RAY ZELENKA

ELECTRIC SIX STRING BASS. Ray Zelenka has played professionally since the age of 14. Ray’s education includes an Associate’s degree from Five Towns College winning the Bass Player, Composition and Arranging awards. He also received a Bachelors of Arts degree in music education from Dowling College. Ray has been teaching privately and playing around the Long Island area for over thirty years. As well as playing solo classical and jazz guitar he has been in various original and cover bands from Rock, R&B, Blues, Jazz and Country styles. He plays a multitude of instruments. In addition to playing bass with NYMDBB he also plays guitar, keyboards, drums and mandolin. Ray co-wrote the music soundtrack and recorded for the independent film “Every Time a Rainbow Dies” by Rita Williams-Garcia. Ray has recorded many times over the years and has been a part of groups opening up for Richie Havens, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Helen Reddy and Laura Branigan. Currently Ray is working on solo projects, recording and writing for new films and playing with his band LRM.

DON MEIER - DRUMS AND PERCUSSION. 

Mr. Meier received his B.M. from the Ithaca College School of Music and his M.A. from SUNY Stony Brook. He was the recipient of the Les Brown, Patrick Conway, and Fred L. Emerson scholarships, and was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi honor society. Mr. Meier’s performing experiences included performances with the Ithaca College Wind Ensemble, Ithaca College Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Workshop, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and the Fredonia Chamber Players. Currently an active percussionist and has performed with the Massapequa Philharmonic, North Shore Symphony Orchestra, BAFFA Symphony Orchestra, Long Island Senior Symphony, South Shore Brass, Rockaway-Five Towns Symphony Orchestra, West Islip Symphony Orchestra, Huntington Community Band, and New York’s Most Dangerous Big Band. Mr. Meier has performed with Creative Ministries Performing Arts Center in Oakdale, the Suffolk Y Theatre in Commack, the Broadhollow Theater in Plainview, and the Clare Rose Playhouse in Patchogue. Currently the Director of Bands at the elementary level in the Babylon Public Schools, and is a member of MENC, NYSSMA, NYSBDA, SCMEA, and PAS.

  Michael Jusino - GUITAR
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Elinor Zayas - Piano and Synthesizer

Classically trained at Juilliard and the Manhattan School of Music, Elinor Abrams Zayas is well know to Long Islanders as a soloist, chamber musician and teacher. Her varied repertoire and ability to capture the colors and essence of all types of music are evident in her performances. She is Artistic Director of Nepenthe and has performed with the Long Island Philharmonic and Masterworks Chorus. She is currently with the Music Faculty of Sachem Public Schools. Ellie has hadJazz piano studies with Valerie Capers and Joanne Brackeen, as well as arranging with John Carisi, who played trumpet with John Coltrane, and performed in jazz ensembles at Manhattan School led by Dave Friedman and Dave Samuels.