Master Sgt. Gabriel M. Staznik is the drummer and noncommissioned officer in charge of Max Impact. Originally from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, his career in the Air Force began in 2016.
During his Air Force career, Sgt. Staznik has performed at major sporting events presented by MLB, NFL, and NASCAR. He has also had the opportunity to collaborate with artists including Chris Janson, Kellie Pickler, Drake White, Mike Ryan, and Jessie James Decker. Additionally, he has performed in several broadcast events, including Hallmark’s “4th of July at the White House” and “America’s Veterans: A Musical Tribute” on PBS.
Before joining the Air Force, Sgt. Staznik performed and recorded with Grammy, Emmy, and Tony award-winning artists, toured nationally and abroad with the legendary Chubby Checker and was the house drummer at the American Music Theatre in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He recorded with Def Jam Records’ Platinum and Grammy artist LL Cool J, NFL Films, Sports Music Emmy-Awarded Hedden Music, and select American Music Theatre's Cast Albums. Additionally, he has worked as a music director and arranger for Windish Music & Productions, where his music has been performed by theme parks and scholastic percussion ensembles nationwide. He co-authored “The Total Percussionist: A Quick Access Guide to Performance Techniques” to present fundamental percussion technique information in a clear, concise way for both students and teachers.
A graduate of West Chester University of Pennsylvania, Sgt. Staznik received a Bachelor of Music Education degree with an emphasis on percussion.