Meet The Team!
President & Founder
Michael Norsworthy
Michael Norsworthy is a Grammy Award-winning clarinetist, woodwind entrepreneur, and creative leader whose career spans the world's great concert stages, the recording studio, film, and now his own New York City-based business, NYC Woodwinds.
As the founder of NYC Woodwinds — a boutique woodwind shop located in Industry City, Brooklyn — Michael brings decades of elite performance experience directly to the technician's bench and the sales floor. As an authorized dealer for both legacy and emerging brands, the shop offers curated instrument sales, professional repair, and personalized consultation for players at every level. It's a shop built on the belief that the best guidance comes from someone who understands what it means to be a musician — not just technically, but personally, and at every stage of the journey. Colleagues and collaborators consistently describe Michael as someone who asks insightful questions, understands complex situations quickly, and finds innovative solutions rooted in a clear vision. He leads with empathy and a deep investment in the growth of the people around him — qualities that translate just as naturally to the technician's bench as they do to the concert stage.
A global performing career spanning more than 40 countries has taken Michael to venues including Carnegie Hall, Vienna's Musikverein, Tokyo's Suntory Hall, and the Royal Albert Hall. He has premiered over 200 works with ensembles such as the Royal Philharmonic, Ensemble Modern, and the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, and collaborated with composers including Boulez, Carter, Birtwistle, Ferneyhough, and Lachenmann. He has shared the stage with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Savion Glover, and Bela Fleck, toured Broadway productions as a woodwind doubler, and performed for over 730,000 people as a member of the Star Wars Symphony Orchestra. His current discography numbers over 100 releases on the Naxos, New Focus, Albany, Mode, Gasparo, Canteloupe, BMOP/sound, ECM, Nonesuch, Navona, Cirrus Music and Cauchemar labels.
He is an Artistic Advisor for Selmer Paris and an Artist Clinician for Vandoren, and brings the same instinct for partnership and relationship-building to everything he does. His core strengths include leadership and mentorship of staff and organizations, group and individual training, navigating complex relationships across industries, client development and retention, large-scale production, and international relations — a skillset built over a lifetime of operating at the intersection of music, business, and culture on a global stage.
Senior Technician - Flute, Saxophone, Clarinet
Sean Eccles
Sean began his career in Gainesville, Florida, where he spent 11 years at Great Southern Music as an instrument repair technician. He later owned and operated The Bandstand for three years, working closely with collegiate and orchestral musicians throughout Florida.
Sean founded The Bandstand as a way to give back to his community. His mission was simple: to treat every musician—beginner to professional—with respect, attention, and exceptional service.
Before pursuing instrument repair professionally, Sean had a lifelong fascination with fixing things, from cars and motorcycles to watches and electronics. He attended Santa Fe College with the intention of becoming a band director, giving him a strong foundation in the core fundamentals of all band instruments. During college, he apprenticed for two years under Tom Llinas, owner of Great Southern Music, which launched him fully into the world of instrument repair and allowed him to combine his love of music with his passion for mechanical problem-solving.
Sean went on to attend Southeast Technical College (Red Wing), where he became a certified technician and graduated at the top of his class. He is also a Straubinger Certified Technician and Woodwind Specialist.
Outside of the repair bench, Sean can usually be found at orchestra concerts, supporting the musicians he’s worked with throughout the years. He also shares his love of rhythm by teaching drums.
Junior Technician & Apprentice
Dominick Dzietczyk
Dominick Dzietczyk is a woodwind specialist based in New Jersey who began playing saxophone in fourth grade band class. His passion for music has continued to grow ever since.
In 2025, Dominick graduated with honors from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, earning a Bachelor of Music degree with a concentration in Jazz Studies. During his studies, he had the opportunity to learn from acclaimed musicians including saxophonists Abraham Burton and Ralph Bowen, trombonist Conrad Herwig, trumpeter Alex Norris, drummer Robbie Ameen, bassist Kenny Davis, and composers Anthony Branker and Marc Stasio.
Dominick has long been fascinated by instrument repair, a passion rooted in his childhood interest in tinkering with electronics and instruments. This led him to apprentice at New York City Woodwinds under world-renowned clarinetist Michael Norsworthy. Prior to that, he began his apprenticeship at the Bebop Sax Shop with guidance from saxophonist Tim Lin.
Beyond jazz, Dominick has a strong interest in video games and video game music. He currently serves as head social media coordinator and staff member for VGM Jam Sessions NYC, an organization dedicated to providing musicians a space to listen to and perform video game music. Additionally, he is a manager with the MagFest Community Orchestra, which includes over 250 volunteer musicians. As part of MagFest, a gaming convention with over 20,000 attendees held each January, Dominick helps organize and run the event celebrating gaming and music culture.
Product Specialist & Shop Assistant
Chase Hogan
Chase Hogan is a clarinetist and bass clarinetist from Boston, MA. As a performer, he has appeared at Carnegie Hall and the New World Center, and has performed internationally in Austria, Canada, and Spain. He has been an active member of ensembles across New York City, the Washington, D.C. metro area, and South Florida.
Hogan has earned recognition as a finalist in the American Single Reed Summit's International Clarinet Competition, and received the Fine Arts Award in Music for clarinet performance upon graduating from Interlochen Arts Academy.
His scholarly work centers on the intersection of music and mental health. A research paper on music and dyslexia earned second prize at the Lynn University Student Research Symposium. He also collaborates with The Eric Domanico Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to musicians' mental health, contributing to the development of resources for young musicians.
Hogan holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Maryland, College Park and a Master of Music from Lynn University. His primary teachers include Robert DiLutis, Dr. Bryan Conger, and Jon Manasse.
Shop Dog / Instrument Selection Expert / Greeter
Herbie
Herbie is our resident shop dog. He's a snuggly pure bred Chinese Shar Pei who was born on July 4, 2020.
Herbie takes his job VERY seriously. He regularly polices the noise level in the hallway because he wants you to have the best environment possible for equipment selection!
Herbie's ears may be small and tipped but rest assured that he's listening intently and will come over when you've found a good match in an instrument, mouthpiece or reed to let you know that he approves.
His cheeks are big and squishy (please no squeezing) and he can be compared to a hippopotamus after a drink of water.
He loves to play with balls, is a big fan of healthy treats and he's genuinely excited to meet anyone and everyone that comes into our shop.
When not working, he can often be found sleeping in his large comfy bed near our repair benches dreaming about cats, all of whom he loves.