Instrument/Department: Group Instruction - Snare Drum Volunteer
Joined Hochstein Faculty in: 2022
In her early years, Colleen O’Brien learned violin, baritone, and drums. By the time she graduated from Hilton High School, she had learned each percussion instrument along with the trombone, bass guitar, acoustic guitar, saxophone, and keyboards. Colleen played in each band that Hilton offered and also was in the Hilton Winter Guard.
While in her junior year, she joined the Hilton Fireman’s Marching Band where she played snare drum. The Hilton Marching Band traveled all over New York State and to Canada to compete.
Colleen was trained by Steve DeBusk, Dr. Mimza, David Smalley, and Ray Shahin. She competed all throughout her high school years and went on to compete in several other bands afterwards.
In addition to playing with the Hilton Fireman’s Band, she was an integral start-up member of the Hilton Generations Marching Band, and also played percussion with the Greece Concert Band for a few seasons.
Colleen was a founding member of the Celtic rock band Catch and Release where she played the drum set and marching snare drum and sang backup vocals.
In 2014, Colleen then moved on to the Gates Keystone Police Pipes and Drums where she started to learn about Highland Drumming. She started out on the Bass Drum and quickly moved to the snare. She also served on the Board of Directors as Trustee and then was promoted to Drum Sergeant and Instructor.