Bringing Broadway's incredible musicians from the pit to the stage!
David Weiss, mixed flutes
David Weiss performs on flutes and woodwinds from many different cultures, unusual woodwinds, as well as western flutes in a variety of styles (rock, jazz, classical). Dave has been involved with Disney's The Lion King since its inception in 1997, and is a featured orchestral soloist for the show, performing on thirteen different woodwinds. He co-orchestrated much of the wood flute and panpipe music for the show. Dave's many other Broadway credits include Riverdance on Broadway, Miss Saigon, and Into the Woods among others.
Dave is also active in the recording industry, frequently performing on television programs and commercials, films, video games, documentaries, and CDs. Dave's many film credits include, Zoolander 2, Where the Wild Things Are, The Dilemma, The Alamo, Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?, Gangs of New York, Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame and many more.
Dave has also performed with such notable ensembles such as The Philip Glass Ensemble, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, and the American Symphony.
He lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Violist/Violinist Katarzyna Bryla-Weiss.
Tereasa Payne, mixed flutes
Tereasa Payne, flutes/world flutes/woodwinds, has performed her “Tour of World Flutes” concert throughout the country, including an upcoming performance with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. The program features Tereasa performing on 16 world flutes while sharing interesting anecdotes about the history and cultural significances of each one.
Tereasa is a regular sub with Disney’s The Lion King both on Broadway and on the National Tour where she performs on 13 flutes from around the world. She has also played on Broadway with Allegiance, Amazing Grace, The Phantom of the Opera, and Something Rotten. She has been heard in concerts throughout the world, as well as on recordings for commercials, video games, pop & Christian artists. She has appeared playing panflute with Kygo on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,” and as an orchestra member on NBC’s “Smash.”
Tereasa has performed on flute, world flutes and multiple woodwinds with orchestras and artists throughout the U.S, including: The Orlando Philharmonic, The Temptations, Idina Menzel, Johnny Mathis, Bernadette Peters, Frank Sinatra Jr, Dennis DeYoung of STYX, The Four Tops, Il Divo, and Robert Goulet.
Tereasa is a founding member of the Areté Woodwind Doubling Quartet, a unique ensemble that has commissioned and premiered several new works for woodwind doubling quartet. The ensemble’s primary objective is to raise awareness of woodwind specialists and their high level of performance ability. Of Tereasa’s musicianship, world-renown flutist, Jim Walker, has said: “Tereasa Payne is one of the bright new woodwind stars on the planet. She is helping to redefine the stereotype of just what is a woodwind doubler.”
Kevin Ramessar, guitar
Award-winning multi-instrumentalist Kevin Ramessar has been a featured soloist with numerous orchestras, and has taken his music to concert halls and festival stages throughout North America.
Kevin played lead guitar in the 2012 Tony-nominated Broadway revival of Jesus Christ Superstar and currently holds the Guitar 1 chair for Beautiful: The Carole King Musical on Broadway.
He recently finished writing three volumes of interactive digital curriculum for the guitar program at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA. He has released three solo guitar albums and can often be found collaborating on stage & in the studio with a variety of artists.
www.kevinramessar.com
Junior "Gabu" Wedderburn, percussion
Junior “Gabu” Wedderburn is a percussionist who has performed and recorded with a variety of well-known reggae artists including Burning Spear and Bob Marley. His own percussion group, Ancient Vibrations, presents traditional Afro-Jamaican rhythms and chants, the roots of reggae music.
Wedderburn has played with The Lion King on Broadway since it began development fifteen years ago. He also was co-producer, composer, and music director for the documentary film Bad Friday: Rastafari after Coral Gardens.
Mike Ramsey, percussion
Mike Ramsey is a versatile drummer and percussionist living in Brooklyn. He is a founding member of the group AZAGUNO, led by his mentor Dr. Paschal Yao Younge.
Last year he played percussion for Cirque du Soleil’s Paramour on Broadway. Additional theatre credits include substitute percussion for the Broadway productions of The Lion King, On Your Feet!, ROCKY, Amazing Grace, Women on the Verge, and substitute drums for the Off-Broadway production of RENT.
Orchestra credits include extra/section percussion for The Philadelphia Orchestra, and Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. He has been a guest clinician/instructor at colleges such as Northwestern University, Manhattan School of Music, The New School, NYU, and North Carolina Central University.
As a modern dance accompanist Mike can be found all around the city. Additionally, he performs regularly with folkloric dance ensembles Grupo Ribeiro (Afro-Brazilian) and Oyu Oro (Afro-Cuban).