Percussion Lessons At The Conservatory

Education

• Bachelor of Music, Percussion Performance | University of Wisconsin-Parkside

Background

• Joined the WCM team in 2020.
• Instructs, collaborates, and performs in a variety of settings.
• Teaches through Ravinia’s Reach, Teach, Play program.
• Received the Percussive Arts Societies’ Ludwig Industries Scholarship.
• Was a soloist for the 2018 Wisconsin Days of Percussion.
• Was a featured recitalist for the BMO noon concert series at UW-Parkside.

Education

• Bachelor of Music with Honors, Percussion Performance and Jazz Studies | University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana

Background

• Multi-instrumentalist, educator, songwriter, record producer, and touring/session musician with 20+ years of experience, Darren studied percussion with Glenn Kotche (Wilco), Michael Zerang, William Moersch, and Ricardo Flores.

• Released a variety of solo albums and has produced music for Daniel Rodriguez (Elephant Revival), The Lumineers, Emma Rose (Big Richard), Nathaniel Riley, Paper Arrows, and Daniel and the Lion among others.

• Performed locally at Colectivo Backroom, Turner Hall Ballroom, Shank Hall, Riverside Theater, Meyer Theatre, Lawrence Memorial Chapel, Majestic Theater, High Noon Saloon, Mile of Music, Bradley Center, Leach Amphitheater, Monroe Arts Center, and Summerfest.
  
  
• Additional performance highlights include the Ryman Auditorium, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Ravinia, New York Central Park, Chicago Pritzker Pavilion, San Francisco Golden Gate Park, The Gorge, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Levon Helm Studios, Coors Field Denver, and Germany’s Rockpalast.

• As a drummer/percussionist Darren has worked with artists Daniel Rodriguez, Shook Twins, Elephant Revival, Courtney Hartman, Lindsay Lou, Sandra Bernhard, Steve Poltz, John Craigie, Danny Barnes, Cameron McGill & What Army, Danny Burns, Cory Chisel and The Wandering Sons, Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts, Daniel and the Lion, and Chicago Farmer.

• Darren lives in the Milwaukee area with his wife and two daughters.
  Learn more at www.DarrenGarvey.com

Chair – Woodwinds, Brass & Percussion

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree, Music Education, Music Performance | Ohio State University
• Master’s Degree, Music Performance | University of South Carolina

Background

• Began his musical studies at age nine, playing drum set and taking private percussion lessons.
• Coached the percussion ensemble and spent time conducting the wind ensemble as a Teaching Assistant and Counselor for the Instrumental Music Program at The North Carolina Governor’s School East(summers of 2014-2015).
• Was the Front Ensemble Instructor with the Grove City High School Marching Band, including a trip to the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California (2016-2017).
• Received the prestigious Presser Foundation Scholarship while studying at Ohio State.
• Worked as a Graduate Assistant for the University of South Carolina percussion studio and was the percussionist for the Spark Collective, a graduate quintet focusing on community engagement through music.
• Won the concerto competition at the University of South Carolina in 2018 and performed Kevin Puts’ Marimba Concerto No. 1 with the University of South Carolina Symphony Orchestra in 2019.
• Enjoys practicing marimba, making coffee, and hanging out with his dog, Lila.

Education

• Bachelor of Music, Jazz Studies | Indiana University Jacobs School of Music

Background

• Joined the Conservatory faculty in January 2019.
• Teaches and plays various styles of music on the drum set, specializing in jazz.
• Plays with her modern jazz quartet in the Milwaukee area.
• Featured as an instructor for the Vic Firth video series “Inside the Teaching Studio” entitled How to Sound Like Elvin Jones.
• Has played with musicians such as Leni Stern, Ingrid Jensen, and Jamie Baum.
• Enjoys teaching the bucket drumming and world percussion classes through the Conservatory Connections program, as well as private percussion lessons.

Background

• WCM Conservatory Connections faculty since 2005.
• Comes from a family of musicians and performers whose lineage can be traced to Puerto Rico and further back to Africa and Spain; during his childhood, both his father and uncle played major roles in the Midwest music scene as musicians, promoters, and bandleaders.
• Started his music studies at the age of five at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music.
• Studied in the high school music program and learned to read music, music theory, play drum-set and concert percussion, earning him top honors in solo and state competitions.
• Began playing professionally by the age of 16, and at 21, embarked on his solo career, working to develop himself as an artist and teacher.
• Started working with Milwaukee Public Theatre in 2000, teaching arts residencies, drumming, and touring in several theatre productions.
• Can now be found performing with many successful local and national acts, with an extensive resume of performances at local and national community centers, schools, businesses, arenas, clubs, music venues, and private events.
• Currently designs, manages, and facilitates his own musical ensembles, drumming workshops, drum circles, drum and dance residencies, drum making workshops, educational presentations, and musical performances.

Education

• Bachelor of Music, Percussion Performance | Manhattan School of Music
• Master of Music | DePaul University
• Performance Certificate | DePaul University

Background

• Has been teaching at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music since 2014.
• Teaching a wide range of students, special areas of training include concert snare drum, xylophone, marimba, timpani, and drum set.
• Performs extensively with orchestras such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with tours to Carnegie Hall, Grant Park Festival Orchestra, and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.
• Began as Principal Percussion of the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra in the 2017/18 season.
• While a student at DePaul University, he participated in the Music Academy of the West festival in Santa Barbara, CA, as well as the Pacific Music Festival held in Sapporo, Japan.
• He has also recorded percussion and drum set for the Fireside Theater’s (Ft. Atkinson, WI) production of Mary Poppins, The Wizard of Oz, It’s A Wonderful Life, Peter Pan and Sister Act as well as for the Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s production of The Color Purple and Dreamgirls.

Chair, Jazz & Contemporary Music

Education

• Bachelor of Music, Emphasis in Jazz Studies | Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
• Performer’s Certificate for Senior Recital

Background

• WCM faculty member since 2016.
• Began playing drums at age eight and has been studying percussion since age nine.
• Co-leads tour-de-force fusion group, “Match Stick,” which released a self-titled album in 2019.
• Released his debut CD, “FLY!”, in 2014, which invites listeners on a musical journey of original compositions and out-of-the-box arrangements for 20-piece big band.
• Featured clinician for the 2015 Summerfest Big Band Camp, along with Curt Hanrahan and Mike Steinel.
• Conducted masterclasses at UW-Parkside, University of Indianapolis, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Park Tudor School, and Nicolet High School.
• Teaches percussion at several Milwaukee public schools through the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music’s Conservatory Connections program.

Education

• Bachelor of Arts in Music, Percussion Performance, Composition and Jazz Studies | University of Wisconsin-Parkside

Background

• Paul Westfahl is an active performer and educator in Southeast Wisconsin.
• Paul has worked with many Milwaukee organizations including The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s ACE program, UWM Dance Department, Danceworks, Young Dance Academy and The Milwaukee Children’s Choir to name a few.
• In addition to working with dancers and maintaining a demanding freelance performing schedule as a drummer and percussionist, Paul leads and composes for several of his own projects.
• Is also involved as a sideman and co-conspirator/performer/composer with dozens of ensembles throughout the Milwaukee area.
• Since 2015, Paul has dedicated himself to studying tabla and is a disciple of Pandit Hindole Majumdar.