Chuck Ricotta currently serves as the arranger and insturctor for the University of Michigan Band Drumline, a position which he has held since 2002. In addition, he also serves on the design team and board of directors for Redline Percussion, a new independent WGI drumline based in Ann Arbor. A native of Erie, Pennsylvania, Chuck has also served on the instructional and design staff of the Penn State University Indoor Drumline during their run as WGI Independent Open champions and Independent World finalists. He is also a former member and staff member of the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps from Rockford, Illinois. As a performing artist, Chuck currently serves as the principal percussionist for the Flint Symphony Orchestra in Flint, Michigan. In addition, he has also appeared with the Ann Arbor Symphony, the Saginaw Bay Symphony, the New World Symphony of Miami Beach, and the National Repertory Orchestra of Breckenridge, Colorado. Chuck also participated in the performance and recording of William Bolcom's "Songs of Innocence and Experience" under the baton of Leonard Slatkin at Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor. The CD, available on the Naxos label, recently won 4 Grammy Awards including Best Classical Recording. Chuck holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Penn State University where he was awarded the Performer's Recognition Award. He also earned the Master of Music degree from the University of Michigan. Chuck resides in Ann Arbor where he maintains a private teaching studio.