MAESTRO

LISTEN TO MAESTRO:

"Bird Calls" 

ABOUT MAESTRO:

Nicholas Mastrodicasa, musically known as Maestro, has been actively involved in music for over a decade, developing his roots with the school bands and choir, as well as taking music theory and appreciation classes. When he wasn’t leading the flute section in concert band, Nick was playing snare and tenor drums for the Marching Band or drum set in the jazz band.

The percussion training would provide the foundation for tight instrumental rhythm and drum set dexterity, as well as a sharp rapping style later on. Most of Nicks early instrumental studies were guided by Dale Hedrick who once said, “Nicholas, out of all my students you understand music the most.” With decades of teaching behind him, that was not a light statement.

Outside of school, Nick began playing the electric guitar and taking guitar lessons every week with Kenny Seay, a popular guitarist in the southwestern Virginia region. With some kids from his local high school, Nick formed the metal band Engraved in Stone, playing guitar. For two years this band wrote songs and played crowd favorites at bars and skate shops from Clifton Forge to Roanoke and Blacksburg. In 2007 they recorded a full-length album at Flat Five recording studio.

Upon the albums completion, the band split up as one guitarist joined the Marines and Nick moved to Alaska, his long-time home where his father resides and where he was born 17 years earlier. In Alaska he formed another metal band who called themselves Shadows Reprieve. Playing mostly small get-togethers, this is where Nick earned the name Maestro.

Now Maestro attends Virginia Tech as an engineering student and spends much of his time in the school's recording studio. He networks as a versatile instrumentalist, tutor and producer.

FIND MAESTRO AT THIS SITE:

http://soundcloud.com/akstringking

MAESTRO is featured in the IMAGE issue of Status Hat (September, 2011).