Mt. Lebanon Percussion

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Mt. Lebanon Percussion is a high school percussion program from Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. With six concert ensembles, four specialty ensembles and a marching percussion section, the program has been recognized as one of the premier percussion groups in the nation. Staff members include Richard T. Minnotte, Director; Thomas A. Earley, Associate Director; Subha Das, Principle Assistant Director; Jason Miller, Rick Laus and Dan Munier, Assistant Directors. As of 2006, Mt. Lebanon Percussion is comprised of over 225 students grades 4-12.

Contents 1 History 2 Staff 3 Ensembles 4 Malletech 5 Commissioning Series 6 Notes and references 7 External links

[edit] History

Mt. Lebanon Percussion was created in the fall of 1985, when a small group of students played Baja at the Winter Band concert. The first ensemble consisted of 15 students and one director, Mr. Minnotte. In 1987, the program performed its first evening concert, sharing the stage with band soloists. The following year, Mt. Lebanon Percussion presented its initial Evening of Percussion concert series, held over Memorial Day weekend.

The Holiday Bells, Mallets and Drums Series was added in December of 1996. The series featured selections from the holiday season, and performed not only in Mt. Lebanon, but across the Western Pennsylvania area. Moreover, the fall percussion ensemble was invited to be the house band for the KDKA Children's Hospital Free Care Fund Telethon; the ensemble continues to provide live music for this television event.^[1]

Since its conception, the program has continually increased the degree of difficulty of its music. In 1991, the first Grade 4 piece, Blues and Cakewalk by Joshua Missal, was performed (percussion music is graded on a scale from 1-6). Seven years later, the Senior High ensemble performed Tom Gauger's Portico, its first Grade 5 selection. By 2003, the Senior High ensemble was performing all Grade 5 and 5+ music, with its first Grade 6 piece, Stained Glass by David Gillingham, being performed the previous year. Currently, Mt. Lebanon Percussion performs numerous Grade 5 & 6 selections at its Evening of Percussion concert series, including works from Eric Ewazen, Christopher Rousse, Michael Hennagin, and Lynn Glassock.

In 2002, Mt. Lebanon Percussion was selected to perform at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Conference, held in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The group returned to the conference, held in Hershey, Pennsylvania, in 2005. The following year, Mt. Lebanon Percussion was honored by The National Association for Music Education (MENC) as the only percussion ensemble in the nation selected to perform at their biannual conference held in Salt Lake City, Utah. The competition included High School and College level percussion programs from across the United States.

Currently, the percussion program is in its 23rd season and is a highlight of the award-winning Mt. Lebanon School District Fine Arts Department. The program continues to hold its Evening of Percussion and Holiday Bells, Mallets and Drums Series every year, as well as additional performances throughout the community and beyond.

[edit] Staff

• Richard T. Minnotte - Richard Minnotte founded Mt. Lebanon Percussion and has served as its head director since its inception. He is also involved in nearly every aspect of the organization, and is the driving force behind its success. As a director, Richard Minnotte conducts several songs for the Senior Ensemble, including the premier selection each year; He is also the sole conductor for the Holiday Bells, Mallets and Drums concert series. Additionally, Richard Minnotte maintains a full-time job as an Operations Supervisor for the FAA at the Pittsburgh International Airport Control Tower. He is also very active in the Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church, where is a member and guest conductor of the choir. Richard Minnotte studied privately with Frank Shaffer and William Schneiderman. He attended Duquesne University in Pittsburgh where he received both Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Music Education.
• Thomas A. Earley - Thomas Earley is the Associate Director of Mt. Lebanon Percussion, and directs the Drum Line and the Elementary and Middle School Ensembles. In addition, he conducts several Senior Ensemble songs along with overseeing the Drum Set Ensemble. Thomas Earley also teaches private lessons. Outside of the program, he can be seen performing in numerous musical theater productions throughout Pittsburgh.
• Subha Das - As the Principle Assistant Director, Subha Das conducts the Freshmen Ensemble and several Senior Ensemble selections. He is also the director of the Brazilian Ensemble and the Keyboard Ensemble. In marching percussion, Subha Das directs the Front Ensemble, and maintains a rigorous teaching schedule throughout the year. He also performs frequently with several bands and musical groups in the Pittsburgh area. Subha Das graduated Magna Cum Laude from Duquesne University with a Bachelor's Degree in Percussion Performance (emphasis in Sound Recording Technology).
• Jason Miller - Jason Miller is an Assistant Director of Mt. Lebanon Percussion, and is mainly responsible for the Drum Line. He also directs the 8th Grade Ensemble and teaches private lessons. Though well versed in all of percussion, Jason Miller is most notably a drum set player; a position he fills in the popular Pittsburgh-based band Rusted Root. He is sponsored by Vic Firth. Mr. Miller's music education includes a Bachelor of Music Degree from the New England Conservatory of Music in 1994 (a student of Everett Firth and Fred Buda), and a Master of Music Degree from Southern Methodist University in 1997 where he studied with Doug Howard and Kalman Cherry. He is currently a student of world renowned drum set artist/clinician Dom Famularo.
• Rick Laus - As an Assistant Director, Rick Laus's responsibilities lie mostly in teaching private lessons. He also serves as the organizer and director of the Percussion Summer Camp for grades 4-7. Rick Laus received a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Pittsburgh and has studied percussion under "Babe" Fabrizi, Cosmo Barbaro, Ron Horner and Dr. Kwasi Jayourba.
• Dan Muenier - Dan Munier is the newest edition to the staff and joins Jason Miller and Rick Laus as an Assistant Director. He directs the African Ensemble and teaches private lessons. Active in teaching and performing across Pittsburgh, he is very knowledgeable in traditional West African drumming, as well other forms of hand drumming. Dan Munier received his Undergraduate Degree from Ithaca College and his Masters Degree from West Virginia University.

[edit] Ensembles

• Senior Concert Ensemble - Comprised of students grades 9-12 (10-12 in spring), the concert ensemble is the nucleus of both the fall and spring concert series. The ensemble is under the direction of Richard T. Minnotte, and assisted by Thomas A. Earley and Subha Das. Performances include the Holiday Bells, Mallets and Drums concert series, the "Evening of Percussion" concert series, and other performances throughout the city of Pittsburgh. In addition, the ensemble travels to performance sites across America to compete in various competitions and adjudications. The concert ensemble has received first place and superior ratings in such competitions.
• Drumline - Directed by Jason Miller and Thomas Earley, the Drumline is part of the Mt. Lebanon Marching Band. The instrumentation for the Drumline consists of 5-8 snare drums, 4-5 tenor drums, 5 bass drums and 5-8 cymbals. As of 2006, staff includes: Thomas Earley - Drumline director; Jason Miller - Drumline director and snare drum tech; Rick Laus - bass drum tech; Dave Alcorn - tenor drum tech; Jeremy DeLuca - cymbal tech. Performances with the Marching Band includes football games, band festivals and parades. As a solo unit, the drumline performs their cadence set, an approximately five minute song comprised of several short drum cadences, at Friday night home football games and other community events.
• Percussion Front - Nicknamed "the pit", the percussion front is another facet of the Mt. Lebanon Marching Band. The percussion front is directed by Subha Das and consists of multiple keyboards (marimbas, xylophones, vibes, glockenspiel), a wide variety of drums including bass drum, concert toms, snare drum, congas, bongos and various percussion accessory instruments. Performance opportunities include Marching Band events, acting as the honor guard for parades. Additionally, the percussion front performs in conjunction with the Drumline for a percussion feature presented at several football games and other public venues.
• Freshmen Ensemble - Created in 2002, the Freshmen Ensemble (formally known as the Training Ensemble) gives students in grade 9, as well as first year players, the opportunity to play lead parts in an environment conducive to learning. Directed by Associate Director Subha Das, the Freshmen Ensemble exclusively performs at the Evening of Percussion concert series. The ensemble practices three selections and performs two of the three at each of the three concerts.
• Brazilian Ensemble - Under the direction of Subha Das, the Brazilian Ensemble is one of four specialty ensembles that perform during the Evening of Percussion concert series. The ensemble gives students an opportunity to practice and perform music styled from Brazil, a country rich in distinct rhythm and melodies. Instrumentation includes the normal keyboard percussion, along with traditional Brazilian accessories such as the surdo, pandeiro, tamborim and repenique. The ensemble was created in 2002 and has played selections mostly from Ney Rosauro, a famous Brazilian percussionist and composer out of the University of Miami.
• African Ensemble - Premiered in 1998, the African Ensemble has been under the direction of Rick Laus (1998-2005) and Dan Muenier (2005-). Students learn the traditional West African techniques, rhythms, styles and teaching methods in the African Ensemble, particularly from the country of Guinea. The African Ensemble's instruments consist of djembes, dununs and voice. About 10-12 students each year participate in the African Ensemble, and performance opportunities include the Evening of Percussion concerts as part of the series, as well as several community events as a solo unit.
• Drumset Ensemble - A facet of the Spring Percussion Ensemble, the Drumset Ensemble performs only at the Evening of Percussion concert series in May. The staff selects 4-6 students in the ensemble's February auditions. Under the supervision of Thomas Earley, the Drumset Ensemble rehearses for a performance which includes choreographed lights, a smoke machine and solos by each of the groups members. Always a favorite of the spring concert series, the group has had only one 4-year member, Chris Harris. And soon to be 4-year member Seth Chizeck, who also will be one of the only 4-year snare drum players.
• Keyboard Ensemble - The Keyboard Ensemble is comprised of the 4-6 best mallet percussion players in the program. They are invited to joined based on their departmental audition and staff recommendation. Under the guidance of Subha Das, the ensemble is a self-directed group. Performances include the winter and spring concert series and several solo events, such as the introductory group for the Pittsburgh Symphony's Holiday Pop's concert.
• 8th Grade Ensemble - Including students from grade 8, the 8th Grade Ensemble gives students an opportunity to play in the percussion ensemble setting before entering the senior ensemble. The ensemble was directed by head director Rick Minnotte, however Jason Miller is now the director, and a few seniors that are considering majoring in percussion have led the group. Performances include one night of the three night Evening of Percussion concert series.
• Middle School Honors Ensemble - Directed by Thomas Earley, this ensemble gives students in grades 6-7 the experience of playing in percussion ensemble. These students are recommended to the group by their Middle School Band teachers. Along with preparing for their spring performance, the group learns the basics of many percussion instruments and playing in the ensemble settings.
• Elementary School Honors Ensemble - The Elementary Honors Ensemble introduces percussion ensemble to elementary students. Under the direction of Thomas Earley, students are taught percussion fundementals and how to play in an ensemble. Furthermore, students experience performing in front of a large audience for the first time.

[edit] Malletech

Mt. Lebanon Percussion's relationship with the Malletech corporation, a producer of world-class mallet instruments, began in 1997 when Mt. Lebanon purchased a 5-octave marimba. Since then, the program has purchased two 4.3 marimbas, a xylophone, bass marimba and a glockenspiel from Malletech. They also use Malletech marimba mallets in practice and performance.

In 2006, Malletech named Mt. Lebanon Percussion one of three Malletech Artist Ensemble. This distinct honor was given in light of their continued support and their selection for MENC earlier that year. As a Malletech Artist Ensemble, Mt. Lebanon is given discounts on instruments and equipment. In addition, they are recognized in Malletech's annual catalogue and other press releases. ^[2]

[edit] Commissioning Series

In 1995, Mt. Lebanon commissioned Kurt J. McNaught, then staff member, to transcribe Morning Dance by musical group Spyro Gyra for percussion ensemble. This began the Mt. Lebanon Percussion Commissioning Series, an effort to promote the development of repertoire for high school percussion ensembles. Four of these commissions have been nationally published and performed throughout the United States by various high schools and college ensembles. Additionally, The United States Army percussion ensemble has performed selections from Mt. Lebanon's Percussion Commissioning Series.

The Commissioning Series is comprised of transcriptions and original compositions. Transcriptions include Rhapsody in Blue by Kurt McNaught, excerpts from Les Miserables by Rob Sigler and Angels We Have Heard On High by P.J. Gatch. Original compositions include Winter Fantasy by Stanley Leonard. The four nationally published selections are Winter Fantasy (1996) and Good Christian Men Rejoice (1997) by Stanley Leonard, and The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy (1998) and God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen (2003) by Hart Morris. These compositions are for percussion ensemble and handbell choir.

As of 2006, there are 20 Commissioning Series compositions. All compositions are available on loan from Mt. Lebanon's music library.

[edit] Notes and references

[edit] External links

• Official Website
• Subha Das's Homepage