ALUMNI

You set records. You break boundaries. You shape the future, but you never forget where you came from. You are alumni of Gridbook Academy, and you honor Gridbook Nation in everything you do.
Long after you achieve your goals, and move onto the next chapter of your life, you fly the Gridbook Nation flag. Our united vision is spread across the globe, making you part of something bigger than yourself. Together with your fellow alumni, you are defining the culture and inspiring the next generation of percussionists.

While your time in Gridbook Academy may be over, you have left your mark and set the standard so others may pick up the torch and carry on. Whether you are still in the percussion community changing lives, or have transitioned into other fields, we are so proud of the work you have done here.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Ashlee Allaire

High School
- J.W. Mitchell High School Drumline (2012-15)
- Pasco, FL All-County Member
- District Solo & Ensemble - Superior (4)
- State Solo & Ensemble - Superior (2)

Marching Arts
- WGI PIA INFINITY III Bassline
   2016🥈
- WGI PIO INFINITY II Bassline   
   2017🥇
   2018🥉
- DCI OC Vanguard Cadets Front Ensemble
   2018🥇

College - Undergraduate Studies
- St. Petersburg College Percussion Ensemble (2015-18)
- St. Petersburg College Wind Symphony (2015-18)
- Associate of Arts Degree (2018)
- FSU Percussion Ensemble (2018-21)
- FSU Wind Orchestra (2018-21)
- FSU University Symphony Orchestra (2018-21)

College - Graduate Studies
- MM in Percussion Performance Northwestern University (2021-Present) 

Eric Allaire

High School
- J.W. Mitchell High School Drumline (2006-09)
- JWMHS Band Louis Armstrong Jazz Award (2009)

Marching Arts
- WGI PIO Brahma from USF Front Ensemble (2009-10) 

UNRB Ska Band
- Founding Member (2010)
- 1st Studio Album "Inform The Masses" (2013)
- 2nd Studio Album "Collateral Jammage" (2015)

College - Undergraduate Studies
- St. Petersburg College Percussion Ensemble (2010-12)
- St. Petersburg College Wind Symphony (2010-12)
- Associate of Arts Degree (2012)
- University of Tampa Percussion Ensemble (2013-14)
- UT Sally & Jack Jenkins Music Service Award (2014)
- BM in Percussion Performance from University of Tampa (2014)

Professional Experience
- Clearwater HS Front Ensemble Instructor (2018-20)
- Private Lessons Instructor (2018-Present)

Gina Cilluffo

High School
- Pasco, FL All-County Member
- J.W. Mitchell High School Drum Captain (2015)  
- Pasco County All-County Percussion Principal (2016)
- District Solo & Ensemble - Superior (9)
- State Solo & Ensemble - Superior (5)
- State Solo & Ensemble - Superior with Distinction (2)

College - Undergraduate Studies
- UCF Percussion Ensemble (2016-17)
- UCF Marching Knights (2016-17 cymbals, 2018-19 bass)
- UCF Marching Knights - Percussion Rookie of the Year - (2016)
- UCF Symphonic Band (2017)
- Sebastian River High School - Drumline Tech (2017)
- UCF Marching Knights - Most Improved - Percussion (2018)
- UCF Concert Band (2019)
- Penny's Band Camp - Drumline Tech (2019)
- UCF Marching Knights - Most Outstanding Percussion - (2019)
- UCF Marching Knights Band President (2019)


Michael Colbassani

High School 
- Dunedin HS Percussion Ensemble (2016-20)
- DHS Most Improved Award (2017)
- DHS Scottish Highlander Marching Band (2016-20)
- DHS Concert Band (2016-17)
- DHS Wind Ensemble (2017-2020)
- DHS Pipe Band (2016-18)
- DHS Drumline Section Leader (2018-20)
- DHS Drum Captain (2019-20)
- DHS Principle Percussionist (2019-20)
- John Philip Sousa Award (2020)
- District Solo & Ensemble - Superior (5)
- FL State Solo & Ensemble - Superior (2)

College - Undergraduate Studies
- St. Petersburg College Percussion Ensemble (2017)
- UCF Percussion Ensemble (2020-Present)
- UCF New Music Ensemble (2020)
- UCF Tamboo Bamboo Ensemble (2020)
- UCF Concert Band (2020)
- UCF Symphonic Band (2021)
- UCF Steel Band (2021)
- UCF Marching Knights (2021 Snare)

Professional Experience
- Safety Harbor MS (2019-20)
- Sarasota Concert Band (2021)
- George Jenkins HS (2021)

Catherine Cole

High School 
- Land O’ Lakes HS Drumline Captain & Concert Section Leader (2009-12)
- LOLHS Indoor Percussion Ensemble Captain (2010-11)
- FSU Summer Music Camps, Principal Percussionist (2011)
- Pasco, FL All-County Principal Percussionist (2011-12)
- FMEA All-State Percussionist (2011-12)
- FSU Tri-State Honor Band (2012)
- District Solo & Ensemble - Superior (4)
- State Solo & Ensemble - Superior with Distinction (3)

College - Undergraduate Studies
- Tri-State Honor Band, Percussion Assistant (2012-15)
- Eastern Music Festival (2013-15)
- PASIC All-Star International Percussion Ensemble (2015)
- BM in Percussion Performance, Florida State University (2016)

College - Graduate Studies
- PASIC IPEC Winner, Eastman Percussion Ensemble (2017)
- Eastern Music Festival, Percussion Fellow (2017-19)
- Leigh Howard Stevens Summer Marimba Seminar, Intern (2017)
- WXXI, Classical 91.5 Radio Station Intern (2017)
- Arts Leadership Program Certificate from Eastman Institute of Music Leadership (2018)
- MM in Percussion Performance and Literature, Eastman School of Music (2018)

Professional Experience
- Hollingsworth Winds Community Band, section percussion (2012-18)
- Sinfonia Gulf Coast, section percussion (2013-16)
- Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, section percussion (2013-16)
- Tallahassee Community Chorus, substitute (2014)
- The Florida Orchestra, Artistic Operations Coordinator (2018-present)
- The Florida Orchestra, substitute/extra (2019-present)
- Eastern Music Festival, Percussion Coordinator (2020-present)

Ben Dunham

High School
- TSLCA Drum Major (2020-2021)
- TSLCA Band President (2019-2020)
- 1st Place Grand Nationals Division AA Overall Champion (2018)
- TSLCA Director’s Award (2020)
- TSOPE Center Quad (2019-2020)
- TSOPE Rookie of the Year Award (2019)
- PCMEA All County Band (2016-2021)

Jazz
- Performed in the Essentially Ellington National Competition (2019-2020)
- Savannah Swing Central Music Festival (2019-2020)
- Tarpon Springs Jazz Ensemble and Combo (2018-2021)
- Ruth Eckerd Hall Jazz Band (2016-2021)
- Ruth Eckerd Hall Jazz Combo (2018-2021)
- Performed at Suncoast Jazz Festival (2018-2019)
- Performed at Clearwater Jazz Festival (2016, 2018, 2019)
2018- Performed with Marcus Miller
2019- Performed with Dafnis Prieto

Individual Acheveiments 
- Downbeat Magazine Outstanding Composition (2021)
- Downbeat Magazine Outstanding Arrangement (2021)
- Young Arts Merit Finalist (2021)
- PCMEA New Music Festival 1 st Place (2021)
- Essentially Ellington Outstanding Vibraphone (2020)
- Essentially Ellington Honorable Mention Vibraphone (2019)

College - Undergraduate Studies
- BM- Music Composition at the Frost School of Music, University of Miami (2025)

Steven Estes

High School
- Lakewood Ranch HS Percussion Section leader (2014)
- District Solo and Ensemble Superior (6)
- State solo and Ensemble Superior (6)
- Sarasota Youth Philharmonic (2013-14)
- FSU Tri-State Honor Band (2014)
- FMEA ALL-State Jazz Band (2014)
- Festival of Winds Jazz Band (2015)
- Ruth Eckerd Hall Jazz Band (2014-15)

Marching Arts
- Manatee County Indoor Percussion Snareline (2011-2012)
- Infinity Percussion Snare Line 2017-2018 (Section leader 2018)
- Boston Crusaders Snareline (2014-15, 2017-2018)

College- Undergraduate Studies
- UCF Wind Ensemble Principal Percussionist (2015-16)
- UCF Flying Horse Big Band- Drum Set 2015-16
- BMOC Recording with UCF Big Band
- UCF Percussion Ensemble 2015-2020
- Round Top Festival Institute Fellow (2019)
- Cleveland Modern Snare Drum Competition (2016)
- BM in Percussion Performance, University of Central Florida (2020)

College- Graduate Studies
- Indiana University Associate Instructorship
- Indiana University Percussion Ensemble (2020-2021)
- Indiana University New Music Ensemble (2020-2021)
- National Orchestra Institute Fellow (2021)

Professional Experience
- Percussion technician- West Orange High school (2016-2017)
- Percussion Technician- Timber Creek High School (2018-2019)
- Universal Beat Builders Drumming Show- 2019-2020
- Bach Festival Orchestra of Winter Park- Substitute player for 2019 Season
- The U.S. Army Field Band, Percussionist (2021- present)

Shelby Evans

High School
- Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (2013)
- Tarpon Springs Indoor Performance Ensemble (2013-14)
- Tarpon Springs Outdoor Performance Ensemble (2013-16)
- Bands of America
   2014🥇 Grand National Champion  
   2014-16 🥇 Atlanta Regional Champion 
- State Solo & Ensemble - Ensemble Superior (2) 
- State Solo & Ensemble - Solo Superior (1)
- Wind Ensemble Principal Percussionist (2016)
- Pinellas, FL All-County Member (2016) 
- United States All American Army Marching Band (2017)

Marching Arts
- WGI PIO INFINITY II Bassline 
  2017🥇 & Rookie of the year
- WGI PIW INFINITY Bassline 
  2018 Rookie of the year 
  2019 🏅Fan Favorite
- DCI WC Crossmen Drum Corps Bassline (2018)

College - Undergraduate Studies
- Bachelor's Degree in Entertainment Management from UCF's world renowned Hospitality school- Rosen College (2021)

Professional Experience
- Production Assistant at Lot Riot (2018)
- Drumline Instructor at Cypress Creek High School (2018)
- Drumline Instructor at Timber Creek High School (2019)
- Beat Builders Show at Universal Orlando - First female to be casted for a role (2019-Present)
- Magic Beatz Drumline Member for Orlando Magic (2019-Present)

Michael Giunta

High School 
- J. W. Mitchell High School Drumline (2008-11) 
- FL State Solo & Ensemble -Ensemble Superior

College - Undergraduate Studies
- AA in Percussion Performance Valencia College (2015)
- McCormick Marimba festival featured soloist (2017)
- USF Wind Ensemble featured concerto soloist
- BM in Percussion Performance from University of South Florida (2018)
- KNOB Arts and New Music festival featured soloist (2018)
- Brevard Music Center Summer Institute and Festival (2018-19)
- 1st Place at Cortona Sessions in New Music's instrumental performance competition, Cortona Italy (2019)

College - Graduate Studies
- WSU Percussion Studio Graduate Teaching Assistant  
- MM in Percussion Performance Wichita State University (2020)
- MSU Percussion Studio Graduate Teaching Assistant
- DMA in Percussion Performance Michigan State University (2021-Present)

Professional Experience
- Section Percussion, Wichita Symphony Orchestra (2018-2020)
- Percussion coach for Wichita Symphony Youth Orchestras (2019-20)
- Front Ensemble Instructor at Steinbrenner High (2017-18)
- Private Lessons Studio


Genevieve Hilburn

High School
- Crescenta Valley High School Drumline (2012-2016)
- Band Leadership (2013-2016)
- Crescenta Valley HS Symphony Orchestra (2014-2016)
- Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra (2014-2015)
- Tournament of Roses Honor Band (2015, 2016)

Marching Arts
- DCI OC Blue Devils B Drum Corps Bassline (2016)🥇High Percussion 
- DCI WC Academy Drum Corps Bassline (2017)
- DCI WC Bluecoats Drum Corps Bassline (2019)🥈

College - Undergraduate Studies 
- BM in Percussion Performance from California State Northridge
- California State Northridge Wind Ensemble (2017-2021)
- California State Northridge Percussion Ensemble (2016-2021)
- Outstanding Member Award - California State Northridge Percussion Ensemble (2016/17 School Year)

College - Graduate Studies
- MM in Percussion Performance from Texas A&M University-Commerce (2021-Present)
- Percussion Studio Graduate Teaching Assistant at Texas A&M University-Commerce (2021-Present)

Professional Experience
- Battery and Movement Instructor at Thousand Oaks HS (2017-2020)
- Battery and Movement Instructor at La Cañada HS (2019-2021)
- Bass Drum Instructor at Meraki Percussion (2020)
- Bass Drum Instructor at Pacific Crest Drum Corps (2021-Present)

Nick McConnaughey

High School
- Lakewood Ranch HS Marching Band (2011-14)
- Lakewood Ranch HS Front Ensemble Section Leader (2013-14)
- FL State Solo & Ensemble Superior (5)
- Sarasota Young New Artist Award (2014)

Marching Arts
- Manatee County Independent (2012)
- Marcato Independent (2013)
- INFINITY Percussion (2015-18)
- Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps (2017)

College - Undergraduate Studies
- Florida Gulf Coast University Wind Orchestra
- Florida Gulf Coast University Honors Quartet (2018-21)
- Florida Gulf Coast UniversityHonors Touring Ensemble (2020)

Professional Experience
- Front Ensemble Instructor at Spirit of 52 Drum Corps  (2018)
- Front Ensemble Instructor at North Fort Myers HS (2018-22)
- Front Ensemble Instructor at Seminole HS (2018-22)
- Front Ensemble Instructor at INFINITY II (2019, 20, 22🥇)
- Front Ensemble Instructor at INFINITY (2021)
- Front Ensemble Instructor at Crossmen (2021)
- Front Ensemble Instructor at The Academy (2022)
- Tapspace Publication "[State Of The Arts]" (2022)
- Assisstant Percussion Director at Southlake Carroll, TX (2022-Present) 

Abby McNulty

High School
- Pasco, FL All-County Member (2014-19)
- Florida All State Member (2017-19)
- State Solo & Ensemble - Superior w/ Distinction (5)
- Bandsman of the Year (2017-19)
- Featured Soloist at McCormick Marimba Festival (2017)
- USF Festival of Winds Honor Band (2017)
- FSU Tri-State Honor Band (2018)
- WGI/FFCC Concert Indoor Percussion medalist (2019)
- JWMHS Center Snare, Band Captain and Percussion Section Leader (2018-19)

College - Undergraduate Studies
- FSU Percussion Ensemble (2019- 21) 
- University Symphony Orchestra Touring Member (2020)
- University Philharmonic Orchestra Member (2020) 
- FSU Concert/Symphonic Band (2019-20)
- FSU Steel Drum 'Mas and Steel' Band Member (2019-20)
- FSU Wind Ensemble member (2020-21)
- Board Advisory Member for FSU College of Music (2020 - Present)
- Committee Chairman of FSU Percussion Social Media Outreach (2021- Present)


Michael Mortilla

High School
- J.W. Mitchell HS Band (2015-19)
- State Solo & Ensemble - Superior (5)
- 6x Pasco All-County Band (2014-19)
- 4x Pasco All-County Jazz Band (2015-19)
- USF Festival of Winds Honor Band (2018)
- McCormick Marimba Festival Featured Soloist (2017)
- JWMHS Concert Indor Center Marimba (2018-19)
- JWMHS Band Outstanding Senior (2019)
- FFCC Featured Performer (2019)
- FFCC Scholastic Concert A 🥉
- Thursday Musicale Scholarship Recipient (2019)

College - Undergraduate Studies
- Gale Sperry Outstanding Freshman Award (2020)
- UCF Percussion Ensemble (2019-22)
- UCF Symphony Orchestra (2019)
- UCF Wind Ensemble (2020-22)
- Touring UCF Wind Ensemble (2020)
- UCF New Music Ensemble (2020-22)
- UCF Steel Drum Ensemble (2019-22)
- UCF Symphonic Band (2021)
- Collegiate PAS, UCF Chapter
   Secretary (2021)
   President (2022)

Professional Experience
- Front Ensemble Instructor at Windermere HS (2021-Present)
- Private Lesson Teacher

Maria Petropoulos

High School
- Tarpon Spring Outdoor Performance Ensemble (2014-16)
- Bands of America
  2014 🥇Grand National Champion
  2014-16 🥇Atlanta Regional Champion

Marching Arts
- WGI PIO INFINITY II Front Ensemble
  2017🥇
- WGI PIW Stryke Front Ensemble
  2020

College - Undergraduate Studies 
- BM in Percussion Performance from University of South Florida

Professional Experience
- Tarpon Spring Outdoor Performance Ensemble (2017-18)
- Largo High School (2017-18)
- Gaither High School (2018-19)
- Wiregrass Ranch High School (2019-Present)
- Spirt of Atlanta Drum Corps (2020-Present)
- Heatwave Drum Corps (2021-Present)


Madison Schafer

High School
- Pasco, FL All-County Member (2010-2015)
- USF Festival of Winds Honor Band (2014, 2015)
- State Solo & Ensemble- Superior w/ Distinction (2)
- State Solo & Ensemble- Superior (6)
- J.W. Mitchell High School Percussion Section Leader (2013-2015)
- JWMHS Band Student of the Year (2015)

College - Undergraduate Studies
- Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.)- University of Central Florida (2019)
- UCF Percussion Ensemble (2015-2019)
- UCF Steel Band (2016-2018)
- UCF Symphony Orchestra (2018)
- UCF Wind Ensemble (2016-2018)
- UCF Symphonic Band (2015-2016)
- UCF Marching Knights (2015)
- Youth Bands of Orlando: paid internship (2017-2019)
- James & Robert Meckley Music Scholarship Recipient (2017)
- Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society (inducted 2019)
- Collegiate Percussive Arts Society, UCF Chapter: Vice President (2016-2018), Historian (2016)

Professional Experience
- K-5 Music Teacher with Orange County Public Schools (2019 - present)
- Front Ensemble Technician for Hagerty High School (2018-present)
- Orlando Contemporary Chamber Orchestra, percussionist (2019-present)
- Seasonal musician for Sea World (2017-present)


An online training and personal mentoring program, teaching you the skills and giving you the resources to live your dream as a percussion performer.

Site Map

Let's Connect

Created with