophonist, and songwriter from Norwalk, CT. Guillermo graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education at Western Connecticut State University in 2015. He is also an alumnus of Norwalk High School, Class of 2011. He played tenor/baritone saxophone in the marching, concert, and jazz bands at NHS, along with being woodwind captain in 2010.During his time in WCSU, Guillermo studied classical and jazz soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone with various professional and accomplished musicians including: Dave Noland, Javier Oviedo, Dr. Dan Goble, and Jimmy Greene.

In 2014, Guillermo won the Junior Class James Furman Memorial Music Endowed Scholarship competition for his performance of Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano by Phil Woods. This scholarship honors the memory and music of James Furman, a former member of the WCSU music department and is awarded to the student that best exemplifies the highest level of musical performance ability, scholastic standing and contributions to the department.Guillermo is a third year certified music teacher in the state of Connecticut. Previously, he taught elementary general music and band in both Bridgeport and, most recently, Brookfield. This 2018-2019 academic year, Guillermo was selected to pilot the elementary band program for the 4th and 5th grade students of Norwalk. This pilot program will be the first time in many years that Norwalk has introduced students to a band program before the 6th grade. For the NHS Marching Bears, Guillermo has been the woodwind captain head for past three years.

Christopher Denke

Woodwind Staff - Christopher Denke was a member of the Norwalk high school marching band from 2010-2014. He was a clarinet player for 3 years and trumpet section leader his senior year. He attended Western Connecticut State University from 2014-2018 as a music education major with a concentration in classical clarinet. There he performed in numerous ensembles on Bb, A and bass clarinet including the wind ensemble, pit orchestra, symphonic band, new music ensemble and orchestra. He taught one year of Brookfield high school marching band before coming back to his alma mater Norwalk high school.

Danny Porrelli

Percussion Staff - Danny Porrelli is a Norwalk High School alum who was a member of the marching band and the winter percussion for all four years. After graduating, he taught at Westhill High School as the battery coordinator for 3 years before returning to his roots at NHS in 2016. He has many years of experience in DCA as a performer and educator since 2011 with the Connecticut Hurricanes and Cadets2. Danny is grateful to be back and a part of the growth of the Norwalk Band program.

Erin DiPietro

Color Guard Staff - Erin is a clarinetist turned Color Guard member circa 2010. It was then that I discovered the art of visually expressing sound under flags, rifles and sabers. I graduated high school in 2013 and continued spinning for the next 4 years with Sacred Heart University both fall and winter seasons while earning my degree in biology. I am now a full-time embryologist but I wouldn’t spend my spare time anywhere else! I have grown to love teaching color guard at NHS because it allows me to share the reason I fell in love with it from the beginning, both with the new and the returning members.

Lynna Bray

Color Guard Captain Head - Lynna is a Norwalk High School Marching Band alumni. She directs and coordinates the Norwalk HS Fall Color Guard, Open Winter Guard, and AAA Winter Guard. This will be Lynna’s sixth year teaching color guard at Norwalk High School. She has performed across the country with several world renowned color guards, such as Malachi Independent and Blue Knights. She has attended the University of Colorado and currently attends the University of Connecticut.

Esteban (Esty) Cordero

Color Guard Staff - Esteban is currently a manager, hair stylist and makeup artist in a salon in Greenwich CT. He is M.A.C Cosmetics certified and Zumba Fitness certified. Color Guard Experience includes: Port Chester High School Marching Band and Winterguard 2004-2008, Saturday Matinee Winterguard 2007, Sunrisers Drum And Bugle Corps 2006-2008, Fusion Core Drum and Bugle Corps, Alter Ego Winterguard 2009 and 2010, Hurricanes 2009 and Blessed Sacrament Winterguard 2013.

Chris Rivera