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Jennifer May |
Jennie Jones |
Kathy Carr |
Peggy Scalzo |
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Marcia Tichy |
Kirsten Brown |
Shannon Zolnowski |
Susan Fimbel |
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Molly McCausland |
Vicky Carden |
Rachel Birkman |
Verneice Turner |
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Julie Winden |
Kristina Bordeleau |
Carol Svensen |
Stacey Nicastro |
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Claudia Andres |
Christina Custodi |
Jennifer May
Founder & Bassist
Jennifer started her playing career in 1985 at the historic Colored Musicians Club in Buffalo, New York. She has played professionally with many different groups, ranging from a guitar duet to full big-bands. In 1996 she founded a 6-piece jazz ensemble, the Ladies First Sextet, which played for several years in the Buffalo area before it was reformed into the now 16-piece all-female Ladies First Big Band.
In 1998, as a bassist for blues/rock band Barb Wired, Jennifer joined Taylor Made Jazz (TMJ), an international touring jazz R&B group. As a member of TMJ, she completed six worldwide tours performing worldwide at military bases and embassies from Iceland to Mozambique.
Jennifer received the Night-Life Magazine "Buffalo's Best R&B Bassist" award in 1999, 2001, and 2002. She received additional recognition as a member of TMJ when they also received Night-Life Magazine awards for the "Best R&B Group" in 2001 and 2002.
As a working jazz musician, Jennifer also feels a responsibility to educate the next generation of players in this unique American art form. To that end, Jennifer has been performing jazz concerts in the Buffalo City Schools for over 20 years and currently works through Young Audiences of WNY, part of a national organization providing educational arts and music in schools.
Jennie Jones
1st Alto Sax & Vocals
Besides her duties as musical director for Ladies First, Jennie has been associated with the Macy Favor Big Band, the Deutschlanders German Band, and was a founding member of the Buffalo Saxophone Quartet. With her husband, guitarist Dennis Warne, she co-leads the group Jazzline.
Jennie studied saxophone under reed master Dave Schiavone, and also plays the flute, clarinet, soprano, alto and tenor saxophones. Jennie is also an accomplished jazz vocalist, and fronts the Ladies First Combo.
Kathy Carr
Piano & Vocals
Kathy is a recent addition to the Ladies First roster. She can be seen as a regular vocalist and piano player for the Pyramid Band.
Kathy also plays weekends at local nightclubs, and provides entertainment at many area nursing homes and senior centers.
Peggy Scalzo
Drums
Peggy, a native of Endicott, NY, has performed in several musical genres throughout upstate New York, including concert and marching bands, musical theater productions, big bands and small combos, and pop, rock, and fusion bands. In addition to her work with Ladies First, she is also drummer for the Dave Schiavone Quartet and is a member of the nationally known American Legion Band of the Tonawandas.
Peggy keeps busy with studio work as well, having performed on many demo sessions and independent releases. She also teaches privately at her home studio.
Marcia Tichy
2nd Alto Sax
Marcia teaches instrumental music for the City of Tonawanda School District. In addition to playing alto saxophone, she can also been seen performing on flute and tenor saxophone.
Kirsten Brown
1st Tenor Sax
Kirsten has been seen in the past performing with the Visionquest Community Orchestra, the Amherst Community Band, the Buffalo Saxophone Quartet, and the Ladies First Combo.
Kirsten has a B.A. in art, and is an avid supporter of the Colored Musicians Club.
Shannon Zolnowski
2nd Tenor Sax
A native of Tennessee, Shannon received her B.M. in Music Education from Union University, located in Jackson, TN. She has also received Masters Degrees in Clarinet Performance and Music Education from Bowling Green State University.
Shannon currently teaches at Lancaster High School, where she is co-director of the Academy of Visual and Performing Arts, in addition to being assistant director of the marching band. She regularly performs with the Lancaster Town Band and teaches private lessons on clarinet and saxophone.
Susan Fimbel
Baritone Sax
Susan is a 2008 graduate from Akron Central School. She was a member of the Girl Scout Jazz Combo in 2007 and joined the Ladies First Big Band the following fall.
Molly McCausland
1st Trombone
Molly received her Bachelor of Music degree in Percussion Performance from the University at Buffalo, studying with Anthony Miranda. She then went on to complete a second Bachelors degree in Music Education from SUNY Fredonia.
She began playing trombone in jazz band her senior year of high school, going on to perform with Dave Schiavone's Jazz Ensemble at the University at Buffalo, John Bacon's Latin Jazz Band at Fredonia, and of course, her seventh year with the Ladies First.
Vicky Carden
2nd Trombone
Playing 2nd trombone is Vicky, a 2007 graduate of the Buffalo Academy of Visual and Performing Arts. Vicky is currently majoring in Music Education at Buffalo State College. One day, she hopes to teach music at an elementary or middle school level.
Vicky sings 1st soprano for the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Chancel and Concert Choirs. She is also a member of the Brigadiers Drum and Bugle Corp., performing in the contrabass line.
Rachel Birkman
3rd Trombone
Rachel got involved with music when she was in third grade. She started on alto saxophone, joining her school band and marching with them later that same year. Over the years, she has taken lessons from Phil Bley, Dave Schiavone and Matt Piorkowski, Jr., and currently plays flute with her teacher, Sr. Joanne Surrani at school masses
Besides playing trombone, Rachel has also played tenor saxophone with the Ladies First Big Band. She also plays alto saxophone with the Boston Town Band and Matt's Music Sensations, located at Matt's Music in North Tonawanda.
Verneice Turner
Spoken Word
Verneice is a troubadour who believes it is for her to share her thoughts on the power to empower (bless) others and herself, through the art of poetry. She has recorded a CD entitled Poetry in Black and White with poet Cliff Bernier, and performs from time to time with bassist O'dell Northington.
Her motto is "The Divine purpose is that Life is meant to be enjoyed and empowering."
Julie Winden
1st Trumpet
After high school, Julie performed with the Niagara County Community College Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band, and then took a break from musical performance to focus on a teaching career. Julie earned her B.S. from Niagara University and an Ed.M. from the University at Buffalo. She currently teaches biology and chemistry at Niagara Wheatfield High School.
Julie's musical interests were rekindled in 2000, when she joined the Carl Filbert Band, arranging horn section parts, playing trumpet and singing. Julie also performs with the Ladies First Combo.
Kristina Bordeleau
2nd Trumpet
Kristina teaches instrumental music in the Niagara Falls City School District. She earned her B.M. from The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, majoring in Music Education and Music Business, and her Ed.M. from the University of Buffalo.
Kristina has studied trumpet with Phil Christner, Douglas Sturdivant, John Ellis, and Evan Champion.
Carol Svensen
3rd Trumpet
Carol hails from Jamestown, where she is a member of the Jamestown Municipal Band. She is also a part-time faculty member at Jamestown Community College, where she performs with the concert and jazz bands.
Carol is also an avid jazz keyboardist, and is currently musical director for the Gloria Dei Church.
Stacey Nicastro
4th Trumpet
Stacey owns and operates Akron Music Studios Inc, located in the village of Akron, NY. She currently teaches private lessons on trumpet, trombone, French horn and baritone.
In addition to playing with Ladies First, Stacey can be seen performing with The Polished Brass Quintet of Rochester, NY,the Worshipping Brass Quintet, The Amherst Chamber Ensemble, and the Akron Community Band.
Claudia Andres
Piano & Vocals
Claudia received her B.M. in Music Education from the Crane School of Music, and her M.M. in Piano from Arizona State University. She currently heads the Choral program at Wilson High School and serves as Music Director at the First Presbyterian Church in Youngstown, NY.
Claudia has been performing at classical venues in the Western New York area for over twenty-five years, in addition to playing with her husband in the Jerry Andres Band. This is her first Big Band experience and it's been fantastic!
Christina Custodi
Piano & Vocals
An accomplished pianist and vocalist, Christina received a scholarship from the MPF in 2006; an award which recognizes music students who have demonstrated exceptional talent and plan on attending college as a music major.
To that regard, Christina is currently attending the Eastman School of music located in Rochester, NY. She can also be found performing with her trio, Rerun, both singing and on keyboard.