The Dan Zola Orchestra

Northern Ohio's Premier Dance Band!

	Dan Zola
	Dianne Palmer; vocals: Dianne Palmer is a critically-acclaimed vocalist whose live stage performances explore a diverse range of musical compositions, from the 1930s through present day. She has performed in New York, Los Angeles and on several cruise ship lines. When she’s not on stage, Dianne is busy working as a nationally-known voice over talent for both radio and TV commercials. Perhaps you've heard her on commercials for Dirt Devil, Lancome, Wyndham Hotels, ABC, NBC, TNT, CBS, Secret, Maybelline, Kraft Products, Windex, Hotels International, Las Vegas and hundreds more. Dianne lives in Shaker with her husband, Robert
	Trumpet Section
	John Patai; trumpet John is one of the original members of the Dan Zola Orchestra, playing with them since 1961. He is also the band’s General Manager, responsible for securing all bookings and handling all business matters. He resides in Solon with his wife, Flo. John has three sons, six grandchildren and enjoys traveling and good music. He is a retired sales engineer, a position he held for 32 years, and now works part-time for Boston Market.
	Jerry Loveland; trumpet Jerry is one of the original members of The Dan Zola Orchestra, now celebrating his 50th year with the band as lead trumpet. One of his fondest musical memories was being asked to play in the Warren Junior Military Band at age 14. He was with the WJMB for 5 years and won 3 national titles. Jerry is retired from NASA and lives in Berea.
	Lori Mavrakis; trumpet,flugelhorn Lori has been a proud member of The Dan Zola Orchestra since 1986. She works for The Cleveland Clinic as Lead Research Technologist at The Lerner Research Institute in Cleveland, Ohio. Some of Lori’s favorite musical career moments have been performing with Wynton Marsalis, Slide Hampton and Ernie Watts at the Aspen Music Festival, and having the privilege of studying with Donald Byrd at The Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Lori is married to her “sweetie,” Billy.
	Jim Hricik; trumpet, flugelhorn Jim has with The Dan Zola Orchestra for 18 years. Jim resides in Fairview Park and is a retired paint chemist.
	Trombone Section
	Jim Redmond; trombone Jim has performed with the band since the 1960’s. He studied trombone with Merritt Dittert of the Cleveland Orchestra, and played in the Brush High and Case bands and the Cain Park pit orchestra. By day, Jim is an attorney with Philips Healthcare. Jim and Linda live in Richmond Heights and have four children.
	Kim Kopco; trombone Jim is a founding member of The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra and has toured nationally with Bernadette Peters, Bobby Caldwell, and Cleveland rock legend Sonny Geraci. Jim plays throughout the Midwest and Las Vegas with an Elvis Tribute Band and has performed several all-star shows at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Palace Theatre.
	Don Gottlieb; 3rd/4th trombone, band boy/roadie Don joined the band in 1967 at 17 years old and a senior in high school. Dan Zola said he needed, "Someone who looks like they know how to hold a trombone," and Don fit the bill. He has made himself invaluable to the orchestra by continuously having a reliable vehicle capable of hauling band equipment. A willingness to be among the first to arrive at the job and last to leave has also helped to secure his position all these years. Now retired, Don taught social studies for Brunswick City Schools for 30 years.
	Gary Twining; bass trombone Gary has performed with the New Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and spent seven years in Las Vegas playing main showrooms. He is currently Director of Sales for a fine wine company. He is also a certified wine educator and writes articles about wine for various local publications such as The Wine Buzz and The Elyria Chronicle Telegram.
No Photo	Tom Rohwer (Alternate); Trombone
	Saxophone Section
	Dave Kasper; alto saxophone, clarinet, flute Dave has played with the Temptations, Al Martino, Guy Lombardo, the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra (playing the role of "Jimmy Dorsey), Tito Puente Jr., and has opened up for Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Pancho Sanchez and Tony Bennett. Dave grew up in the Cleveland area and holds a B.A. in Music from Cleveland State University.
	Mark DiSanto; alto saxophone, clarinet, flute Not only does Mark play alto sax with The Dan Zola Orchestra, he has had his own band for many years. He also plays with the Hermit Club band and other big bands in the area. One of the many highlights in his musical career was performing at the Sydney Opera house while touring Australia and New Zealand. He is married to Carol, father of four, a grandfather to 11 and a great-grandfather of 1. When he’s not making music you’ll find him hunting, fishing, boating, farming and creating woodworking projects.
	Marc Paige, alto and tenor saxophones, clarinet Marc has been playing clarinet and saxophone for over 50 years. He has performed with many rock, blues and jazz groups, along with most of Cleveland's big bands. Additionally, he is a member of the Solon Philharmonic Orchestra. Marc and his family live in Solon.
	Robert Hoffman; alto, tenor and baritone saxophones, clarinet, flute Robert studied with Lee Hardesty of the Tex Beneke Orchestra, and has been playing professionally since he was 14 years old. He has played with such notables as Clark Terry, Pete Christlieb, Steve Gadd, Jim Rupp, Sonny Geraci, Pat Halloran and Ernestine Anderson. He lives in Shaker Heights with his wife, Dianne Palmer.
	Larry Patrick; baritone and alto saxophones, clarinet, bass clarinet Larry joined the band in 1996 and is the oldest member; he celebrated his 82nd birthday in Sept. 2011. His interest in big band music began at John Adams H.S. when he played with Al Serafini's Jazz Band. Larry lives in Parma with his wife, has a daughter, three grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He also plays with the TOPS Band and appeared in the movie "The Deer Hunter".
	Rhythm Section
	Darren Allen; drums Darren is the band director at Bay High School in Bay Village, Ohio. A graduate of the renowned jazz program at Youngstown State University, he was voted the number one jazz drummer in 2007. Darren has been with the orchestra for eleven years. He is married to Alice and has a darling daughter named Sydney.
	Ken Kasl; guitar Ken Kasl has played guitar with The Dan Zola Orchestra since June of 1962.
	Mike Elkins; keyboards Mike is a systems developer. He has been playing with the Dan Zola Orchestra since 2006.
	Ennis McNulty; double bass, electric bass Ennis is a natural on the bass. In fact, he played his first professional job in 1964 after only one lesson! He played with the Dan Zola Orchestra until 1976, when he moved to Los Angeles to work as an artist for the Walt Disney Studios. He returned to Cleveland, rejoined the band in 1995 and has been a fixture ever since. He studies with (name) and considers himself a work in progress, but acknowledges that the experience is worth every blistered finger.