Youth Arts

"Inspiring our youth to appreciate the Arts, while building self-esteem and confidence."

Lawrence "Larz the Drummer" Rizzuto

As far as he can remember Lawrence “Larz” Rizzuto began his musical career watching his father Alan Rizzuto play the drums.  The namesake of his uncle Larry Rizzuto, drummer for the Buffalo, NY, super group The Road, Larz was greatly inspired by his father’s playing.  It was at this early age of eight that he began to grow musically on the drums playing school dances, all ages clubs in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, and recording in numerous studios throughout the greater Buffalo area.  Larz continued his pursuit of music throughout high school by initiating a music program at Canisius High School, were he played drums in the CHS Jazz Band under the direction of James Tudini. 

Having a strong desire to learn music theory, application, and the percussion family in more detail, he attended the Michigan State University School of Music.  In 1994 Lawrence began his studies as a percussionist at MSU with Professor Mark Johnson.  Larz studied Music Education at MSU and obtained mastery in percussion studying mallet technique, mentored by Professor Allison Shaw, African drumming, under Francis Kofi form Ghana, Africa, timpani under Professor Mark Johnson, and Jazz drumming with Randy Gillespie.  In 1999 he obtained his BA in K-12 Music Education.   

Larz continued his career in music as a music educator at Tonawanda Middle School in Tonawanda, NY.  It was here that he taught General Music, Middle School Chorus, and instrumental lessons.  He was also musical director for the HS and MS musicals.  Larz has also expanded his career by continuing to play and record with artists such as Pamela Ryder (Austin, TX), Bradford (E. Lansing, MI), Crittenden (Buffalo, NY), Ken Kaufman (Ad Songs), a momentary reunion with The Road and Billy Sheehan, and he provides the back-beat for The Scott Celani Band.  Presently, Lawrence Jay Rizzuto is focusing on his music studies at San Diego Sate University to obtain a MA in Composition and Jazz Performance and is teaching private lessons on the drums, guitar and piano.