History & Personnel

History

In 1999, Tony McDonald, a member of the Westerville Symphony, formed the Westerville Ragtime Band, made up from members and friends of the symphony. Using the orchestration of the Red Back Book, an historic set of Scott Joplin rags that were arranged for small band, the group consisted of violins, piccolo, clarinet, cornet, trombone, tuba, piano and drums. Based on that model, McDonald formed his own band, Dr. Tony's Original Ragtime Band, in 2004 with a slightly modified instrumentation, substituting saxophone for the violins. He serves as director, chief arranger and trombone player of the group.

Personnel

Members of Dr. Tony's Original Ragtime Band:

John Vermuelen - saxophone
Orchestra director with the Westerville City Schools, former lead sax with the Guy Lombardo Orchestra, and current lead alto sax with Vaughan Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra.
Leslie Maaser – flute/piccolo
Instructor of Flute at Denison University and principal Flute of the Newark-Granville Symphony
Melanie Richards - clarinet
Teacher of instrumental music in the Columbus City Schools for 14 years and currently teaches elementary band and strings at four elementary schools on the south and east side of Columbus, also a freelance musician playing solo & chamber music recitals and musicals.
Richard Scranton - trumpet
1st trumpet with the Westerville Symphony and the Scioto Valley Brass and Percussion Company.
Tony McDonald - trombone
(see About Dr. Tony)
Tony Zilincik - tuba
Assistant Professor of Tuba and Theory at Capital University, former director of the Central Ohio Brass Band, a member of the Brass Band of Columbus, and director of Merry Tuba Christmas.
David Freedy – tuba
Principal tubist with the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra and the Ohio Capital Winds, and an accomplished guitarist specializing in blues and rock.
Nathan Hamm - piano
Nathan makes his living in music mainly as a Choir Accompanist. He plays regularly with the Columbus Gay Men's Chorus, The Delaware Chorus, and with the choral programs of Westland and Central Crossing High Schools. Nathan is also the accompanist and pianist of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus, where he plays music for services and participates in various other music programs there, occasionally gives full-length recitals.
Rick Soriano - drums
Drummer with Tim Dvorkin Trio, The Silky Ray Band, keyboardist with Inner City Blues Band, and freelance drummer/pianist/web designer.