Conductors
Tiffany DiPiazza, Interim Conductor
Tiffany DiPiazza is a music educator in the Webster Central School District where she teaches middle school instrumental and general music. Ms. DiPiazza also maintains a private studio. Ms. DiPiazza is co-director of the Willink Student-Parent Band, a unique ensemble that brings students and their families together in performance. She is an active member of the New York State School Music Association and Monroe County School Music Association, where she serves on the board.
Ms. DiPiazza holds degrees in Music Education and Performance from the State University of New York at Fredonia. She has played principal oboe with the Perinton Concert Band since 2007. An active performer, Ms. DiPiazza is a member of the Eastman Community Music School Music Educators Wind Ensemble, Flower City Society Orchestra, and Greece Concert Band which she recently guest conducted. Ms. DiPiazza performed two summer tours with the American Wind Symphony Orchestra and is a sought-after freelance musician on oboe and English horn.
Chuck Van Buren, Retired Conductor
Mr. Van Buren has a Bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, and a Master’s degree in music education from the Eastman School of Music. He spent thirty-three years as a music educator and is retired from his position as a band director at Penfield High School in Penfield, New York. He is currently a supervisor of student teachers for SUNY Fredonia. He is an All-State adjudicator for the New York State School Music Association and serves as a freelance adjudicator/clinician throughout New York State and Canada.
As a professional musician, Mr. Van Buren performs in various commercial, jazz, and classical settings. He has performed on saxophone as a member of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Chautauqua Symphony, the Gap Mangione Big Band, and for twenty-two years played first clarinet in the Greater Rochester Music Educators Wind Band under the direction of Al “Corky” Fabrizio. He has performed with many nationally known groups and entertainers including Ray Charles, Johnny Mathis, The Temptations, Jerry Lewis, Rodney Dangerfield, Kenny Rogers, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormé.
He is a member of the New York State School Music Association, the National Association for Music Education and the Association of Concert Bands. He is a founding member of the New York State Band Directors Association, and is the first recipient of NYSBDA’s Outstanding Band Director Award. He has also served as President of both the Ontario and Monroe County New York School Music Associations.