THE FLORIDA ORCHESTRA | 2018-2019
Robert Breithaupt is
a veteran of over 40
years in music, as a
performer, educator,
arts administrator,
author, musical contractor,
and entrepreneur.
He is professor
of music at Capital
University, past-president
of the Percussive
Arts Society, and on
the board of the Jazz Education Network. Breithaupt
has performed and recorded in diverse solo, small
ensemble and orchestral settings and has appeared
with a virtual “Who’s Who” of great jazz talents and
scores of other noted artists. As drummer/percussionist
for trumpet virtuoso Byron Stripling, Broadway star
Sandy Duncan and other artists, he has performed
with dozens of professional orchestras and ensembles
throughout the United States and abroad, and he is
the drummer for the Columbus Jazz Orchestra.
As executive director of the Jazz Arts Group of Columbus
from 2001 until 2012, Breithaupt’s vision helped to
shape the nation’s oldest not-for-profit jazz organization
into a comprehensive, working model for performance,
education, and community engagement. In
1981, Breithaupt was a co-founder of Columbus Pro
Percussion, Inc., recognized today as one of the nation’s
top comprehensive retail percussion outlets;
he served as vice-president until 2006. He has been
a musical contractor for over 20 years, and he is the
president of RBMusic, Inc.
Breithaupt is recognized internationally as one of today’s
leaders in percussion education and has conducted
workshops and clinics throughout the world
on the subject. He is the author of The Complete Percussionist
and the instructional DVD Snare Drum Basics.
He is an artist/endorsee for Sabian, Ltd., Yamaha
Corporation, Remo, Inc. and Innovative Percussion,
where he has designed his own signature drum stick.
47
Originally from
Washington DC,
Leo Manzari is a Lucille
Lortel award
nominated tap
dancer. As part of a
duo act called The
Manzari Brothers,
he has headlined
in the touring and
off-Broadway productions
of Maurice Hines Tappin’ Thru Life. He
has also been a featured guest artist on So You
Think You Can Dance, The Mo’nique Show, PBS
News Hour, Jerry Lewis Telethon, and ABC’s The
View. Other credentials include a recurring role
in Showtime’s wildly popular and award winning
television show Homeland and lead writer
and vocalist for a genre he created called TAP
RAP. His most recent album, CLOCKWORK, can
be found on all major streaming platforms.
Tap Dancer and Vocalist
ROBERT BREITHAUPT
Drums