Deep Blue C Studio Orchestra
Musician Biographies
Vocals - Lisa Mills-Casey
Lisa was pushed onto a church stage at the age of 3 and hasn't stopped singing since. Starting in 1992, Lisa has sung with the
acapella group, Women of Note and since then has toured & recorded with internationally acclaimed recording artist/composer, Tim Janis, and has even sung at the White House. When not performing with the DBCSO, you may find Lisa at many local venues sharing her talent.
Vocals - Nichole Raftopoulos
Nichole has been singing at various venues around New England for the last 30 years. She has become known for her mean rendition of the National Anthem and can be heard at various patriotic events. Her background from her younger years consists of extensive training in flute performance and she is excited to be singing and occasionally playing flute for the Deep Blue C!
Vocals – Lloyd Owens
After spending years with the popular function band, Hush, Lloyd is ecstatic about singing with the Deep Blue C Studio Orchestra.
Keyboards/Vocals - Christine Petrucci
Christine has a Master of Music Education Degree from UMass Lowell, Piano Major and is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Piano. She has been a professional accompanist for soloists, dance companies, choral groups, church organizations, and theatrical groups in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. She taught General Music Classes, Music Theory and conducted a boy’s Jr. High School Chorus in the Chelmsford, MA public schools.
In 2001, Christine founded Seacoast Academy of Music in North Hampton, NH. She is currently Director of School and duties include organizing community concerts, teacher conferences and adjudicating student performances. She teaches performance workshops, master classes, music theory and private piano to students ages 8 – 80+! Christine loves her role as keyboardist and singer with DBCSO.
Trombone – Katie Schraeder
Katie is a freelance trombonist and private teacher in the Southern Maine/Seacoast area. She is an avid pit orchestra musician, working regularly with theaters like Ogunquit Playhouse and Seacoast Repertory Theater as well as recently appearing on the Broadway tour of Mean Girls. She also performs frequently with other local groups, including the Seacoast Revival Brass Quartet, Seacoast Revival Early Jazz Band, New Legacy Swing Band, Deep Blue C Studio Orchestra, The Coastals, and more.
Saxophone/Reeds - Mike Petrishen
Mike studied with master teachers Chris Powers and Joe Allard. Mike has performed with bands all over the eastern US playing swing, jazz, pop, Oktoberfest, and polka. He has performed with the New Magnolia Band, Gerry T. Swing Band, Eastern Sound Orchestra, and the Deep Blue C Studio Orchestra. Mike is a high sought after private teacher.
Trumpet/Flugelhorn - Bernie Taylor
Bernie is an alumnus of the U. S. Navy music program where he attended the Navy Music School then performed in bands serving the Pacific Fleet and the Pacific north west. He has performances with symphony orchestras, brass quintets, as soloist, Big Band Jazz and now The Deep Blue C Studio Orchestra!
Trumpet/Flugelhorn - Kenneth Warren
Ken was the former Director of Music for Marblehead public schools. He still performs with symphony orchestras, concert bands, jazz bands and around New England. He has also performed at the esplanade in Boston and has performed with well known artists such as Clark Terry and Aretha Franklin.
Guitar - Nicco Centofanti
Nicco holds a BM from the renowned Berklee College of Music. A sought-after teacher and session player, he has performed extensively throughout the east coast and has also recorded multiple albums under his own name. He is thrilled to be a part of the DBC!
Bass - JD Short
JD Short is a Master's Musicology student at Brandeis University, and holds a BM in Jazz composition from Berklee College of Music. A composer/arranger/performer, he has performed over the East coast for the last 10 years. He's pleased to be a part of DBCSO!
Violin - Margaret Bruziak Hopkins
Margaret teaches at the Portland Conservatory of Music. She extensively performs throughout New England area with Lakes Region Symphony as concertmaster, PORT Opera, Portland Ballet, NH Music Festival and various other organizations. Margaret truly enjoys performing with DBCSO!
Violin – Wendy Jensen
Wendy has performed with numerous community and professional orchestral and musical productions, including the Keene State Orchestra, the Connecticut River Valley Orchestra, the Wizard of Oz, Oliver, the Phantom of the Opera, and many others."
Violin – Kim Strand
Kim Strand graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Music from University of Wyoming. She’s performed in various Symphonies and Chamber Groups in 11 states. Kim has also had the privilege of playing with some well known artists, including Ray Price, Dionne Warwick, and Willy Nelson. She is thrilled to be playing with The Deep Blue C Studio Orchestra in her new home in New England.
Cello – Fay Rubin
Fay has performed with a number of regional orchestras in New Hampshire and Maine and currently plays with the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra in addition to the Deep Blue C Studio Orchestra. She has also performed on cello and piano in a number of musical productions, including most recently A Little Night Music. Fay also enjoys playing chamber music.
Drums - Shawn Boissonneault
Shawn started playing drums at the age of 2 solely inspired from his father, who is a drummer. He got an early start at performing, as he played weekly for his church starting at the age of 10. Since graduating from Berklee College of Music in 2003, Shawn has been working throughout the northeastern United States as an accomplished drummer, studio musician, and percussionist, playing all styles of music from rock, funk, jazz, blues, afro-cuban, to reggae, and everything in between.
Shawn has also established himself as a sought-after private instructor and clinician for promising students, teaching classes in several local school districts. He has also added a new avenue to his services by teaching private lessons online to all over the world.
Percussionist - Linda Urban
Linda is a graduate of the New Conservatory of Music and is an instructor at the Seacoast Academy of Music.
Keyboards/Synthesizer - Kelly Cresitello-Dittmar
Kelly holds a BA from Dickinson College, a Masters from Rivier College, and Orff Certification levels I and II. She is currently completing her 10th year as Music Director at Cornerstone School in Stratham, NH.
Director/Arranger – David "Doc" Vose
Doc Vose is a former award winning arranger for Columbia Pictures Publications. He has led ensembles in a variety of styles for many years and has produced numerous recordings including with Grammy Award winner, Fred Lipsius. He is also an artist/clinician for the Yamaha Corporation of America, is in the Massachusetts Educators Hall of Fame and the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame. Doc is a recently retired Professor from Berklee College of Music.
Arranger - Terry White
Terry is a nationally recognized published arranger. He has written for the Portland Symphony Orchestra and numerous concert bands and jazz bands.
Arranger - Austin Leshock
Austin Leshock is a composer, arranger, and producer from Wilmington, Delaware currently based in Boston, MA. From a young age, he enjoyed playing in concert and jazz bands on saxophone, but his passion for music took off when he discovered the art of composition and arranging in his teenage years. He is currently completing his final year of studies at the world renowned Berklee College of Music, earning degrees in Film Scoring and Music Production.