Charlie Betzelberger
Percussion Director
Charlie Betzelberger joined the Blue Valley North Band Staff as the Percussion Director for the 2021-2022 school year. “Mr. B” combines remarkable and empowering teaching with world class percussion knowledge and performance. At BVN, he teaches, leads and coordinates all aspects of the percussion program, and assists with Middle School Percussion at both LMS and OTMS. He is an Overland Park native and alumni of Blue Valley North High School. After high school, he earned a Bachelor’s of Music in Percussion Performance from the the Berklee College of Music in Boston. At Berklee, he was an active performer, performing with the Berklee Percussion Ensemble, Berklee Marching Percussion Ensemble, the Berklee Contemporary Symphony Orchestra, and many other ensembles. He has studied with many distinguished musicians and professors including Nancy Zeltsman, Richard Flannagan and Ed Saindon. While in Boston, Charlie founded his own percussion quartet that focused on contemporary percussion music while incorporating the influences of modern pop, rock, and jazz music. Since returning to Kansas City in 2019, Charlie has played percussion in many local musicals and performed with groups such as the FMO Big Band and Crossroads Wind Symphony. He is an in demand percussion clinician for schools and groups around the Kansas City metro area.
Chris Scimecca
Mr. Scimecca, a 2011 graduate of Blue Valley North, is a regular clincian to the percussion studio here at BVN. He recently graduated cum laude from the College of Wooster in 2015 with a double major in Percussion Performance and Psychology where he received Departmental Honors. At Wooster, Chris was the Percussion Section Leader for the Symphonic Band, Marching Band, and the Bagpipe Band. He also was part of the Wooster Percussion ensemble, which focused heavily on contemporary chamber perussion music such as Third Construction by John Cage. His research interests include musical and psychological topics such as music perception & cognition, musical emotions, and musical frisson (chills). Mr. Scimecca is a member of Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology and the Percussive Arts Society. Lastly, he is elated and proud to help teach percussion at BVN where he developed his love and passion for music.