The WPI Pep Band
Low brass. Stronger than dirt.™Contact Us
Officer Board - pepoff@wpi.edu
| Name | Board Position | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Ethan Lauer | Head Drum Major | ealauer@wpi.edu |
| Matt Nicastro | Assistant Drum Major | mjnicastro@wpi.edu |
| Matthew Bisson | President | mcbisson@wpi.edu |
| Ally Robatzek | Vice President | alrobatzek@wpi.edu |
| Madelyn Uryase | Treasurer | mruryase@wpi.edu |
| Chloe Melville | Membership Coordinator | cemelville@wpi.edu |
| Mary LePage | Secretary | mslepage@wpi.edu |
Meet the Officer Board
Name: Ethan Lauer
Major: Robotics Engineering with a Mechanical Engineering Minor
Class year: 2020
Position: Head Drum Major
Section/instrument: Hands (formerly Mellophone)
Favorite color: Blue
Favorite tree: The Whomping Willow
What was your favorite WPI memory? All of my favorite WPI memories are band related whether it is playing and conducting Impression for the umpteenth time while standing on a chair or when the Band surprised me with an inflatable T-Rex costume. One of my favorite non-Band WPI memories is when the dining hall that was having a Harry Potter themed dinner and there were people waiting several hours outside just to get a free Harry Potter t-shirt. Only at WPI, everyone is that nerdy and respect each other for their nerdyness.
What’s a fun fact about you? I know something you don’t know…..I am not left-handed.
What other organizations are you involved in? Pep is life.
If you were any kind of pepper what kind would you be and why? A Jalapeño, because I am short, hot and spicy.
Anything else? Clarification: Don’t let the picture fool you. I am actually a die hard gryffindor and Yankees fan. The picture was for Opposite Day.
Name: Matt Nicastro
Major: Mechanincal Engineering
Class year: 2022
Position: Assistant Drum Major
Section/instrument: Hands (formerly Baritone)
Favorite color: Green
Favorite tree: Aspen trees because of the way that they are.
What was your favorite WPI memory? Snowball fights outside of Alden after practice.
What’s a fun fact about you? I like doing American Ninja Warrior training stuff and I can do a 16 foot warped wall.
What other organizations are you involved in? Concert band and brass ensemble.
If you were any kind of pepper what kind would you be and why? Peppermint because I don’t like actual peppers.
Anything Else? Double bell euphoniums are cool!
Name: Matthew Bisson
Major: Mechanical engineering (Probably)
Class year: 2021
Position: President
Section/instrument: Drumline (BESTLINE)
Favorite color: Orange and Blue
Favorite tree: The Feature Tree in solid works
What was your favorite WPI memory? My favorite WPI memory so far is definitely getting up at 3AM to get on the bus for the Bachelor trip! Nothing bonds a group like getting up hours before the sunset to go and play for an international television show!
What’s a fun fact about you? I like to do dangerous things like Skydiving, or Sledding Down Tuckerman’s Ravine on Mount Washington in -50 degree weather!
What other organizations are you involved in? I work at FIRST competitions and I am involved with the Combat Robotics team
If you were any kind of pepper what kind would you be and why? I would be Sergeant Pepper, because I have always wanted a Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Anything else? Does Bass 5 count as a Sonic Weapon under the Geneva Convention?
Name: Ally
Major: Aerospace Engineering
Class year: 2021
Position: Vice President
Section/instrument: Color Guard
Favorite color: Blue
Favorite tree: Tulip Tree
What was your favorite WPI memory? My favorite memory probably has to be the first day of band camp my freshman year. I was very nervous to come here but everyone immediately welcomed me and helped me move in and adjust to college life. Most of the people I met that first day are some of my closest friends today.
What’s a fun fact about you? I have a second degree black belt in Taekwondo!
What other organizations are you involved in? I work in the Club Sports Office
If you were any kind of pepper what kind would you be and why? Chili Pepper, because I’m always cold.
Anything else? I met Steven Tyler at one of the farms I work at!
Name: Chloe Melville
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Class year: 2021
Position: Membership Coordinator
Section/instrument: Clarinet
Favorite color: The rainbow!
Favorite tree: Weeping Willow
What was your favorite WPI memory? Getting to Alden at 3am for the Bachelor and finding Dan Corwin with a giant teddy bear that I ended up sitting with on the ride up to middle of nowhere Vermont.
What’s a fun fact about you? I have traveled to six foreign countries thus far, the most recent being Iceland! Traveling is one of my favorite things to do, especially when I get to explore a new country!
What other organizations are you involved in? Orchestra, Masque, occasionally VOX (I play in the pit), APO, and ME1800 PLA-ing.
If you were any kind of pepper what kind would you be and why? I would be mini red bell pepper because I enjoy smol things, I’m more sweet than spicy, and I grow them in my garden back home.
Anything else? I have a cockapoo pupper named Hazel!
Name: Madelyn (Maddie) Uryase
Major: Architectural Engineering
Class year: 2022
Position: Treasurer
Section/instrument: Low Brass
Favorite color: Ravenclaw Blue
Favorite tree: The Truffula Tree
What was your favorite WPI memory? Having snowball fights outside of Alden after rehearsal
What’s a fun fact about you? I have seen Yo Yo Ma perform Gustav Holst’s “The Planets” with the Boston Symphony Orchestra!
What other organizations are you involved in? Architectural Engineering Institute (AEI)
If you were any kind of pepper what kind would you be and why? Bell Pepper (I can’t eat anything remotely spicy)
Anything else? Crazy socks are the best socks. Prove me wrong.
Name: Mary LePage
Major: Civil Engineering
Class year: 2022
Position: Secretary
Section/instrument: Low Brass/Tenor Sax
Favorite color: Whatever cool color I saw last
Favorite tree: Maple
What was your favorite WPI memory? Just being here every day and being surrounded by awesome people all the time.
What’s a fun fact about you? I played flute in high school and didn’t pick up the tenor sax until the summer before my freshman year here. Freshman band camp was also “learn how to play saxophone week”.
What other organizations are you involved in? Student Alumni Society.
If you were any kind of pepper what kind would you be and why? Yellow bell pepper because it’s my favorite kind of pepper and I strive to be the best I can be.
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