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.
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 Cornet. In ninth grade, the French Horn became his primary instrument.
He achieved his B.A. degree in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University and while attending M.S.U. he played Mellophone in the Spartan Marching Band and Spartan Brass. After graduating he continued his involvement in music by being a fife instructor for the Plymouth Fife and Drum Corps where he has been teaching music and marching for to kids ages 12-18 years old for 28 years.
Throughout high school and college he worked for a friend who taught him glass sculpting which became a unique hobby for Ed. Not knowing what to do after college his glass sculpting friend, now living and working in Maui in a studio, invited Ed to be his assistant. He accepted.
Returning from Maui 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 23 years on the force as, Mountain Bike Patrol, Evidence Technician, Honor Guard and four years undercover as a task force officer for the Drug Enforcement Agent, Division of Financial Investigations for Money Laundering. Ed prefers being a Patrolman and working closely with the community.
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.