Ralph is one of our newest French Horn players, but he also happens to be an excellent conductor. His first opportunity to lead a concert band came when he was in the eighth grade and the music teacher was taken ill.  The experience led Ralph to pursue a career as a music teacher himself, earning a degree in Music with a Teaching Certificate from Montclair State College (now a University) in New Jersey. After graduation, Ralph taught Instrumental Music (band and orchestra), with an after-school Electronic Music Club, at Burnet Junior High School in Union NJ.

With a major in Music Theory and Composition, Ralph has written a number of sacred and secular works for band, brass ensemble, organ, and choir. (The Metro Band recently gave one of these, The Zampa King March, its "world premiere" concert performance!) Over the years, he has served as Principal Horn with the Livingston (NJ) Symphony and the Virginia Beach Community Orchestra. As a keyboardist, he has played gigs from Top 40 to Art Rock to Country in a number of groups on the East Coast. His directing credits include Orchestra Leader for a community theatre production of Funny Girl, Conductor with the Iselin NJ Post American Legion Band, and Organist/Choirmaster at various churches in Hampton Roads.

His companies, KBD SYSTEMS and SOUND/ORGAN DESIGN, focus on the repair, sales, and installation of electronic musical instruments and classic organs across a three state area. But when work is done, Ralph especially enjoys the camaraderie of his music-making friends in the Hampton Roads Metro Band.