About the Band Members

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 Ron Mancl is the founder of Ron and Lu Music For You.  He has played polka music for over 30 years now.  He started in the Jolly 8 and he continued to play with the band from its start in 1971 to 1990 when the band retired.  The Jolly 8 played around the central and north central parts of Wisconsin.  There, he played trumpet, but has since refocused on the concertina as his instrument of choice and has played it since 1979.  Beside his love of polka, Ron keeps in close contact with his 2 daughters, now 25 and 21 and 2 sons, now 20 and 26.  

 

Ron and Lu met at a polka dance way back in 1972 and polka music has always been a part of their lives since then.  Lu started playing drums because Ron needed a drummer and Lu was interested in playing polkas but had never played an instrument before, she decide to start playing the drums and has been playing in the band ever since.  She started drumming in public in the Wisconsin Rapids parade in 1998.  Ron and Lu enjoy playing polka music together and with the family. 

 

 

 		 Brandon is a 21 year old Junior  at UW - La Crosse studying Geography, emphasis in GIS.  He has been around polkas all his life and has been playing trumpet for nearly 14 years.  Some of his achievements playing trumpet include playing in the State Honors Band, getting 10 gold medals at State Solo and Ensemble and playing in the Wisconsin Rapids Parade with his family on the polka float for 8 years running.  Some of his other interests include running and playing cards.    
Jason Gildenzopf is the nephew of Ron and Lu.  He currently attends UW-Oshkosh and is a Junior there.  He has been playing the tuba for 10 years and has had much experience playing it in the Nekoosa High School band.  Jason enjoys many things including break dancing, directing and making films, and running.  
08/20/2006 11:47:11 AM -0700