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BAND MEMBERS

Koichiro Suzuki - Euphonium

Originally from Okinawa, Japan, Koichiro Suzuki came to the United States in 1996 to march and perform with the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps in Madison, Wisconsin. As a member of the Madison Scouts he won first place DCI Individual Solo Baritone Completion in 1997 and 1998.  Also, Suzuki was a member of a brass quintet that won the fist prize in DCI Ensemble Competition in 1998.  In 2005, Suzuki received a BFA in euphonium performance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where he studied with Alan Baer, principal tubist of the New York Philharmonic, and Marty Erickson, who served in the United States Navy Band in Washington D.C. for twenty-six years.  Suzuki has soloed twice with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Symphony Band.

Jon Augustine – Clarinet

Jonathan Augustine is a freelance clarinetist/ bass clarinetist in the Pittsburgh Area, specializing in classical and contemporary performance. He received his BM in clarinet performance at Bowling Green State University studying with Kevin Schempf and Georg Klaas and has completed his Master of Music degree in clarinet performance at Duquesne University studying with Pittsburgh Symphony clarinetist, Ron Samuels. Jonathan has performed with the Pittsburgh Opera Theater, Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, Johnstown Symphony and the Firelands Symphony.  He is also the clarinetist with Cuidado, a Pittsburgh based tango group.

Vladimir Mollov- Accordion

Born on the January, 1983 to a family of self-taught wedding musicians, Vladimir was inspired by the sounds of the accordion since early childhood. At the age of seven he started taking accordion lessons with the nationally recognized pedagogue Nadejda Nicheva in Kazanluk, Bulgaria.  At his later stages of musical development he studied with Peter Marinov, a professor in the National Music Academy, Hristina Danova; and Nedelcho Dimitrov. At the age of fifteen he was placed first in the International Competition for Accordion and Guitar in Asenovgrad, Bulgaria; received fourth place in the World Accordion Competition in Castelfidardo, Italy; placed second in the national accordion competition in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, where he received a special award for virtuosic performance of folk music.  During his senior year in high school he received a first award in the national competition for variety music and jazz on accordion in Novi Pazar, Bulgaria.

During 2002 he joined the Duquesne University Tamburitzans and for the four years when he was a student in the university he performed over three hundred and fifty shows with the ensemble. Vladimir is currently working on composing, arranging and recording a solo accordion album featuring folklore, jazz and some new experimental fusion styles.

Michael Borowski - Guitar

Born in Williamsport Pa January 4th, 1988, Michael Borowski started playing guitar in middle school and began to study jazz and classical music in high school from a local music school the Uptown Music Collective. At the Collective, he had a lot of opportunities to play out and receive a great musical background before attending Duquesne University Fall of 2006. Currently, Michael performs with Cuidado, a Pittsburgh based tango group

Matt Booth –Bass

Matt Booth grew up in the small town of Clifton, VA, living the first 18 years of his life there.  His father exposed him to massive amounts of rock and jazz music starting at a young age, which grew into a lifelong obsession.  Booth started playing electric bass at age 12 and began upright bass at 18.  After graduating from the school of music at Duquesne in 2009, Matt Booth is continuing living in Pittsburgh, and in addition to Cuidado, plays in a folk-rock band called City Dwelling Nature Seekers, as well as freelance performing and teaching.

(the Tango band)

Cuidado is Pittsburgh’s most dangerous new tango band. We consist of students and alumni of the Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquesne University and the eclectic mix of players draws on extensive backgrounds in classical, jazz, pop and tango performance to create a unique and fresh sound. Koichiro Suzuki, founder of Pittsburgh’s newest tango school, PGH Tango Connection, leads the group. We are available for performance in all venues and for all events. Contact us for more information on bookings and upcoming performances.

photo by Jack Madden

photo by Jack Madden

Annie Moger – Violin

Annie Moger began studying the violin at the age of nine in Boulder, Colorado under Sharon Gillespie.  After a childhood of studying classical music and traditional Scandinavian folk music, Annie began collegiate studies under Oswald Lehnert, former Conductor and Music Director of the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra and founder of the Casals Trio, at the University of Colorado at Boulder.  After successfully auditioning for the Duquesne University Tamburitzans, she transferred to Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA where she studied under Charles Stegeman, Concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Ballet Orchestra and Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra.  For the following two years, Annie toured approximately 40,000 miles per year across the United States with the Tamburitzans, performing on violin, trumpet violin, acoustic guitar, alto recorder, brač, and vocals. Annie completed her Bachelor’s degree in Performance in 2006, and received her Master’s degree in Performance at Duquesne University in 2008.  She currently performs and teaches in the Pittsburgh area, and enjoys playing music in all different styles and genres.

photo by Jack Madden