Percussion Area Head - University of Utah Michael Sammons, D.M.A. serves as the Percussion Area Head at the University of Utah and is recognized as a versatile performer in solo, chamber, symphonic, marching percussion and non-western musical styles. In addition to his work with the Utah Symphony Orchestra, he regularly performs with various national theater touring shows, the Utah Opera and Ballet West and has appeared as a guest artist with Utah Chamber Artists and NOVA New Music Chamber Series. His work can be heard on ABC, ESPN, TNT and local media outlets as well as diverse recording projects for Warner Bros Chappell Music and the Utah Symphony Orchestra. Sammons previously served as director for the NBA’s Utah Jazz “Street...
Principal Percussionist - Arkansas Symphony A native of Indianapolis, IN, Maddi Shake joined the Arkansas Symphony as Principal Percussionist in 2021. She has also performed with the Kansas City Symphony, New World Symphony, and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago where she was an associate member for the 2017/2018 and 2020/2021 seasons. Maddi has spent two summers as a fellow at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, CA, and two additional summers at the Texas Music Festival in Houston, TX. While at Music Academy, she was a winner of the Keston MAX competition and is scheduled to perform with the London Symphony Orchestra under Sir Simon Rattle in 2022. Growing up in Indianapolis, Maddi began her percussion studies...
Assistant Professor of Percussion - Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music, University of Memphis; Principal Timpanist - New Hampshire Music Festival Orchestra and Boise Baroque Orchestra Bill Shaltis is the Assistant Professor of Percussion at the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music, University of Memphis and Principal Timpanist of the New Hampshire Music Festival Orchestra and Boise Baroque Orchestra. Formerly, Shaltis was the Principal Timpanist for the Boise Philharmonic Orchestra, Principal Percussion of the Evansville Philharmonic and Owensboro Symphony, and on faculty at Missouri Southern State University and the University of Evansville. He is a sought-after clinician and performer throughout North America, Europe, and China and has performed and presented at several PASICs, the NAfME and Midwest Conferences, and at...
Professor of Percussion - Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music John Tafoya is Professor of Percussion at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (IU JSoM). He served as chair of the IU JSoM percussion department from 2008-2021. From 1999-2007 he held the position of principal timpanist for the National Symphony Orchestra and has held previous principal timpani positions with the American Wind Symphony, the National Repertory Orchestra, the Owensboro Symphony (KY), the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra (IN) and the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra. Mr. Tafoya has also performed with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. An active educator and sought after clinician, Mr. Tafoya has presented numerous master classes...
Austin Symphony Orchestra Percussionist, Blake Taylor, is a native of Groves, TX. Blake completed his Bachelors of Music degree in Percussion performance at the University of Houston, and his Masters of Music degree in Orchestral Percussion Performance at the Chicago College of Performing Arts in Roosevelt University. He has studied with Dr. Blake Wilkins at the University of Houston, Vadim Karpinos of the Chicago Symphony, Ed Harrison of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Matt Strauss of the Houston Symphony, and Brian Del Signore of the Houston Symphony. He maintains an active and varied career as an orchestral musician, solo recitalist, chamber musician, clinician, and teacher, with performing and teaching experience throughout Illinois, Indiana, Texas, and Arkansas. He has performed with...
