Dr. David P. Eyler has been Director of Percussion Studies at Concordia College since the fall of 1987. He is the Director of the Concordia Percussion Ensemble and the Concordia Marimba Choir, a group he formed in 1987. Before being appointed to the first full-time percussion position at Concordia, Dr. Eyler served in the unique position of Tri-College Percussionist for the consortium of North Dakota State University, Minnesota State University Moorhead and Concordia College from 1987 to 2000.
Associate Professor Eyler has a broad background in both public school and college teaching. He has directed elementary through high school concert and marching bands, university wind ensembles, been Assistant Conductor of the Louisiana State University Symphony Orchestra, Acting Director of Percussion Studies at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and Director of the Concordia College Jazz Ensemble.
As a professional performer, Dr. Eyler is Principal Timpanist of the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra. At the April 2002 concerts he premiered the Concerto for Timpani and Orchestra which he commissioned of composer and fellow professor, Russell Peterson. During his tenure with the FM Symphony Orchestra, Dr. Eyler has also been featured as marimba soloist, conducted the orchestra, served two consecutive terms on the FM Symphony Board of Trustees and chaired the Orchestra Committee. He has been Principal Percussionist of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra and the Baton Rouge Opera, and has performed with the Columbus (Ohio), Lake Charles, Rapides, and Potomac Symphony Orchestras. He has been a guest soloist and conductor with numerous high school, college and community bands and orchestras.
Dr. Eyler's original compositions and arrangements are published by Ludwig Music Publishing Company, Music For Percussion Inc., Per-Mus Publications, Pioneer Percussion, and the Musser Division of Selmer. His articles have appeared in The Instrumentalist Magazine, Percussive Notes Magazine, and The Percussionist Journal. Dr. Eyler served three terms on the PAS Board of Directors of the Percussive Arts Society and currently serves as President of the Minnesota Chapter as well as being a member of the Percussion Ensemble and College Pedagogy Committees of PAS.
He has been very active as a clinician and adjudicator for marching band festivals, all-state band and orchestra festivals as well as district and state solo and ensemble contests throughout the United States. Dr. Eyler earned his degrees from Louisiana State University, The Ohio State University and Frostburg State University, and attended the Peabody Conservatory of Music. He is also an Educational Clinician/Endorser for Mike Balter Mallets, Grover Pro-Percussion, Pro-Mark Sticks, and Sabian Cymbals.
David Schmalenberger recently joined the faculty of McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul, teaching percussion courses, lessons, and ensembles. He received his DMA in Percussion Performance and World Music from West Virginia University, Master of Music Degree in Orchestral Percussion from the University of Michigan, and Bachelors Degree in Jazz Studies from Capital University. Currently, Schmalenberger performs with the Bigtime Jazz Orchestra, the jazz percussion duo SCHAG, and the Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra. David was a featured soloist with the Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra (on three occasions), as well as the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra. He was principal timpanist with the DSSO for ten years. David also toured with the Summit Brass Ensemble and the Intergalatic Contemporary Ensemble (I.C.E.). Tour highlights include a performance with I.C.E. at the London Jazz Festival, and favorable reviews in the New York Times and Los Angeles Times. Schmalenberger has performed on drumset/percussion for concerts and gigs with artists such as John Scofield, Marvin Stamm, Larry Grenadier, Richard Davis, Steve Turre, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Cab Calloway, the Fifth Dimension, The Mills Brothers, Ian Finkle ("Worlds Greatest Xylophonist"), and Ernie Krivda.
David's articles "Ed Blackwell's African Influences" and "African Rhythm: Perceptions of a Westerner" were both published in the Percussive Notes periodical. His drumset composition, "I Remember," is published by HoneyRock Music. David has presented scholarly papers and clinics for the Percussive Arts Society (PAS), Society for American Music (SAM), the Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA), and the International Association of Jazz Education (IAJE). He has studied the traditional music of Africa and the Diaspora for several years, including travels to Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Trinidad, and Brazil. Schmalenberger has recorded with the Garth Alper trio, I.C.E., the Bigtime Jazz Orchestra, the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra, Equilibrium, and SCHAG. David is also active as a clinician offering workshops in jazz, percussion, and world music. He has served as adjudicator/clinician for several jazz festivals including those in Eau Claire, WI and Greeley, Colorado.
Professor MacDonald joined the music faculty at Winona State University in the fall of 1996. He holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music Education degrees from the University of North Texas, and the Doctor of Arts degree in Percussion Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Northern Colorado. Dr. MacDonald has taught extensively in Texas, serving on the faculties of the University of North Texas, the University of Texas at Arlington and Eastfield College. Some of his performance credits include: Milt Hinton, Slide Hampton, Arturo Sandoval, George Benson, Eddie Daniels, and three years touring experience with Ice Capades.
Dr. MacDonald performs regularly as a drummer and vibraphonist at jazz venues in the Southeastern Minnesota, Western Wisconsin region. He is also principal percussionist with the La Crosse (Wisconsin) Symphony Orchestra.
As a drumset and percussion specialist, Dr. MacDonald has presented clinics throughout the U.S. and Canada. He is an endorsee of Sabian cymbals and Vic Firth sticks and mallets, serving on their respective education teams. He is also a contributing author to Percussive Notes - official magazine of the Percussive Arts Society.
Dr. Terry Vermillion is currently a Professor of Music at St. Cloud State University where he has directed the percussion studies area since 1990. He holds a Doctorate of Arts in percussion performance from the University of Northern Colorado. In 1989, Terry was awarded the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Study Grant for his study with ECM recording artist Peter Erskine. In 1993, he was one of fourteen Minnesota arts educators to be awarded a Fulbright Tour Abroad Grant for the study of Indonesian culture and art. In 1995, Terry appeared as a soloist with the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra performing Milhaud's Concerto for Percussion and a transcription of Saint-Saens Introduction, Rondo et Capriccioso. In 1999, Terry received the Downbeat magazine award for Jazz Instrumental Soloist Outstanding College Performance for his recordings with the University of Northern Colorado Jazz Lab Band 1.
Terry has premiered several new works for percussion including William Schmidt's Latin Rhythms for tuba and percussion, Scott Miller's Improvisational Studies in Wood, Metal and Strings for drumset and computer, Daniel Dorff's Three Mysteries for Violin and Percussion, and Ian Krouse's Concerto for Percussion and Wind Ensemble. Terry performs regularly as timpanist with the St. Cloud Symphony, the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra, and the Minnesota Center Chorale, and as percussionist with the Dallas Brass and Trio Lorca. He has been a board member and clinician for the Minnesota Percussion Association in past years and is host to the annual SCSU Percussion Invitational. Terry has twice served as host to the 1997 and 2001 MN Percussive Arts Society Day of Percussion.
Dr. Kenyon Williams is an active performer and educator in the Fargo-Moorhead area. Currently Director of Percussion Studies at MSUM, Dr. Williams has performed across the United States as a soloist, performer, and clinician with numerous orchestras, percussion ensembles, and steel bands, including the Louisville (KY) Symphony, the Lexington (KY) Philharmonic, the Abilene (TX) Philharmonic, the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony, the Salt Lake (UT) Youth Symphony, Blue Steel (KY) Steel Band, Pandemonium (MA) Steel Band, the University of Kentucky Percussion Quartet, and the Hartt "20/20" Chamber Ensemble (CT). In addition, Dr. Williams has studied with many of the greatest names in percussion, including James Campbell, Glen Velez, Alexander Lepak, Johnny Alemendra, Benjamin Toth, Jason Tiemann, Dr. Allen Teel, and Leigh Howard Stevens. Dr. Williams has also pursued percussion abroad: afro-Cuban drumming in Cuba with Roberto Vizcaino (Cubanisimo), African drumming and dancing in Ghana with Master Drummer Pascal Younge, and steel drums in Trinidad's Panorama with the BWIA Invaders and Ken ?Professor? Philmore.
PAS and PASIC are registered Trademarks of the Percussive Arts Society.