Daniel Vargason, Senior
Selmer, Tennessee
Daniel Vargason is currently a senior Music Education Major attending the University of Tennessee at Martin. Daniel has performed with the UTM Skyhawk Marching Band, Percussion Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, World Ensemble, as well as the Steel Band. Daniel has been a member of Jamaica Me Happy for two years, a smaller steel band that performs throughout the community. Daniel had the privilege to perform with Music City Mystique (a prestigious indoor percussion performing ensemble) in the spring of 2009. He has been an educator and arranger in the West Tennessee area for four years, teaching at a number of high schools and middle schools (McNairy Central, Union City, Gibson County, Franklin, Huntingdon). Daniel is also a private instructor and has had numerous students from the area. During the fall of 2008, Daniel travelled to Mexico with the UTM Percussion Studio to perform in PercuSonidos. Upon receiving his undergraduate degree, Daniel plans to attend graduate school to pursue a master’s degree in percussion performance. Daniel studies percussion with Dr. Julie Hill.
Cory Bozard, Senior
Newbern, Tennessee
Cory Bozard is currently a senior at the University of Tennessee at Martin where he is majoring in Instrumental Music Performance with emphasis on percussion. He has served as a member of the UTM Percussion Ensemble, Steel Band, Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, and Jazz Ensemble. Cory is a graduate of Dyer County High School where he participated in the marching, concert, jazz, and pep bands for four years. He has performed with the All-West Tennessee Concert and Jazz bands, the All-State Concert band, the UTM Honor Percussion Ensemble, and the Dyersburg State Community Orchestra. Cory has served as the percussion instructor for Dyersburg High School and Dyer County High School. He is currently a member of the small steel band ensemble Jamaica Me Happy. Cory has studied percussion with Chad Davis, Adrian Baker, and Nancy Mathesen as well as attended clinics with James Campbell, Matt Savage, B Michael Williams, Michael Gould, Zoro, Bill Bachman, Ney Rosauro, Brian Mason, James Ross , and Mark Ford. He is currently studying percussion with Dr. Julie Hill.
Jacob Abbott, Senior
Rutherford, Tennessee
Jacob Abbott is a Senior Music Education major in Dr. Hill's percussion studio. He has been an active member of the percussion ensemble, steel band, concert band, wind ensemble, marching band, jazz band and community choir over the course of his 3 years at UT Martin. Jacob currently serves as the string bass player in the Jamaica Me Happy Steel Band, making an appearance at UT Knoxville for the "Campaign for Tennessee" Benefit Concert. He also traveled with the percussion ensemble to Tampico, Mexico, for a special performance at the Percusonidos Music Festival. Jacob has performed in concert with many world famous artists such as Ney Rosauro, Zoro, and Dan Moore. He has been the percussion instructor at Union City High School for the past two years, and currently instructs the Milan High School's drum line as well as Gibson County High School's front ensemble. Jacob has served as arranger and student conductor in the UTM Percussion Ensemble.
Jeff Moore, Senior
Dyersburg, Tennessee
Jeff Moore is currently a senior at the University of Tennessee at Martin. He studies percussion with Dr. Julie Hill. He has performed with the percussion ensemble, world ensemble, steel band, wind ensemble, and the marching band. He has also been a member “Jamaica Me Happy” for two years (a professional steel band ensemble). Jeff has assisted in educating Waverly High School marching band for the past three years as well as UTM honor band and UTM tune up day for three years. He has performed in Mexico where he also assisted in a marching band clinic supporting exchange between the the Universidad Autonoma de Tamaulipas and UT Martin. In the spring of 2009, Jeff performed a duo recital which included his own arrangement for drum set, bass guitar, and piano entitled "Trio 4/3". Jeff has also participated in the UTM jazz ensemble. Jeff is a former percussionist for East of Innocence, a 5 piece modern rock group that has shared the stage with several well known groups such as, Saving Abel, Framing Hanley, and 12 Stones. Upon graduating UTM, Jeff plans to pursue a drum set focused Masters degree.
Andrew Lynn, Senior
Gibson, Tennessee
Andrew Lynn is pursuing a degree in Music Education from UTM. He studies percussion with Dr. Julie Hill. While attending high school, Andrew was the percussion captain and received many superior ratings at solo and ensemble competitions and honor band. He has taught many drum lines and high school and junior high school percussion ensembles in the West Tennessee area. Andrew has played drum set in the UTM Jazz band for the past 4 semesters and plays drum set for many local churches in the community. Andrew is a part of MENC, PAS, and PHI MU AlPHA Fraternity.
Sean Johnson, Senior
Memphis, Tennessee
Sean is a music education major at the University of Tennessee at Martin. Sean was born and raised in West Virginia. In Morgantown, WV, became interested in percussion by learning African drumming from an early age. Sean is currently studying percussion with Dr. Julie Hill. In 2008, the UTM percussion ensemble perform at Tennessee Tech. Sean has participated in masterclasses with J.B. Smith, Andy and Erin Bliss, Dr. Michael Gould, Evaristo Aguilar, Jim Campbell, B. Michael Williams, Tom Roady, Ney Rosauro, Brian Mason, James Ross, Dan Moore, and John Parks. Sean also performed Mexico last year at the PercuSonidos International Festival.
Stephen Hughes, Junior
Brighton, Tennessee
Stephen Hughes is a currently a junior at the University of Tennessee at Martin where he is majoring in Instrumental Music Education with an emphasis on percussion. At Martin, he has been in the Marching Band, Percussion Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, and Steel Band. In 2008 and 2009, he was a section leader for the UT Martin Skyhawk Marching Band. Stephen is the President of the UTM Percussion Society. Stephen was a member of the Brighton High School band for four years where he participated in several honor bands such as the UT Martin Honor Band and All-West Honor Band. Stephen has attended clinics with James Campbell, Dan Moore, James Ross, Brad Meyer and Ney Rosauro. Additionally, he was a student of Stan Head who currently teaches at Lindenwood Christian Church in Memphis, Tennessee. Stephen has taught the Brighton High school and Huntington High School front Ensembles. Stephen Hughes currently studies percussion with Dr. Julie Hill.
Colby Snider, Sophomore
Memphis, Tennessee
Colby Snider is a sophomore percussion performance major at the University of Tennessee at Martin. He is a member of the Skyhawk Marching Band, the UTM Wind Ensemble, the UTM Percussion Ensemble, the UTM World Percussion Ensemble, and the UTM Steel Band. He also plays lead pan with the professional steel pan group, Jamaica Me Happy. Colby was a member of the Bolton High School band for four years. During that time he participated in several honor ensembles, including the All West Blue Band, Wind Ensemble, and Orchestra, as well as the U of M honor band and the UTM Honor Percussion Ensemble. Colby also participated in the 2007 Tennessee All State band, and the 2008 All State Orchestra, where he was first chair. He has had many great teachers including Robert Kessling, Dr. Frank Shaffer, and Mike Karcz. Colby has performed under the batons of several world-renowned conductors, including James Paul, Kenneth Kiesler , Keith Brion, Vincent Danner, and Neal Gittleman. Colby has attended a plethora of clinics, masterclasses, and performances including ones by Katarzyna Mycka, Brian Nozny, John Beck, Davy Anderson, and Ted Adkatz. He also performed in the Mexico Day of Percussion with the UTM Percussion Ensmble. Colby studies percussion with Dr. Julie Hill. After completing a Master of Music degree, Colby hopes to continue performing and educating the world on the art of percussion.
Keegan Paluso, Sophomore
Munford, Tennessee
Keegan Paluso is currently in his second year of percussion study with Dr. Julie Hill. He spent four years in the Munford High School marching percussion section, and one year in the jazz band. Keegan is now in his second year as a percussion instructor of the Gibson County High School percussion section. Upon graduation he intends to go to graduate school, and become a youth minister.
Daniel Houston, Sophomore
Jackson, Teneessee
Daniel Houston is a second year music education major with an emphasis in percussion. He graduated from North Side High School in 2007. In high school, Daniel played the drum set in the jazz band as well as in the pit for musical plays in the theatre department. He was the percussion section leader his junior and senior years of high school. Daniel has served as the percussion instructor for North Side and Gibson County High Schools, and Medina Middle School. Daniel has been teaching private percussion lessons for two yearsl. He is a member of the UTM marching band and percussion ensemblse. Daniel studies percussion with Dr. Julie Hill.
Hamilton Moore, Sophomore
Memphis, Tennessee
Hamilton Moore is a Music Performance Major at the University of Tennessee at Martin with an emphasis in percussion. Hamilton’s previous instructors include: Robert Kessling. Ed Murray and Stan Head. Hamilton currently studies percussion with Dr. Julie Hill. Hamilton attended First Assembly Christian School where he was the percussion section leader for his sophomore, Junior and senior years of high school. In 2006 Hamilton was a member of the Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps.
In the fall of 2008, Hamilton toured Mexico with the UT Martin Percussion Studio.
Kerry Durso, First Year
Nashville, Tennessee
Kerry Durso is a freshman music education major at UT Martin. She decided to continue her percussion study after participating in the Father Ryan High School Drumline in Nashville, TN, for four years and competing at the local and national levels at WGI. Having decided to major in music education, she began by teaching a summer camp at McNairy Central High School in Selmer, TN and hopes to return and teach them again next summer. Kerry studies percussion with Dr. Julie Hill.
Cassidy Fortner, First Year
Nashville, Tennessee
Cassidy is a freshman music education major at the Univeristy of Tennessee at Martin specializing in percussion. He has participated in WGI for two years as a member of Independence High School's percussion section. Cassidy currently teaches the front ensemble at Union City High School, and taught Fayette Academy's front ensemble during their band camp. Cassidy studies percussion with Dr. Julie Hill.
Dustin Lutz, First Year
Paris, Tennessee
Dustin is a first year percussion student majoring in Music Education at UT Martin. He recently graduated from Henry County High School in Paris, TN. Dustin was in the All West TN band his senior year. He has instructed band camps at Hopkinsville High School, Henry County High School, and Bolivar Central High School. Dustin studies percussion with Dr. Julie Hill.
Katie McClain, First Year
Selmer, Tennessee
Katie McClain is a freshmen music education major at UT Martin. She graduated from McNairy Central High School after participating in the band program for five years and decided to pursue her passions of percussion and teaching. She studies percussion with Dr. Julie Hill.
Micaiah Radcliff, First Year
Nashville, Tennessee
Micaiah is a first year student at the University of Tennessee at Martin majoring in music education with a percussion emphasis. He moved to Tennessee from Massachusetts two years ago and joined the band and has been in love with music ever since. Micaiah is a recent graduate of Independence High School where he participated in the marching band, winter drum line, and wind ensemble while also serving as a student teacher in the percussion class. Micaiah spent the past summer participating in the inaugural season of Music City Drum and Bugle Corps. He studies percussion with Dr. Julie Hill.
Dennis Youngblood, First Year
Memphis, Tennessee
Dennis is a first year music performance major at UT Martin. He graduated from White Station High School in 2009. Dennis studies percussion with Dr. Julie Hill.
