Member Spotlight
Dr. Chelsea Koziatek, Flute/Piccolo
Dr. Chelsea Koziatek joined the Ferndale Community Concert Band during the spring cycle of their 2017-2018 season. She is a performer and flute teacher in the southeast Michigan area who recently obtained her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Michigan State University. She also holds a Master of Music degree from MSU and a Bachelor of Musical Arts degree from Bowling Green State University. Her major professors include MSU’s Richard Sherman, Nina Assimakopoulos (West Virginia University), and Dr. Angela McBrearty (Houghton College) and she has been invited to play for master classes featuring Amy Porter, Sir James Galway, Robert Dick, and Jeffery Zook.
She teaches at Michigan State University’s Community Music Schools in East Lansing and Detroit while maintaining an independent private studio. Her students receive the highest marks in festival competitions and have gone on to study at Michigan State University, Grand Valley State University, and Oakland University. In the summer, she works with several competitive marching programs across the state of Michigan.
The National Flute Association selected Dr. Koziatek as a winner of their Convention Performer’s Competition in 2014 resulting in a performance of newly published music in August 2015. She has performed as a soloist with the MSU Symphony Orchestra, at the National Flute Association Convention, and was a featured soloist on the MSU Wind Symphony’s 2016 album In This Broad Earth. She performs with the Taneycomo Festival Orchestra (Branson, MO) in the summer where she is a member of the resident wind quintet, the Taneycomo Winds.
Dr. Koziatek is an avid home-cook and founded a performing group in 2015 called Consuming Arts which fuses the arts of cuisine and music through performance. In addition to her musical accomplishments, Chelsea also wrote a review published in the journal Jazz Perspectives in 2014.
Patrick Zerse, Euphonium
Patrick Zerse began playing the Euphonium in fourth grade. During a visit at Grandma’s, he was rummaging through the attic and stumbled on a strange looking case and opened it up, finding a shiny brass horn. He dragged it downstairs to show grandma; she told him it is a Euphonium, and it belongs to his Uncle who graduated in 1944 from Ferndale High School. Patrick is the fourth generation of his family to graduate from Ferndale High School and the music program. He played his Uncle’s horn until Senior week of his graduating year when someone stole the horn from school. As a student, Patrick was the Drum Major, Student Conductor and sang in the acapella choir. His parents created the non-profit Band Booster program.
He attended Lincoln Technical Institute achieving his degree in Auto and Diesel Technology and Fleet Management. After graduating college, the Band Director of FHS and a friend, Roger Smith, reached out to Patrick hiring him part-time as an assistant for the Marching Band. He bought a used Baritone horn and began to play again. He has been a part-time assistant to each Band Director for over 30 years.
Patrick has 37 years tenure working as Logistic and Fleet Manager for the Southeast Michigan Red Cross and looks forward to retiring soon.
In the 30 plus years mentoring and guiding students through the FHS music program, Patrick serves as surrogate Dad and Mom to over 1000 students. Students, parents and teachers alike value his commitment and fondness for the children and recognize the leadership and guidance he brings to the lives of those who join his all-inclusive circle of friendship and acceptance. Students who graduate and grow up and have families of their own come to visit Patrick throughout their lives.
Dr. Joseph Sales, Sr, Tuba
Dr. Joseph Sales, Sr. is blessed with a balance of music and academic achievements in his life. Playing tuba in Garfield Jr. High started him on a lifelong dedication to his instrument. After graduating high school, he earned a B.S. in Science Education from Wayne State University (W.S.U.) and was hired to teach in Detroit Public Schools.
The Army had different career plans for Joe and drafted him. He made a deal with the Army, “Let me teach one semester?”. They agreed. Joe became Private Sales, January 1958, and served as Squad Leader and Joady Caller. Joady calling is used for cadence during marching drills to keep soldiers in step. Joe made up the lyrics and melodies to be recited and answered during drills. Serving two years during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, he returned to D.P.S. and taught for 11 years.
He earned his Master’s in Curriculum Development and Doctorate in Teacher Education and School Administration from W.S.U. Joe became a Consultant and Research Associate to the School of Science Curriculum Project for University of Illinois; Coordinator of a W.S.U. program (WEXPO) preparing teachers for urban schools; Department Chairman, Associate Division Head and Dean of W.S.U. College of Education.
Joe was married to Judge Norma Dotson, retired from Detroit’s 36th District Court, until 2017 when Norma lost her battle with cancer. Norma and Joe provide music and performing arts lessons for six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren while emphasizing the value of both academics and the arts as an integral part of a successful life. Both Joe and Norma are and were living role models of this principle.
Shawn Lee, French Horn
Shawn Lee joined the FCCB in the Fall of 2018 playing French Horn. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Instrumental Music Education at Wayne State University, where he holds the position of principal horn in both the Wayne State University Wind Symphony and University Symphony Orchestra. He participates in the Warrior Marching Band, having marched for three years with the group and served as the Band Captain for two.
In his free time, he composes music for all sorts of ensembles, and has received instruction in composition from Jon Anderson, Matthew Schoendorff, and Gerald Custer. In the fall of 2018, he conducted the premiere of his Centennial Fanfare, a piece he wrote to celebrate 100 years of music at Wayne State. He has premiered several other works during his time at the university, including Thoughtstream, a minimalist piece for two saxophone quartets, and is currently working on a concerto for the professor of saxophone, Conn-Selmer Artist-Clinician Dr. Matthew Younglove. He has another premiere due later this week with the Wayne State University Wind Symphony for a piece entitled Elegy to the Twelve, a piece written to honor the victims of the Flint Water Crisis. (Shawn publishes all of his music through his website, Crusis Music.)
When he isn’t performing or writing music, Shawn follows the world of aviation, and intends to get a pilot’s license once he has graduated from school. He follows the world of computer technology and has built two computers for his personal use.
Jenny Sloan, Saxophone
Jennifer Sloan sits on the very edge of the first chair in the Saxophone section, waiting for prompts from the Music Director to begin. As she plays, her sax becomes a part of her soul. Her body moves with every note and lulls with the rhythm or pumps with the beat of the music she plays.
Mom and both Grandmothers taught her to read music and play the piano. Jen joined the fifth-grade band in Dexter Community Schools. The trumpet was recommended because her fingers were too short to play the saxophone. Mom, being swayed by the cost of instruments, hoped for the trumpet. Understanding Jenny’s determination, she relented and supported Jen’s choice to play the saxophone.
Jenny found her place both musically and academically at Michigan State University where she graduated with a dual Major in Instrumental Music Education (K-12) and Sociology.
Jenny was hired into DPS as Band Director at Spain Elementary, and laid off several years later. She enrolled into her master’s program at University of Michigan School of Social Work. Before the D.P.S. school year began, the Director of Fine Arts and Performing Arts, called and offered Jen a full-time position as Band Director for Southeastern High School. She taught music and served as a resource teacher for cognitively impaired students while working and completing her master’s degree.
In 2009 Jenny was hired by Spectrum Juvenile Justice Services, as a therapist working with youth adjudicated of violent offenses. She is the Associate Clinical Director of SJJS, and supervises therapists, guides program development, and serves as a Field Instructor with local universities. Jenny holds certification in treating childhood trauma and is a certified trainer.
Jenny promotes the importance of self-care and maintaining a sound mind and spirit, to assure growth, stability, and longevity. She stays young at heart by spending time with family, particularly her fabulous tribe of nephews and nieces, she can still be found at the kid's table on holidays.
Her passion outside of music and her professional efforts is for her long-term sweetheart, Deanna. They share the pleasures of music and other fine arts, travel and dedicating their professional efforts in the service of children. They are frequent patrons of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and stand-up comedy. (Lily Tomlin and Margaret Cho are among Jenny’s favorites.)
Jenny joined the Ferndale Community Concert Band in Fall of 2015.
Ed Ungerman, French Horn
Ed smiles and cajoles with fellow French Horn musicians and mentors to all those surrounding him. He is an alumnus of Ferndale Schools and began in fourth grade playing the Coronet. In ninth grade, the French Horn became his primary instrument.
He attended M.S.U. for music education and played in the Spartan Marching Band and Spartan Brass playing the mellophone. In his sophomore year Criminal Justice became his major.
As a senior, he joined the Fife & Drum Corps in Pleasant Ridge then Plymouth and has taught the P.F.D.C. for 28 years. He met an artist who did glass sculpting and glass sculpting became a unique hobby for Ed. Then love snuck up on him and he was smitten with a color guard, Kim.
Achieving his B.A. degree in Criminal Justice, he didn’t know what he wanted to do. His glass sculpting friend, now living and working in Maui in a studio, invited Ed to be his assistant. He accepted.
Returning from Maui and moving in with Mom and Dad, he became a Service Aide for the Ferndale Police Department. The Department of Veteran’s Affairs offered him a position as Police Officer. Soon after, the Chief of the Ferndale Police Department called and asked him to join.
Graduating the Police Academy at Macomb Community College he was sworn into the F.P.D. Serving 22 years on the force as, Mountain Bike Patrol, Evidence Technician, Honor Guard and four years undercover as a Drug Enforcement Agent, Division of Financial Investigations for Money Laundering. Ed prefers being a Patrolman and working closely with the community.
After serving with the force nine months, his college sweetheart, Kim, became his wife, and they celebrate 21 years of marriage, raising two children. Rihanna, 13, a dancer and Bryce, a senior in high school and working on his Eagle Scout badge, and an exceptional Bari Saxophone player.
Kim and Ed share a mutual passion for history, when the opportunity presents itself, they participate in Revolutionary Reenactment events.
He tinkers on a classic car held hostage in his garage; makes beautiful ballpoint and fountain pens and enjoys furniture making and serves as a Merit Badge Counselor for B.S.A. Best of all he is dedicated to family, job and his community and a forever volunteer.