Pete's Percussion Podcast - Pete Zambito
Pete Zambito
A place for long form talk with percussionists and other compelling people.
- Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 489 - Mike Vercelli
West Virginia University Director of the School of Music and Director of the World Music Performance Center Mike Vercelli stops by to talk about his work at WVU along with their incredible percussion inventory (03:10), his work navigating the new financial reality for colleges and the importance of developing entrepreneurship in students (18:00), growing up in New Hampshire, his percussion and music background, his unusual lessons background, and playing in rock bands and youth orchestra (29:50), attending UConn for undergrad, his various teachers at the program, and the growth of men’s and women’s college basketball there (38:30), his master’s degree at Bowling Green State (OH) and his first prominent experiences in world percussion, including his first trip to Ghana (45:05), taking time away from school, teaching and freelancing in Ohio and Arizona, heading to the University of Arizona for his doctorate, and his 6 months of study in Ghana (54:05), and finishing with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on the inclusion of world percussion in a western arts curriculum, making hot sauce and spicy foods, travel writer Paul Theroux, New England seafood, bad jobs, wild performance situations, and the Smithsonian African American History Museum (01:19:15).
Finishing with a Rave on the 2026 film Project: Hail Mary (01:52:15).
Mike Vercelli Links:
Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned:
Other Links:
Teaching Percussion - Gary Cook
Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring trailer
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey trailer
Captain America: The First Avenger trailer
On the Plain of Snakes: A Mexican Journey - Paul Theroux
Raves:
2 April 2026, 11:00 am - Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 488 - Jenny Klukken
Minneapolis-based musician, educator, percussionist, recording artist, and visual artist Jenny Klukken stops by to talk about her portfolio career and the challenges of playing marimba in small rooms (04:50), her recording and compositional process, her new album Marimba Standard, and the importance of entrepreneurship in the arts (24:30), growing up in rural Minnesota, her enjoyment of jazz and early country music, Spotify Wrapped, and focusing on listening to albums (43:25), attending the University of Minnesota for undergrad, working through 4-mallet grips, her experiences attending the Zeltsman Marimba Festival, her puppetry career as “Jenny and the Pets”, and combining musical artistry with her visual artistry (01:05:45), and finishing with the Random Ass Questions, including her experiences as a woman in the arts, cooking stories, movies that inspire and/or infuriate, pet names and their backstories, living on a dairy farm, and Pat Metheny (01:35:25).
Finishing with a remembrance on the passing of an important living being (02:00:00).
Jenny Klukken Links:
Jenny Klukken’s new album Marimba Standard
Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned:
Other Links:
“Shadows of the Night” - Pat Benatar
“Don’t Fence Me In” - Gene Autry
“Crowded Table” - The Highwomen
Nickel Creek’s NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
26 March 2026, 11:00 am - Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 487 - Jonny Allen
Sandbox Percussion Group member, as well as freelancer, percussionist, and educator Jonny Allen stops by to talk about all things Sandbox Percussion, including the beginnings of the band, member responsibility to each other, and getting to teach (03:20), their work with Andy Akiho on Seven Pillars (29:05), Jonny’s work with the American Modern Opera Company (40:45), growing up in Connecticut, his drumset and marching band beginnings, and his sports background (44:55), going to Eastman (NY) for undergrad and studying with Michael Burritt and John H. Beck (54:00), going to Yale (CT) for grad school and studying with Robert Van Sice (01:06:05), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including sections on percussion logistics, problems using Zoom, New Haven pizza, great books and podcasts, New England Patriots Football, and Dutch Minimalism (01:21:30).
Finishing with a Rave on the 2026 Oscars Telecast (01:51:00).
Jonny Allen links:
Jonny’s Sandbox Percussion page
Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned:
Other links:
“to wALk Or ruN in wEst harlem” - Andy Akiho
“Purple Haze” - Jimi Hendrix Experience
“Third Construction” - John Cage
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer
The Three-Body Problem - Liu Cixin
Patriots - Seahawks Super Bowl LX
Canto Ostinato - Simeon Ten Holt
Raves:
19 March 2026, 11:00 am - Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 486 - Fabrice Marandola
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:
Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:
Other Links:
Discourse on the Method - Rene Descartes
Raves:
12 March 2026, 11:00 am - Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 485 - Jake Nissly
Principal 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 Aspen Music Festival page
Losing Earth - Adam Schoenberg
Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned:
Other Links:
Percussion Concerto - Andy Akiho
PEAUX from Pleades - Iannis Xenakis
“Suire for Violin and American Gamelan” - Lou Harrison
San Francisco Symphony Musicians
California Percussion & Backline Rentals
How to Write for Percussion - Sam Solomon
Michael Pfaff (“Tortilla Man”)
“If I Wanted To” - Melissa Etheridge
“Third Construction” - John Cage
Kafka on the Shore - Haruki Marukami
Absolutely on Music: Conversations on Seiji Ozawa - Haruki Marukami
Music Has a Right to Children - Boards of Canada
Music for 18 Musicians - Steve Reich
Drumming: Part 1 - Steve Reich
Music for Pieces of Wood - Steve Reich
Raves:
5 March 2026, 12:00 pm - Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 484 - Alex Wier
University 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 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee page
Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:
Other Links:
“Six Japanese Gardens” - Kaija Saariaho
“Silver Streetcar for the Orchestra” - Alvin Lucier
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift trailer
Raves:
USA-Canada Gold Medal Women’s Hockey Game 2026
26 February 2026, 12:00 pm - Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 483 - Andy Miller
Indiana 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:
Previous Podcast guests mentioned:
Alexandros Fragiskatos in 2021
Other Links:
Robert E. Brown Center for World Music
“Rhythm Gradation” - Toshi Ichiuyanagi
Lars and the Real Girl trailer
Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Raves:
19 February 2026, 12:00 pm - Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 482 - Meridythe Witt
Orlando (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:
Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:
Alexandros Fragiskatos in 2021
Other Links:
The Drummer’s Cookbook - John Pickering
Advanced Techniques - Jim Chapin
“Drum Corps on Parade” - John S. Pratt
“to wALk Or ruN in wEst harlem” - Andy Akiho
Dark Side of the Moon 50th Anniversary
Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
The Collaborative Habit - Twyla Tharp
“Mallet Quartet” - Steve Reich
Raves:
12 February 2026, 12:00 pm - Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 481 - Mika Godbole (Part 2)
Mika 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:
William Paterson University Percussion Faculty
Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:
Other Links:
So Percussion Summer Institute
Music for 18 Musicians - Steve Reich
“Thank You (____)” - Jason Treuting
“Englishman in New York” - Sting
“They Won’t Go When I Go” - Stevie Wonder
“Killing in the Name” - Rage Against the Machine
“The Scythe” - The Last Dinner Party
The Lord of the Rings 25th Anniversary trailer
All Quiet on the Western Front - Erich Maria Remarque
“Kinder than Man” - Althea Davis
Raves:
5 February 2026, 12:00 pm - Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 480 - Mika Godbole (Part 1)
Educator, 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 page
Previous Podcast guests mentioned:
Alexandros Fragiskatos in 2021
Other Links:
Piano Sonata Op. 111 - L.V. Beethoven
“Ol’ Man River” - Paul Robeson
Raves:
29 January 2026, 12:00 pm - Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 479 - Gina Ryan
Percussionist, 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:
The Thailand International Percussion Festival
Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned:
Other Links:
Christmas with the Kranks trailer
The Art of Hearing Heartbeats - Jan-Philipp Sendker
The Rocky Horror Picture Show trailer
Red Poppy Ladies’ Percussion Ensemble
Raves:
22 January 2026, 12:00 pm - More Episodes? Get the App