SKIP HANCOCK
Skip Hancock, pianist and leader of Skylark, writes and/or arranges all the group’s music. He graduated from Old Dominion University in 1976 with a degree in biology; then went on the road with a show band. He’s been a full-time, professional musician ever since then.

He has worked in the Southeastern area of Virginia for over 25 years in a variety of musical settings, leading his Jazz quartets Interlude and Skylark since 1982, and forming the area’s first computer assisted group in 1985.From 1991 to 1998 you could see him performing on the acoustic piano five nights a week at the Norfolk Hilton, playing everything from Classical to Jazz and Pop. From 1999 to 2002, he was the musical director and pianist for the Charles Darden Group, performing in the Tidewater area and in Washington DC (Where they performed at a Presidential Inaugural Ball on 1/21/01). He’s also played at The Greenbrier, The Homestead, and the Canadian Embassy. In 2002 and 2003, he took a job as the music director for the Tom Netherton Show at the Williamsburg Music Theater, leading the eight piece house orchestra where Tom Netherton was a star on the Lawrence Welk Show for eight years. In 2004 he joined forces with Anna Gunn and they began recording and performing in the Tidewater area. They self-produced their debut CD is called, Misbehavin' .

KERA O'BRYON

A native of Bel Air, Maryland, Kera O'Bryon has been in entertainment since the age of 3. An accomplished singer and actress, Kera has performed in 30 stage productions, primarily focusing on musical theatre and opera. She became a recording artist at the age of 8, releasing a record with her family, and then one with her brother when she was 13. Some of her most exciting performances included opening for Smoky Robinson, and Marie Osmond, as well as winning a statewide vocal competition to sing the national anthem for the Baltimore Orioles Opening Day game in Maryland in 1990. Kera has recorded voice-overs and jingles nationwide for such clients as Kroger, Eckerd, Fresh Pride, Sports Authority, and McDonald's, to name a few.. Kera's television credits include the “FBI Files”, “The Prosecutor’s”, “The New Detectives,” “The Knock Knock Show”, along with numerous film credits. Kera currently lives in Newport News, Virginia, with her husband, Christian, where she enjoys singing, reading, and traveling in her spare time.

CHRIS KOROSHETZ

Skylark’s percussionist. Originally from Colorado, Chris Koroshetz has been performing professionally for over twenty years.  A former active duty Navy musician, he has traveled the world performing a wide variety of music in a multitude of settings.   He spent six years on staff at the Armed Forces School of Music in Norfolk, Virginia, and recently completed a Master’s degree in Music Education at Old Dominion University.

WES SMITH

Wes Smith, bassist for the Skylark Band, a native of Chesapeake, Virginia, has performed as a professional musician for over 25 years. He has performed with Skip since 1995, and currently enjoys the opportunity to perform with the Skylark Band. His musical experience includes performances with Bernadette Peters, Regis Philbin, Jay Leno, Steve Martin, Joel Gray, Marvin Hamlisch, The Virginia Symphony and many other touring shows and musicals. As a military musician, he performed around the world, and served as bass instructor at the Armed Forces School of Music in Norfolk, Virginia from 1995-1998. Wes is currently a high school principal and professional musician.

JONATHAN GREENBERG

Jonathan Greenberg plays trumpet in Skylark's six piece band. A native of New York City, Jonathan began working in the city at the tender age of 13, playing with his father's band and the Staten Island Jazztet.

He attended the jazz studies program at VCU in Richmond Va., where he was the featured soloist with the VCU Big Band. He has worked with a who's who of great acts including the O'Jays, the Coasters, the Drifters and even the Ringling Brothers Circus.

He has had a steady job every Thursday in Richmond with the Chez Roue Orchette for the past 11 years.

KEITH PHILBRICK

Keith Philbrick, Skylark's saxophonist, has performed all over the world with the Army Jazz Ambassadors among others. After starting out as an instructor at the Armed Forces School of Music (Where the Army, Navy and Marines send all their musicians for training), Keith became the Director of Instrumental Music for the School.

Well-versed in every style, Keith has played with the Virginia Symphony and numerous shows at Chrysler Hall in every style from classical to jazz and pop music. We're pleased to have him work with us!

JEFF PADGETT

Jeff Padgett has been playing guitar since the age of 14. He attended Ball State University, majoring in Classical Guitar Performance, and Jazz Commercial music. With the BSU Jazz Lab Ensemble he performed across Europe at the Vienna Jazz Festival, North Sea Festival and Montreux Jazz Festival, as well as at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Since college Jeff has further developed as a solo freelance musician playing a wide variety of musical settings ranging from jazz trios, rock, solo and big bands. His solo material frequently exhibits classical and flamenco finger-style right hand approach, which Padgett has adapted to work in many different genres of music, including but not limited to his solo jazz work, combos, big band, reggae, and classical guitar.