#493 Brian Prechtl- Percussionist, Educator, Composer, and More!
This week’s guest is Brian Prechtl. Percussionist Brian Prechtl has been a member of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra since 2003. Before joining the BSO, he was a member of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic in Fort Wayne, IN for 14 seasons. Previous to that appointment, he held Principal Percussion positions in the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. Prechtl spends his summers in Jackson Hole, WY as a performer in the Grand Teton Music Festival where he has been a member of the percussion section since 1992.
He graduated with high distinction from the University of Michigan in 1984 with a Bachelor of Music degree and went on to earn his Master of Music degree from Temple University in 1986. There he studied with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra and performed as a substitute player in Philadelphia.
Education has been a major focus for Prechtl. He has been a leader in the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s outreach program, OrchKids since its inception 11 years ago. He teaches percussion and has piloted a “bucket band” program that has served as a model for El Sistema programs across the country. He recently published Bucket Band Basics– a primer for teaching artists. In 2016 he was awarded with a Ford Award for Excellence in Community Service from the League of American Orchestras for his work in the OrchKids Program.
An active composer, Prechtl has had world premiere performances at the Grand Teton Music Festival, the Eastman School of Music, the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and throughout Baltimore. He has won composition prizes from the Percussive Arts Society and the College Music Society. He also serves as the composer in residence for the Community Concerts at Second Chamber Music Series since 2011. He recently produced a CD of his compositions for music and the spoken word, which are settings of Walt Whitman’s Poetry from Leaves of Grass.
Brian has been very active in orchestra governance. He currently serves as co-chair of the Baltimore Symphony Musicians Players’ Committee and has been pivotal in leading throughout the recent lockout and the ensuing resolution, which have allowed the Baltimore Symphony Musicians to return to the stage. Prechtl also serves as union steward and ICSOM Delegate.
Brian Lives in Ellicott City with his husband Tad and their Pit Bull, Clarence. All three of them can be found hiking and camping when they have the opportunity to be in the great outdoors, either in Grand Teton National Park or in Patapsco State Park in Maryland.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to Chris Robley! Chris is a singer-songwriter and award-winning poet who's made his home in the mill town of Lewiston, Maine.
His orchestral indie-pop and folk music has been praised by The LA Times, The Boston Globe, NPR's Second Stage, Performer, The Associated Press, and others. Skyscraper Magazine said he is “one of the best short-story musicians to come along in quite some time.”
Robley’s poetry has been published in POETRY Magazine, Prairie Schooner, Poetry Northwest, Beloit Poetry, and more. He is the winner of Boulevard’s Poetry Prize for Emerging Writers, a recipient of a Maine Literary Award in poetry, and was selected by Robert Pinsky as a finalist for the Dorset Prize.
Happy Birthday to Ian Hale! (also Episode #83, Episode #243, and the Umass Roundtable Episode #89) Ian Hale received degrees in percussion performance from the University of Calgary and the University of Massachusetts Amherst where his teachers included Dr. Glenn Price, Eduardo Leandro, and DCI Hall of Fame member and past Associate Director Thom Hannum. Ian was a member of the music faculty at UMass from 2007-2008 and has served as a percussion instructor and clinician ever since. He was the Assistant Director of Bands for the Calgary Stampede Showband from 2009-2011 and has served as Percussion Director for Spirit Winter Percussion from Orleans, Massachusetts since 2012. Ian has worked with many national and international ensembles including the Calgary Stampede Showband, Spirit of America, Thomas Jefferson High School, Dartmouth Indoor Percussion, United Percussion, Boston University, University of Massachusetts, and the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band. He was a member of the percussion staff for the Madison Scouts, Carolina Crown, and the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. He is currently on the percussion staff for the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps. He can be reached at ihale@umass.edu.
Happy Birthday to Marcus Santos! A contemporary percussionist and educator, Marcus, is a native of Bahia, Brazil. He commits his life to the study, teaching and performance of his hometown's Afro-Brazilian music and heritage.
Marcus performed with several world renown artists such as the Gypsy Kings (Spain), Daniela Mercury (Brazil) and the Brand New Heavies (England). He has also performed for the president of Brazil, TEDx and with the “One World Band” produced by MTV. Marcus also played at the Sony Pictures Oscar nominated movie ‘Rachel's getting Married’ with Anne Hathaway. He has been honored with the 2013 KOSA Recognition award, Outstanding Arts Performer Award by the Brazilian Immigrant Center (2008) as well as Outstanding Percussionist Award by Berklee College of Music in 2004.
Marcus currently teaches in the Boston area at New England Conservatory, Middlesex Community College and Somerville High School. He is the author of the DVD ‘Modern Approach to Pandeiro’ and performed in the music education DVD ‘Musically Speaking II’ by BOSE. Marcus has lead workshops on Afro-Brazilian percussion and music for Social Change in festivals, universities and conventions around the world such as Fiesta Del Tambor (Cuba), Carnegie Hall (NYC), PASIC (USA) and Harvard University. He is currently the artist director of the Grooversity global drumming network project that includes twenty four drumming groups from the US, Canada, Germany, Mexico and France.
Happy Birthday to Thom Hannum! (Episode #3, Episode #467, and the Umass Roundtable Episode #89). Thom is best known for his work with the DCI World Champion Cadets of Bergen County and Star of Indiana.
Thom worked as the Percussion Director and Arranger for the DCI award-winning Carolina Crown from Ft. Mill, SC in recent years. Thom is currently a Senior Advisor to the Boston Crusaders.
Mr. Hannum was also a member of the design team for the Tony Award Winning show Blast!
In the summer of 2001, Mr. Hannum was selected for induction into the DCI Hall of Fame and in 2008 he was inducted into the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame.
In 2018, Thom received the Lowell Mason Award from the Massachusetts Music Educators Association, and in 2019 Kappa Kappa Psi, a national music fraternity, presented Mr. Hannum with the Distinguished Service To Music Medal, their highest honor.
The Massachusetts Instrumental & Choral Conductors Association (MICCA) presented Thom with the prestigious Paul Smith Hall of Fame Award in March of 2020.
Mr. Hannum spent more than 40 years building one of the nation’s premier collegiate percussion programs as the Associate Director of the Minuteman Marching Band.
Thom is a product consultant and clinician for the Avedis Zildjian Cymbal Company, Evans Drum Heads, the Pearl Corporation, and Vic Firth Sticks & Mallets where he has developed several Signature Series drumsticks and keyboard mallets.
In August 2024, Thom was inducted into Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame.
“Thom’s involvement and influence in the marching arts has been paramount and formative in the development of the genre,” states Julie Davila, current PAS President and longtime DCI adjudicator.
“There is no doubt that today’s exceptional performances, both in execution and design, are a direct result from his leadership and influence.
“Growing up in the ’80s,” she continues, “I was a student and fan enamored with many of Thom’s championship groups.
His association and tutelage with the Garfield Cadets, the Crossmen, and Star of Indiana were remarkable, and Thom became recognized for his hallmark of musicality, creativity in colors and timbres, and standard-setting precision.”
In 2001, Thom was inducted into Drum Corps International Hall of Fame.
From a member of the Brookhaven Crusaders to a Broadway arranger, Thom Hannum may be one of the most influential percussion arrangers of the 20th Century.
Thom’s work with Crossmen, The Cadets, Star of Indiana, and “Blast!” has been innovative and inspiring to all who have heard or played his arrangements.
Thom is also credited with leading the Garfield Cadets percussion section in 1987 to a perfect score in Percussion Effect, Field and Ensemble Performance Percussion.
Through the Hal Leonard Corporation, Mr. Hannum has published a Textbook and corresponding Student Workbook, Championship Concepts For Marching Percussion, which provide many band programs with a comprehensive foundation for percussion education.
Thom’s in depth book, A Percussionist’s Guide to Check Patterns, was published by Alfred Publications in early 2009. His instructional video produced by Warner Brothers/Chappell, Fundamental Techniques For Marching Percussion, demonstrates many of the concepts outlined in the books.
In addition, Mr. Hannum has published percussion arrangements and solos with Warner Brothers, Rowloff Productions, and Drop6 Media, Inc.
Happy Birthday to Lilliana De Los Reyes! (Lilliana was also part of the Ladies Roundtable Episode #213 and Episode #422 ). Lilliana is a multi-talented singer, songwriter, percussionist, and actress living in the Los Angeles. Born into the legendary De Los Reyes family she has a natural inclination for rhythm making. Originally a self-taught musician, Lilliana honed her skills at the prestigious Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California. In addition to performing in the Los Angeles area, she is currently touring throughout the world with ten-time award winning artist, George Benson.
Gig Alerts
Damon is heading out for most of the summer with Ziggy Marley on the Brightside Tour. You can check out all the upcoming dates in the USA and Canada HERE.
If you are looking to celebrate JUNETEENTH, Here are some music festivals and parades across the country (of the United States).
Shout-out to The Soapbox Presents for the events they put on each year, including the ones for Juneteenth.
Jazz @ Pride happened last week, shout-out to friend of the show Bryan Carter who lead some of the music. Grammy (dot com) has listed some other music related Pride events.
Farm Aid is happening in Virginia Beach, VA on September 26th.
Educational Spotlight
Friend of the show, Trevor Lawrence Jr. has released a new book on how he got his endorsements and how you can too!
The Drum Fantasy Camp is coming up in a couple of months and tickets are moving fast! Reserve your spot for Aug 1-6 in Pasadena, CA with some monster musicians and teachers.
PASIC prices have gone up as of June 16th. Register now before the next price increase on Sept 1st.
You can also renew your PAS membership to get a discounted price as well as reserve your hotel room.
Iconic Recording
The iconic recording, chosen by Brian is “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga from the album with the same title.
Music News
Workers removed the president’s name from the Kennedy Center, but he is keeping a tarp over it so you cannot see.
Tapedeck is a platform that is a new streaming platform aimed to compensate musical artists better and have customers value their favorite artists more.
Wu-Tang Clan played an unusual halftime show during Wednesday’s NBA Finals Game 4, with the New York Knicks down 27 points against the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden. After the Wu performed their magic set, however, something strange happened. -Article
Brian Prechtl Interview
The song leading into the interview is, “To a Stranger” by Brian Prechtl from the ‘Grand Is the Seen’ album.
Brian talks about some Baltimore staples. Damon defines crustaceans and mollusks.
Brian was born in NJ, but was raised in Vernon, CT. He attended some of the Hartt music programs.
Brian’s first instrument was the guitar and still plays.
Brian went to the University of Michigan for his undergrad.
Brian talks about his early musical catalog.
Brian talks about his educational approach when teaching.
Brian is a huge theater buff. Damon and Brian talk about the musical theater program at U of M. Shout-out to friend of the show, Doug Perkins.
As a Michigan alum, Brian did play in the Columbus Symphony for a bit.
Brian attended Temple University for his masters. He studied with Alan Abel.
Brian talks about different music halls he enjoys.
Here are the Tony Award winners for this past year.
Brian talks about his path to a major symphony orchestra.
You can find auditions at the musicians union, musical chairs, and friend of the show, Jeffrey Barudin, has a link on his website to sign up for a newsletter that announces job openings you can audition/apply for.
Shout-out to friend of the show Ed Choi.
Brian talks about the administrative side of his work. He also talks about some of the “off the stage” stuff he did.
Brian talks about his compositions. You can get THOSE COMPOSITIONS HERE.
Damon mentions the Remo bucket heads. Here’s the clip of the bagpiper with the bucket drummer.
Brian and Damon mention Orch Kids.
Happy Pride to all those who celebrate! Brian tells a story about one of his pivotal moments.
Shout-out to Joe Bergamini (Episode #289 and Episode #421) and his National Park quest.
Brian picks the iconic recording.
Representation is important. Shout-out to the Diversity Alliance committee for the Percussive Arts Society, the Sphinx Organization, and ABOP started by friend of the show, Raynor Carroll.
Brian uses Pearl/Adams Instruments and Zildjian Cymbals.
Shout-out to the late Charlie Owen, the late Alan Abel, Michael Udow, and the late Richard Brown.
He also mentions some of his colleagues in the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
You can follow Brian on his Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
The song leading out of the interview is, “A Child Said, What Is the Grass?” by Brian Prechtl from the ‘Grand Is the Seen’ album.
