Tony has been playing drums for 25 years, beginning in his school’s 6th grade band. With the patience and encouragement of his parents, he continued his percussion studies throughout junior high and high school (Latta High), in addition to his year-round athletic pursuits.

Tony attended college at USC. Each fall semester, he played snare drum in the Marching Band and each spring semester found him anchoring the percussion section in the USC Concert Band. Between his junior and senior years, Tony would audition for and become the first Percussion Captain of Carolina Crown, a Drum & Bugle Corps based in Charlotte, NC.

After graduating from USC, Tony toured the United States with the rock band Treadmill Trackstar. The band was eventually signed by Atlantic Records, enjoyed regional success and shared the stage with some of the biggest bands in history; however, disappointing CD sales prompted the band to take an indefinite hiatus.

Following stints as a golf professional and an insurance claims adjuster, Tony decided to rededicate himself to music. He began to study jazz, a long time interest, and took up teaching private drum lessons as a part time job.

Once he began teaching in earnest, Tony found his true vocation and quickly established a reputation as a highly qualified instructor in the Columbia area. His student roster consists of longtime pupils as well as an influx of new students.

Tony continues to study with some of the most highly touted teachers in the southeast, both Jim Hall (former Percussion Professor at USC) and Rick Dior (acclaimed percussionist in Charlotte, NC). He attends conferences and clinics and subscribes to industry periodicals in an endless pursuit of improvement, both as a performer and a teacher.

His constant research results in inspiration from such diverse sources as sports psychologist Dr. Bob Rotella, renowned educator Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, drummer/motivational speaker Dom Famularo and various teachers/coaches with whom he has studied. Tony’s teaching style incorporates and reflects all of these influences.

As a working musician, Tony also plays regular, weekly engagements in and around Columbia, SC, playing with the Robert Gardiner Quartet, the Don Russo Trio, as well as occasional dates with the Joal Rush Band and the recently reformed Treadmill Trackstar (2007).

Incorporating the techniques he has acquired from some of the most notable teaching professionals in the U.S., Tony has developed a fresh, holistic approach to educating students of all ages and ability levels