The Band Biography

QUINTESSENTIALS

Guy Wallis (Piano)

Guy Wallis is a multi-instrumentalist/vocalist, teacher, live and studio engineer. He has toured with various musical acts up and down the East Coast from New England to Caribbean. He has played Theatres and night clubs as well as Disney cruises with Charles Neville from the Neville Brothers, The Fabulous Heavyweights and Changes in Latitudes Jimmy Buffet Tribute band with members of the Coral Reefers. He is currently living in Savannah, GA

Lyn McKenna ( Saxophones)

Lyn Ryan McKenna started playing piano (studied for 8 years), self taught on ukulele ,and guitar at age 4 and started saxophone at age 8. She started playing professionally on saxophone and piano at age 12. Her first solo show was on accordion at age 17. Lyn also plays steel pan. She started teaching professionally at age 16 and has taught professionally throughout her career and to the present.

She attended and taught at internationally famous Interlochen National Music Camp in Interlochen, MI and she graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy. Lyn attended University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) for saxophone performance. She also attended Hartt School (U of Hartford) and Berklee College of Music. She then graduated from University of Massachusetts/Amherst She has professionally performed, toured, and recorded in over 40 bands of many genres. She studied under Grover Washington, Jr., Lynn Klock, Donald Sinta, Joe Viola, and Frederick Hemke. Lyn performed / toured throughout the U.S and the Caribbean with a nationally known Changes IN Latitudes (Jimmy Buffett Tribute Band) for 15 years. Lyn also served in the military performing with military bands. She has stared the stage, and recorded with, many famous musicians: notably Jaimoe(Allman Bros Band),Charles Neville (Neville Bros), Peter Tork, Nadirah Shakoor, Doyle Grisham, Amy Lee( from Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band) and many others. Lyn has performed with her husband, Guy Wallis, in their duo, Lemon Sky Island, as well as in Jordan Hernandez and The Quintessentials.

Brandon Miller (Drums)

Is a percussionist specializing in drum set performance and education. Initially trained by his father, Philly Pops principal percussionist Ken Miller, Brandon also studied with Carl Mottola and Tommy Igoe, and attended Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA. While in middle and high school he played in local community theater and high school musical theater productions and jazz bands. At age 14 he performed with Peter Nero and the Philly Pops in a solo capacity as well as with the orchestra.

In the New York City area he performed and recorded with various rock bands including Acts Magdalena, Phoebus and Dint, the kids rock sensation The Fuzzy Lemons, and the experimental jazz outfit XBOP, which he co-founded with multi-instrumentalists Will Arvo and Daniel Carter, and bassist Jon Roberds. He also continued working in musical theater with the acclaimed production company, Hoboken Children’s Theater.

Brandon has performed on such stages as The Academy of Music and Pearson-Hall Theatre in Philadelphia, and Carnegie Hall and CBGB’s in New York City. Since moving to Savannah, he has played in the pit for many of SCAD’s musicals, and on the road with The Madhatters and Changes In Latitudes.

He teaches drum set in a variety of settings, from private lessons in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York, to The Rock School summer camp in New York. In addition to teaching music, he is also a homeschool educator who teaches history, science and current events to middle and high school age groups.

Brandon Coleman (Bass)

I’m a multi-instrumentalist and lifelong Savannah native. I have been a professional musician in the surrounding area and abroad for the past 20 years covering a broad range of musical genres and styles.