| My name is Adam William Metzler and I am 26 years old. I usually go by my full name because about 6 years ago due to family issues I took my Mothers maiden name and also changed my middle name to my Grandfathers name so I like to go by my full name because I am very proud of it. Meldog is an old nickname that most my friends still use in referring to me. My last name use to be Melroy so I guess they just took the Mel and added dog..LOL. I grew up in Avon, NY which is just south of Rochester, NY.
I had the first opportunity to pick out an instrument in 4th grade and I tried out the tuba. It was a brand new tuba and I dropped it while it was on my lap. The band director yelled at me so badly I decided not to do band. The next school year there was a new director, so I told them what happened and they said here, try something smaller and handed me the trumpet. I wasn’t serious about trumpet until around 10th grade. I was told by my teacher that I was doing solo-fest so I decided I wasn’t going to make a fool of myself and would actually practice. Lo and behold I actually had fun and made all-county band. From that day on music was just who I was and what I did. I had a ton of family issues so music allowed me to escape all of it which my director gladly helped. I wasn’t able to afford lessons so I was taught to a point by my director who played flute and self-taught.
I went to the University of Maine for Music Ed. And trumpet wise spent my first few years being exposed to the trumpet world and unlearning numerous bad habits that I picked up from not having a teacher. I also stumbled across my second love, conducting. My final 3 years at UMaine I was assistant conductor of the UMaine Pep Band which was a blast, especially doing a televised game. Umaine will always be my school no matter what school I go to. After I graduated in 04’ I moved back to NY where I grew up and I am currently principal trumpet in a very small community orchestra called the Avon Symphony, I am also webmaster for the site. I also play in a great community band which is probably the best community band I have personally heard called the Honeoye-Fall Community Concert Band. I am trying to rebuild my private studio which has been tricky. I had seven students in Maine but having trouble getting started down here. Currently I am looking for a teaching job, preferably a high school band director job but I’ll do anything that puts money in the bank right now..lol. I have also begun my Masters in Music Ed at Nazareth College in Rochester NY where I am once again studying privately. I am also being asked quite frequently to play at events which is a nice change of pace. After my Masters and a few years teaching I plan to go for my doctorate in conducting at Eastman (hopefully.) Well that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!!
Adam W. Metzler |