Members

Tony Banewicz

Tony, of Hagaman, NY, holds an A.S. in Performing Arts: Music from Schenectady County Community College. Founder of Tony's Polka Band in 1996, he built a small family band into an award-winning performing group. He composes and arranges the music heard on stage and has led them to the Grammy Award semi-finals four times. Also an accomplished pianist and organist, Tony frequently performs as a soloist for many area events. He is a member of the United States Polka Association, the International Polka Association, and a voting member of NARAS.

Sarah Banewicz

Sarah, of Hagaman, NY holds a B. S. in Elementary Education from SUNY College at Oneonta and an M.S. in Literacy from the University of Albany. She is an original member of Tony's Polka Band since 1996. Sarah has played piano and saxophone since her childhood and continues to perform frequently on both. Apart from her musical career, Sarah is a kindergarten teacher.

Mike Banewicz

Mike, of Hagaman, NY holds an A.S. in Performing Arts: Music from Schenectady County Community College and a B.M. in Music Education from the Crane School of Music. He is one of the original members of Tony's Polka Band since 1996. When not on the road with TPB, Mike can be seen performing in churches, with orchestras and jazz groups, and as a soloist around New York's Capital District. Currently, Mike is pursuing a M. M. in Trumpet Performance at Ithaca College.

Cheryl Matott

Cheryl, of Albany, NY holds an A.S. in Performing Arts: Music from Schenectady County Community College and a B. S. in Music Education from St. Rose College. Cheryl started playing clarinet at age 9 and pursued it as a career continuing through high school and college. Cheryl performs with professional ensembles throughout the Albany area including the noted Schenectady Symphony Orchestra and the Capital Region Wind Ensemble. Cheryl works for the State of New York and in her spare time, enjoys fencing and spending time with her husband, Stephen. Cheryl has been a member of TPB since June 2002.

Steve Dudas

 

Steve has been a member of the band since July 2005. From Schenectady, NY, Steve brings a new sound to Tony's Polka Band as well as experience from other performing groups. In fourth grade, he began taking drum lessons and performed in the school band directed by the well-known polka artist Eddie Forman. Before playing with Tony's Polka Band, Steve played for numerous other performing groups including: The Ivory and Brass and The Orlando Polka Magic. Steve has been a firefighter since 1994, is a certified scuba diver, and enjoys collecting and restoring antique tractors.

Chad Mendrysa

Chad is the newest member of Tony'sPolka Band since February, 2007. He has studied electric bass and upright bass at Schenectady County Community College as well as at the Crane School of Music. He is currently pursuing a B.M. in Music Education at SUNY Fredonia. He has been the principle bassist for the Crane Symphony Orchestra, the SUNY Albany Symphony, and the Capital Region Wind Ensemble. Chad's bass playing has brought him to Ohio, up and down the East coast, and all the way to Carnegie Hall.