Staff
Dr. Justin R. Stolarik
Director of Athletic Bands
justin.stolarik@stonybrook.edu
Dr. Justin R. Stolarik serves as the Director of Athletic Bands at Stony Brook University,
and is an active freelance conductor and musician in New York City. Previously, he
served as the Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Oklahoma and Assistant
Director of Bands at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Read more about Dr. Justin Stolarik
DR. JUSTIN R. STOLARIK serves as Director of Athletic Bands at Stony Brook University,
where he oversees all aspects of the NCAA Division 1 FCS Athletic Bands Program.
As an active freelance musician and conductor in New York City, he has served as
Associate Conductor of the Manhattan Wind Ensemble, Resident Guest Conductor of the
Kings County Concert Band, Artistic Director of the National Lesbian & Gay Marching
Band, Assistant Director and Conductor of the Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps Symphonic
Band, and as a percussionist with the Brooklyn Wind Symphony (BKWS). Recent performances
with the BKWS took him to Carnegie Hall, and to the 2015 World Association for Symphonic
Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) International Conference in San Jose, California. Before
arriving at Stony Brook, Dr. Stolarik served approximately 700 real estate agents
as Market Center Administrator of Operations (Chief Operating Officer) at Keller Williams
New York City.
Prior to New York, Dr. Stolarik served as Director of Athletic Bands at the University
of Oklahoma, and Assistant Director of Bands at both the University of Wisconsin-Madison
and Henderson State University (Arkansas). His wind and percussion arrangements have
been performed by athletic bands at football and basketball games around the country
before audiences of over 80,000. In addition to athletic bands, he has arranged for
the Dallas Winds and the University of Texas Wind Ensemble. Dr. Stolarik has worked
with such notable performers as
will.i.am
(Black Eyed Peas), Everlast (House of Pain), Tom Wopat (Dukes of Hazzard), Ed Shaughnessy
(Tonight Show with Johnny Carson), Carolyn Wonderland, Roky Erickson, Ray Benson (Asleep
at the Wheel), Jerry Jeff Walker, and Ghostland Observatory.
Dr. Stolarik completed his Doctorate of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees in
Percussion Performance at the University of Texas at Austin, and his Bachelor’s degree
in Music Education, with Highest Honors, at the University of Florida. While at UT,
he performed with the UT Wind Ensemble at Carnegie Hall in 2005 for the World Premiere
of John Corigliano’s Symphony No. 3 “Circus Maximus,” and as part of a seventeen-day
five-country European tour in 2008, featuring the same work. He served as timpanist
on the World Premiere recording, available from Naxos Classical. During his years
at UF, he was a three-year Front Line member of the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle
Corps (2000-2002), and was two-time Drum Corps Midwest and Drum Corps International
Timpani Solo Champion (2001 and 2002). He was featured in issues of Percussion News
and Modern Drummer for his solo performances. He later served on the Madison Scouts
staff as Front Line Instructor in 2003. Dr. Stolarik is an honorary member of Kappa
Kappa Psi (Alpha Tau) and Tau Beta Sigma (Beta Gamma and Theta Theta) National Band
Service Organizations.
Vincent Malafronte
Assistant Director of Athletic Bands
vincent.malafronte@stonybrook.edu
Mr. Malafronte is the Assistant Director of Athletic Bands for the Spirit of Stony
Brook. Prior to that, he was the woodwind insructor and a field technician since 2012,
and has also served as the Director and Coordinator of Stony Brook's Summer Band Camp
Program. In addition to Stony Brook, Mr. Malafronte is the Assistant Director of Bands
at Connetquot High School.
Read more about Vincent Malafronte
Mr. Malafronte earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Ithaca
College in 2006. He studied percussion with mallet percussion pioneer Gordon Stout
and drum set with Conrad Alexander. He was a member of the percussion ensemble and
frequently arranged its pieces. He also studied jazz with Steve Brown and conducting
under Dr. Stephen Peterson. Vinnie earned his Masters in Liberal Arts Studies from
Stony Brook University in 2011.
Vinnie brings a wealth of knowledge about marching technique, instrument technique,
and instrument repair, to the Spirit of Stony Brook program.
Mike Ayala
Drumline Instructor
michael.ayala@stonybrook.edu
Mr. Mike Ayala currently serves as Drumline Instructor for the Spirit of Stony Brook.
He was previously a member of the Spirit of Stony Brook while attending Stony Brook
University as an undergraduate. He served as the Drumline Instructor prior to 2015,
before returning to the program again in 2018.
John Leddy
Athletic Bands, Director Emeritus and Arranger
john.leddy@stonybrook.edu
John Leddy arrived at Stony Brook University in 2006 and is the Founding Director
of The Spirit of Stony Brook. Prior to that, he taught music in the Connetquot school district
for 33 years where he directed concert band, jazz ensemble, and marching band at all
levels.
Read more about John Leddy
Mr. Leddy has a Bachelor of Music degree from the Crane School of Music at Potsdam
College and a Master of Arts from Stony Brook University. He studied percussion with
James Peterscak at the Crane School, timpani with Morris Lang of the New York Philharmonic
Symphony Orchestra, and jazz drum set with Jim Chapin, Joe Morello, and Ed Shaughnessy.
Mr. Leddy was the recipient of a Summer Fellowship for music educators from Northwestern
University, where he studied conducting with Mallory Thompson and Don Owens. He also
served as the Director of Jazz Studies at the Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing
Arts.
Since his arrival to the Stony Brook campus, Mr. Leddy has been the recipient of the
following awards: 2008 Seawolves Award from the Department of Athletics in recognition
of contributions to the Athletic Department, the university and student athletes;
2009 “Man of the Year” Award from
The Spirit of Stony Brook Marching Band leadership; 2010 Distinguished Service Award presented by Stony Brook University Student Affairs
for outstanding service.
Mr. Leddy is an active member of MENC, NYSSMA, SCMEA, NMEA, Percussive Arts Society,
the International Society for Jazz Education, and the College Band Directors National
Association.
Jeffrey A. Barnett
Interim Associate Dean of Students
jeffrey.barnett@stonybrook.edu
Jeff Barnett is a longtime member and proud alum of the Stony Brook community. After
having completed his B.S. in psychology from Stony Brook University, Jeff went on
to hold several positions at the university in Student Affairs, Enrollment & Retention
Management and the Undergraduate Colleges. Jeff earned his graduate degree in Higher
& Post-Secondary Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Read more about Dean Barnett
His professional background reaches across both Student & Academic Affairs and includes
experience with academic and organization advising, orientation, first year student
issues, large scale programming, student learning outcomes assessment, learning communities
programs, student success initiatives, building a sense of campus community. Jeff
is committed to students and to building collaborative partnerships between student
and academic affairs. He has published and presented at national & regional conferences
on a variety of these topics and has received departmental Distinguished Service Awards
in the areas of Student Development and Systems Innovations, Research & Assessment
for his work.
ANNUAL STUDENT Staff
Chris Mayer
Biology & Psychology, '21
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Nicole Lawless
Sociology & Psychology, '21
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Nick Manzella
Physics & Mathematics, '22
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