Formed in 2012, Classical Blast has continued their journey to explore and combine musical genre to create new and exciting sounds. With growing popularity throughout the Midwest and beyond, the band has opened concerts for numerous national acts, as well as headlined in intimate 100-seat to 1000-seat concert venues. Band members have impressive recording and performance street creds, including 4 albums of their own on the Toucan Cove/Universal label.
Greg Hirte, violin, mandolin, vocals
Greg Hirte is a violinist, actor and composer. He has performed in Lookingglass Theater’s hit production of Hans Christian Anderson’s “Steadfast Tin Solder," as well as over 20 seasons with the Goodman Theatre’s popular production of "A Christmas Carol.” Other theatre credits include the role of Luther in "Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash," and Leon in "Hank Williams: Lost Highway" at American Blues Theater. Greg has performed and composed music for Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Court Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, Victory Gardens Theater & Piven Theatre Workshop, as well as several international music festivals. He has also performed with bands, Mucca Pazza, The Flashbulb, Gin Palace Jesters, Can.Ky.Ree, Mojo & The Bayou Gypsies and the Golden Horse Ranch Band.
Stephanie Koklys, lead vocals, guitar, piano
Stephanie Koklys grew up in South Florida, moving to the Chicago area as a teen. She attended Chicago Academy for the Arts and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in composition and music arranging from Belmont University in Nashville, TN. She recorded her first original EP at the famed Oceanway Studio in Nashville, known for recordings by Sheryl Crow, Paul Simon, Garth Brooks, Amy Grant, George Strait, Keith Urban and many others. Her a cappella vocal group performed for country singer Trisha Yearwood's TV Christmas special. Throughout her music career Stephanie has worked as a songwriting coach, music theory teacher and vocal, guitar, & piano instructor. She regularly leads musical worship at local churches & nursing homes, weddings & funerals and often performs with her songwriting partner and husband, John Arthur. She’s mother to two young boys and, when not working on music, enjoys running. She’s always in training for the next marathon. Prior to joining Classical Blast full time, she performed live with the band on WGN-TV and as a guest vocalist on live shows as well as on two of our albums.
Bill Syniar, bass guitar
Longtime bass player, Bill Syniar, is a familiar figure on the Chicago music scene. In 1978 Bill co-founded the band Tantrum, producing 3 LP's on the Ovation label, touring across the country with them and garnering airplay throughout the Midwest. Bill later toured throughout Europe and the U.S. as bass player for CBS/Scotti Bros. recording artists Survivor. He appears on Survivor's "Too Hot to Sleep" and "Greatest Hits" LPs. He has performed live at major arenas across the U.S. Bill later co-founded the popular Chicago R&B band, R-Gang, which he still performs with when not with Classical Blast. He has written music for the Doobie Bros., as well as for solo albums for Kansas vocalist Steve Walsh, members of the band Toto and countless other recording projects. He pens many of the original songs on Classical Blast's albums.
Hannah K Watson, violins & vocals
Hannah is a well-rounded violin & vocal performer with tons of experience on stage and in studio. She's fluent in a plethora of genres from country to classical to rock. Hannah's been rockin’ the violin since the age of ten and singing since 2004. She was classically trained on violin throughout her youth, but always had a deep curiosity for other styles. She dipped her fingers in musical worlds like bluegrass, metal, and jazz while training at Columbia College Chicago, where she earned her Bachelors in Music Composition. Hannah is now a “band brat”, performing in myriad bands based in Chicago, which now includes Classical Blast! She embraces her inner cowgirl as fiddler and lead singer for local country cover band, The Country Night, as well as with bands such as American Pie, Country2K and Sarah’s Place, a Zach Bryan and Noah Kahan tribute band. Furthermore, she is music director and co-founder of Chicago Street Strings, a wedding music booking company. In addition to her exemplary ear, she is proficient at sight-reading and fluent in a wide scope of genres, loves being in the recording studio, and has written and arranged music for numerous independent theater productions in Chicago. Last but not least, Hannah began her Twitch channel under the alias “Phunk Phiddler” in 2020, exploring the art of “chance music” or aleatoric music, and creates free-style loops and arrangements on the spot. There’s never a dull moment for Hannah!
Rick Vitek, drums
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, drummer Rick Vitek is well known in the Chicago area as a jazz, rock, funk drummer. While performing with a number of popular bands in Ohio, Rick answered a call to move to Chicago to join Alan Hewitt & 88, a popular local band that performed twice on the premier season of the popular StarSearch TV show. Rick met bassist Bill Syniar while both were members of that band, and they continued performing together. Rick stayed on in Chicago and is now a popular choice for recording and studio projects. He has also performed with local bands, Brass from the Past, Blackberry Jam, Jagaloons, Irish Heartbeat and others at legendary Chicago venues like Green Mill, Orphan’s, Fitzgerald’s, Elburn Hall, Hard Rock Café, Arcada, Des Plaines, Raue & Acorn Theaters, festivals and more.
“You guys are phenomenal, so talented.
I enjoyed your music immensely... so much energy!”
— Classical Blast in Kilts show attendee