James Madison University Percussion Studio




Audition Information

Instructors Pictures March Mallet Madness Student Recitals

The School of Music's percussion studio has a nationwide reputation for excellence in performance. Our percussion ensemble has performed at conventions in Chicago, Knoxville, Tenn., Washington, D.C., and Norfolk, Va. In 1990, the ensemble presented a spotlight concert at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Philadelphia. Our facilities include seven individual practice rooms for percussionists, a large practice/storage room and two teaching studios.

There are many outstanding performance opportunities for percussion students. Students perform in orchestras, concert bands, wind ensemble, jazz ensembles, percussion ensemble, steel drum band, ragtime marimba band and numerous chamber ensembles. Of special interest to many percussion students is the corps-style Marching Royal Dukes and opportunities available as a marching ensemble.

Extreme care is taken to provide exposure to all percussion elements to help students prepare for careers in education, performance or business.


Please welcome our new members for Fall 2012:

Andrew Albertson   Broadway   VA

Michael Barton   Midlothian   VA

Paige Durr   Ellicott City   MD

Ricardo Nunez   Manassas   VA

Christopher Watral   Budd Lake   NJ

Byron Wilkes   Bedford   TX

Matthew Rapiejko   Lynchburg   VA

         Graduate Students

Elayne Harris   Fredericksburg  (via Ithaca College NY )   VA

Ryan Jonker   Kalamazoo  (via Western Michigan)   MI 


    Guest Artists

Charles Bubeck, vibe artist Gordon Stout, marimba artist Leigh Howard Stevens, marimba artist
 She-e Wu, Marimba Artist Michael Spiro, Latin Percussion Nathan Daughtrey, Marimba Artist
Lalo Davila, Latin Percussion Arthur Lipner, Jazz Vibraphonist  Robert VanSice, Marimba Artist

Tom Aungst, percussionist

Randy Eyles, percussionist

African Drum Troupe

Andy Harnsberger, marimba artist

Greg Giannascoli, marimba artist

Ray DeRouches, percussionist

William Ludwig II, percussionist

William Kraft, composer

Stacey Jones, percussionist

Equal Temperament, percussion duo

Fred Sanford, marching percussion

Marty Hurley, marching percussion

John Wooten, marching percussion

Doug Cardwell, timpanist

Marcos Mercado, percussionist

Jonathon Mele, drumset artist

Jon Metzger, vibe artist

Danny Frey, marimba artist

Michael Overman, marimba artist

David Maslanka, composer

Donald Erb, composer

Karel Husa, composer

Ed Soph, drumset artist

Howard Curtis, drumset artist

Studio members with Nathaniel Daughtrey

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