James Campbell

Member of the Percussive Arts Society, Drum Corp International, and Bands of America Halls of Fame, acclaimed performer, pedagogue, composer, and author, James Campbell is the Provost’s Distinguished Service Professor of Music and Director of Percussion Studies at the University of Kentucky in Lexington.  A respected figure in the development of the contemporary percussion ensemble,…

Benjamin Toth

Innovative Percussion, Yamaha, and Zildjian Cymbals artist, Benjamin Toth is a Professor of Percussion at The University of Hartford’s Hartt School, and recipient of the 2021 Roy E. Larsen Award for Excellence in Teaching.  Before coming to Hartt, he served on the faculty of the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music as a member of…

Dr. John Will Parks IV

Dr. John Will Parks IV is a Professor of Percussion and Distinguished Teaching Professor at Florida State University (FSU).  He earned a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music; two Master’s Degrees in Performance and Jazz Pedagogy from Northwestern University; a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from…

Rebecca Kite

Yamaha Performing Artist, Rebecca Kite, is an author, educator, a patent holder of several innovative timpani designs, and an internationally recognized performer.  She has participated in residencies, as well as presented concerts, master classes, and clinics throughout the United States, Europe, Latin America, and Japan.  She earned a Bachelor’s of Music Degree in Percussion Performance…

Dr. Cary Dachtyl

Dr. Cary Dachtyl is the owner of Permus Publications, and is an Adjunct Professor of Music teaching applied percussion, as well as directing the percussion ensembles at Kenyon College, and Mount Vernon Nazarene University.  He completed his undergraduate work at Baldwin-Wallace College earning a Bachelor’s of Music Education and a Bachelor’s of Science in Mathematics. …

John H. Beck

John H. Beck is Professor Emeritus of Percussion at the Eastman School of Music, and retired Principal Timpanist of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.  He has performed as a concert soloist with the Rochester Philharmonic, Eastman Wind Ensemble, U.S. Marine Band, and the Syracuse Wind Ensemble.  In addition to his performing career, he is an accomplished…

Dr. Joshua K. Armstrong

Former President of the Mississippi Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society, Dr. Joshua K. Armstong, is an Associate Professor of Music and Assistant Director of Bands at Delta State University.  There he is responsible for all aspects of its percussion program, as well as directing the percussion ensemble, world percussion group, drumline, and teaching applied…

Robert Breithaupt

Considered one of the world’s most recognized historians on the history and development of the drum set, Robert Breithaupt retired as a Professor of Music, Coordinator of the Percussion Program, and Chair of the Performance Division at Capital University.  Mr. Breithaupt has performed with scores of notable jazz artists either as the drummer for the…

Dr. Andrea Venet

Dr. Andrea Venet is an Associate Professor of Music, and Head of the Percussion Department at the University of North Florida (UNF).  At UNF she teaches applied lessons, percussion pedagogy, percussion methods, percussion literature, and directs the percussion ensemble.  She has been featured at such events as: the Kyoto City University of Arts Faculty Exchange,…