Who We Are

Third Year

Jacob is currently a member of the Contemporary Music D.M.A. Cohort at Bowling Green State University where he teaches applied percussion, coaches percussion ensemble, and assists with general music classes. Jacob has performed with the Firelands Symphony Orchestra, the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Chamber Choir, and the Toledo Choral Society. He has shared the stage with members of Bang on a Can All-Stars, Heartland Marimba Quartet, and Third Coast Percussion and has performed throughout the eastern United States and abroad.

Jacob serves as Program and Community Associate at Nief-Norf and percussion director at Rhythm in Blue, a DCI Soundsport ensemble under the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps. 

Second Year

Chris Harris is a percussionist, educator and composer from Fairfield, California. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and Music Performance from California State University - Sacramento, and a Master's degree in Music Performance from California State University - Sacramento . Chris is currently pursuing a DMA in Contemporary Music from Bowling Green State University where he serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the percussion studio.

First Year

Cahaya Drucilla [cha-hai-uh dru-sil-uh], a Balinese-American artist, specializes in musical storytelling in Western Classical and Balinese Gamelan tradition. Raised in small town Graham, Washington State, she began her artistic journey transcribing rock and jazz songs on piano and drums, quickly falling in love and starting her journey in percussion study with Dr. Miho Takekawa. Cahaya holds a degree from Central Washington University studying under Mark Goodenberger and has performed at venues worldwide in Japan, Spain, and across the United States. She spent the last four years in Los Angeles freelancing in marching percussion education, show design, private music lessons, Balinese Gamelan, and chamber percussion. Cahaya is currently working towards a M.M. in Percussion Performance while serving as graduate assistant at Bowling Green State University. 

Second Year

Dean Kyle is a composer, music technologist, and percussionist earning his MM in Composition at Bowling Green State University as well as a recent graduate of Southern Oregon University completing his BA in Percussion and Emerging Media & Digital Arts. He writes music for both computers and human musicians, often exploring connections between music, narrative, theater, and performance art. His work indulges the world in its own musical sensory delights by basking in the wonder of everyday things. One of his most important guiding principles: The word that connects people to music is “play.”

Senior

Jayden Hall is a fourth-year student getting a BMA with a minor in recording technology. He's been a member of symphonic band and percussion ensemble at BGSU. He is also a former member of Cap City 2. He is eager to work on anything that will help him be better off with anything he does.

Senior

Sam Batty is a Jazz Studies major from Temecula, California. He graduated from Temecula Valley High School in 2020 where he participated in the school's marching, jazz and concert bands as well as the indoor percussion ensemble. Sam also previously studied at Mira Costa College in Oceanside, California, before transferring to BGSU this fall. At Bowling Green, he is currently part of various jazz ensembles, and the percussion ensemble.

Senior

Evan Palermo is a Cleveland native who is currently a 4th year student at Bowling Green State University. Through the music, Evan has been heard in major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Toledo, Detroit, and Paris, and more. Evan has also had the opportunity to study, create, and perform with some of the best in the craft such as Marvin ""Smitty"" Smith, John Riley, Ulysses Owens Jr, Stephan Crump, Jacques Lesure, Steve Kortyka, David Bixler, Dan Piccolo, Harrison Roth and many more. Through his 4 years of being a professional musician, Evan has worked freelance for major establishments such as Cedar Point, while continuing to be deeply rooted in the Cleveland and Toledo music scene. Evan can be heard regularly through his projects in the Cleveland theatre scene as a freelance percussionist, the Cleveland rock scene through Rellick, and the Ohio jazz scene through EMP.

Senior

Mason is a 4th year music education student here at BGSU. Mason is currently the principal of the Wind Symphony.  He is also a member of the BGSU Percussion Ensemble, Samba Bateria, Middle Eastern Music Ensemble, and is a founding member of "The Jackal Collective", a student percussion group. He has previously been a member of the Falcon Marching Band, MICCA Ensemble (Music of Iran, Caucuses and Centra Asia), and was the principal of the BGSU Symphonic Band.

Senior

Matthew Graves is a third-year music education major at BGSU. He is from Avon Lake Ohio where he graduated from Avon Lake High School.  He participated in marching band, percussion ensemble, jazz band, the symphonic band, and the pit orchestra for the musicals.  He was also the president of the marching band his senior year. He competed in OMEA for marching band, solo and ensemble, and symphonic band.

Senior

Liam Lockhart is a fourth-year Music Performance student from Oberlin, Ohio. He graduated in 2021 from Firelands High School. He is currently the principal percussionist for the BGSU Philharmonia and an active member in the Samba Bateria, Percussion Ensemble, and Middle Eastern Music Ensemble. Liam currently serves as the president of the Student Percussion Association and is a Music Ambassador for the College of Music. He has previously been the principal percussionist of the BGSU Wind Symphony, and has participated in the Symphonic Band and the Falcon Marching Band. Liam is also a member of the student founded percussion group, “The Jackal Collective.”

Junior

Eleanor Wisniewski is a third-year Music Performance Major. They are from Royal Oak, Michigan and graduated from Royal Oak High School. In high school, they participated in MSBOA Solo and Ensemble as a soloist. They also played in multiple different bands throughout their time in high school. They also had the privilege to perform with their drumline for the First Lady in their senior year. In the summer of 2024, they were able to travel with a part of the BGSU Percussion Studio to Spain for the Edeta Arts Percussion Festival.

Junior

Zion Bateman is a Sophomore from Reynoldsburg, Ohio, and graduated from Reynoldsburg High School Summit Campus. Back in high school Zion was a Drumline member of the Reynoldsburg Marching Pride, as well as being apart of Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble. Zion has performed each year in OMEA Solo & Ensemble.

Junior

Sarah Hertenstein is a third-year Music Composition student with a minor in General Business. She graduated in 2023 from Olentangy Liberty High School where she participated in several ensembles including concert band, marching band, jazz band, multiple choirs, and indoor drumline. At BG, she participates in Symphonic Band, Samba Bateria, and Percussion Ensemble. She also previously participated in the Falcon Marching Band for the band's 100th Year. She is currently the secretary of the Student Percussion Association and an active member of Praecepta, a campus organization dedicated to the promotion of new music. This year she is looking forward to sharing her composition projects and continue to participate in music events at the College of Musical Arts. 

Senior

Jessica Kozik is a Senior, Human Development and Family Science Major from Huntington, Ohio. She has been a musician and percussionist the majority of her life and has continued to pursue music within her undergraduate career. She is a part of the University Band, Percussion Ensemble, Samba Bateria and takes percussion lessons here at BGSU. While her career goals are to work within a non-profit, faith-based organization, music will always be an important piece of her identity that she will continue to grow.

Junior

Anthony is a 3^rd year Performance major, with a minor in jazz studies. His love for all forms of music and desire to perform brought him to BGSU. In his years so far at BGSU, he has performed with many ensembles, including Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, Philharmonia, Afro-Carribean Ensemble, multiple jazz combos, amongst others. Future plans hope include playing with the Lab band, performing in musicals,  and recording original music. Alongside percussion, he plays guitar, and hopes to learn to play many more in the future!

Sophomore

Joshua Boyd is a first-year Music Education student from Pickerington Ohio. Josh graduated from Pickerington High School North. In highschool he participated in the Jazz Band, Percussion Ensemble, Concert Band and Marching Band. He currently plays cymbals for the Falcon Marching Band Drumline.

Sophomore

Zach Hallam is a first-year music education student from Louisville Ohio, where he was involved in the Pride of Louisville for 5 years, and the drumline for 3. Additionally, Zach has performed with the school's wind ensemble in various OMEA adjudicated events, and multiple years at solo and ensemble, both as a soloist and ensemble performer. Aside from performing, Zach writes music in various styles, including battery parts for multiple small drum corps.

Sophomore

Anna LeHoty is a second year student at BGSU from Avon Lake, Ohio. She is an Inclusive Early Childhood Education major with a Music minor. Anna serves as Historian for the Student Percussion Assosiation. In high school she participated in the Honors Chorale, Chamber choir, Symphonic band, Indoor Percussion group, and Drama club. She was also center marimba in the front ensemble and equipment manager for Avon Lake's Marching Band. Anna has participated in several CMA ensembles such as Symphonic Band, Volaré, and A Capella Choir. 

Sophomore

Emily Brand is a second-year music education major. She grew up in Medina, Ohio, and a transfer student from The University of Akron. As a new member of the studio, she is excited to perform in ensembles such as, Samba, Percussion Ensemble, and Symphonic Band. Emily is also looking forward to seeing herself grow as a musician, and to become a great educator one day.

Sophomore

Maxton Welch is a second year Jazz Studies major from Dundee, Michigan.  After receiving a drum set as a Christmas present in 2014, his passion for the percussive arts grew exponentially.  He is a graduate from Dundee High School where he participated in the marching band, concert band, and jazz band.  At BGSU, he is a member of the Samba Bateria, the Afro-Caribbean Ensemble, Jazz Lab Band II, and a Chamber Jazz Ensemble.

Freshman

Noah is a first year music education student from New Franklin Ohio. He previously attended Manchester High school, where he was heavily involved in the band, choir, and theatre programs. He is currently a member of the Falcon Marching Band Drumline where he plays cymbals. 

Freshman

Vic McPheron is a first year Music Performance major from Toledo, OH. He graduated from Sylvania Southview High School, where he was involved in Band and Choir. Vic performed at several notable events including OMEA Regional Orchestra, OMEA Honors Band, OMEA All-State Orchestra, and various University Honors Bands. Vic has also been a part of the Toledo Symphony Youth Orchestra as principal percussionist as well as the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. Vic is a proud member of the Hansen Fellowship program and is excited to improve his musicianship while in BGSU.

Freshman

Aiden Barrows is a first year Music Education student from Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from Cornerstone High School and participated in many music ensembles such as concert band, jazz band, and marching band. This year he marches cymbals for the falcon marching band!

Freshman

Downing Jude Crawford is a freshman Music Performance/Jazz Studies major hailing from Martinsburg, WV. His passion for percussion comes from a childhood of listening to his percussionist father, who remains one of his biggest musical influences. Jude enjoys his time broadening his musical horizons by playing Jazz gigs in the D.C. Area, participating in local community orchestras, and recording indie music with his friends. He is a current member of the BGSU Wind Symphony, Percussion Ensemble, and Samba Bateria, as well as BGSU's Jazz Lab II, and a four-person Jazz Combo. 

Freshman

Carson Van Gorder is a first-year Music Education major. From Spencerville, Ohio, Carson has been in and around music programs his whole life. In high school, he participated in a variety of bands, choirs, musicals, and sporting events. At BGSU, Carson is currently a member of the FMB, OCMEA, GAME, and Symphonic band. Carson is thrilled to be here, and he is excited to see what BG has in store for him throughout the next stages of his life.