About Dominick Cuccia

Dominick’s drumming career began in October of 1976 when he joined the Young Colonials Fife & Drum Corps in Lake Carmel, New York.  His Instructors were Gary Gillotti and Mary Comer (now Mary Saunders), both students of the Earl Sturtze method of drumming.  He became drum instructor in 1981 at the age of 13, a position he held until 1994.  From 1989 through 1992 the corps dominated, winning 4 consecutive Northeastern and New York State Championships, as well as many titles in the Connecticut, Hudson Valley, and Greater Danbury Area Drum Corps Associations.  They also won many High Drum awards, including three Earl Sturtze trophies.  In total his drumlines have won 8 Sturtze Awards and he is a 3 time Northeastern Individual Champion.

"Professionally, Dominick works as an instrumental music teacher for the Paul Effman Music Service. Teaching elementary school band in private and parochial schools is one of his passions. He believes having the opportunity to bring music into the lives of children is a blessing and something he will never take for granted."

With The Company of Fifers & Drummers, Dominick is serving as the music committee chairman as well as music editor of The Ancient Times, the premier publication of the Fife & Drum world.  In the early 1990’s he was also a member of “The Company’s” executive committee.   He is musical director of The Civil War Troopers and Gus’s Gang, and drum instructor for The Regulators (all fife & drum corps).  As a private lesson instructor he is in high demand with a busy studio in Lake Carmel, New York. 

Educationally he received his bachelor’s degree in music education from Wilkes University where he studied with Robert A. Nowak and his master’s degree at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (NSU) under the direction of Ken Green.  Upon graduation from NSU Dominick was hired back teaching major & minor percussion lessons, percussion ensemble, and drum line.

As a performer he was with United States Military Academy Bands legendary field music group, The Hellcats in West Point, NY, where he was a member of the drum line, writing staff, featured soloist and soldier of the quarter.  During this time he teamed up with Paul Murtha writing marching band charts for CPP Belwin.  While performing with The Founders of Freedom at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida he was the group leader and music arranger.  He also has had the opportunity to study privately with Jeffrey P. Funnell, rudimental master and world-class friend Nick Attanasio and jazz legend Joe Morello.    In 1998 he returned to New York to pursue a career in music education and marry his drum corps sweetheart, Therese Rock (they met as members of the Young Colonials).

Dominick has been a performer & clinician at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, Yamahas Sounds of Summer and has also had articles published in Percussive Notes.  He has done many fife & drum workshops and clinics throughout New York and New England, and appeared in concert at the Museum of Fife & Drum in Ivoryton, Connecticut.  As a teen he was featured in concert with his brothers & sisters at the Swiss Muster in Lugano, Switzerland and was a driving force behind the Young Colonials album, Friendship Through Music.  His newest project, Dreaded Drummer Productions, is dedicated to preserving and advancing fife & drum music and rudimental drumming through clinics, recitals, recordings and publications.

Home