Sandy Feldstein
As president of his own company, PlayinTime Productions, Inc., Sandy Feldstein combines a wealth of knowledge and success in both the business and music aspects of music publishing and music education. He holds a doctorate from Columbia University and his early experience in education includes six years as professor of music education at the Crane School of Music, State University of New York at Potsdam.

A prolific composer/arranger/author, Sandy has published more than 700 musical compositions and books in all educational areas. His works are used daily by thousands of students and performers. ASCAP has recognized his excellence by granting him an ASCAP Standard Award for Composition every year since 1964. Among his numerous commissions, Sandy is most proud of being selected to compose the theme song for the Music Educators National Conference sesquicentennial celebration. The composition America Takes Note! Was performed by thousands of school children during the years 1987 - 1988.

Sandy has over 30 years of publishing experience as an industry executive having been the Executive Vice President of Alfred Publishing, the President of Columbia Pictures Publications and Belwin Music Inc. the President of Warner Bros. Publications and the President of Carl Fischer Music before devoting his full time to his own company. He has been actively involved in the music industry as past president of the Music Industry Council, the Percussive Arts Society and the National Association of Band Instrument Manufactures. He is presently on the board of the American Music Conference, the International Foundation for Music Research, Bands of America and the VH1 Save the Music Foundation. He is chairmen of the National Association of Recording Arts and Science educational committee and is also active in the National Association of Music Merchants, the Music Achievement Council and the Music Educators National Conference. In 2005 Dr. Feldstein was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame.

Sandy’s unique grasp of both the business and educational areas of music combined with his creative talent, have made him a valuable lecturer, clinician and conductor at universities and conventions throughout the world. These skills have helped him reach his status as a highly regarded innovative leader dedicated to developing the future of the music industry and of music education.

Larry Clark
Larry Clark is the Vice President of Instrumental Music for Carl Fischer in New York. He is well known for his band compositions and arrangements. Larry’s pieces have been performed internationally and appear on numerous contest/festival performance lists. His music is characterized by rhythmic verve, colorful scoring and playability at every performance level. Along with Sandy Feldstein, he is the co-author of the innovative new band instruction method the Yamaha Advantage™ Musicianship from Day One.

His diverse background also includes serving as the Director of Bands at Syracuse University as well as considerable experience in public school teaching in the state of Florida. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Florida State University and Masters Degrees in Conducting and Composition from James Madison University in Virginia.

Giovanni Hidalgo
Giovanni Hidalgo began playing percussion in his native Puerto Rico at the age of five. He is the son of the great percussionist Jose “Manengue” Hidalgo so while growing up; his home was full of interesting instruments to play.

Gio, as his friends affectionately call him, began adapting the traditional rudiments of snare drum playing into his hand drumming. This practice helped him develop his incredible technique. Combinations of single, double and triple strokes and rolls have become part of his unique sound, incredible technique and musical approach to performing.

He became popular outside of Puerto Rico when he toured Cuba in the 1980’s with the band Batacumbele. While in Cuba, he developed a life long friendship with Changuito, and began to be a major influence on the development of musical styles that bridge cultures and open new vistas for musical expression.

Giovanni Hidalgo’s work with Dizzy Gillespie’s United Nations Orchestra, with Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puente, Art Blakey, Michel Camilo and Paquito dRivera to name a few, has opened the ears of all hand drummers, percussionists and composers/arrangers to new possibilities of music making.

A musician’s musician, Gio’s skill and technique are admired by percussionists around the world. He is constantly evolving as a musician melding Latin, jazz and folkloric music into his own unique signature style.

Ignacio Berroa
In defining the talent of Ignacio Berroa, Dizzy Gillespie said “…The only Latin drummer in the world, in the history of American music who intimately knows both worlds:his native Afro-Cuban music as well as jazz.”