International Drum Corps Champion Leads Marching Band Percussion Invitational

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Percussionist Colin McNutt

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Award-winning percussionist and educator Colin McNutt will serve as guest clinician for the university’s second annual Marching Band Percussion Invitational. The University of Arkansas Bands Program will host six local high school drumlines Saturday, Sept. 21, for the one-day clinic.

McNutt is the percussion supervisor and arranger for The Cadets drum and bugle corps. The Cadets, a program of Youth Education in the Arts in Allentown, Pa., have won the Drum Corps International World Championship 10 times. One of the oldest and most honored continuously operating drum and bugle corps, the group includes 150 performers from all over the country and world.

“The Marching Percussion Innovational is a special opportunity for us to connect our region’s young musicians to the world’s top artist in marching percussion,” said Ben Chamberlain, director of athletic bands. “We believe that music educators and students will leave the Marching Percussion Invitational with a heightened passion for the percussive arts and more practical tools to grow as teachers and musicians.”

Drumlines from Alma, Berryville, Fayetteville, Rogers, and Springdale high schools in Arkansas and McDonnald County high school in Missouri will each receive 50 minutes with McNutt during the workshop. They will also have 50 minutes with Chal Ragsdale, professor of percussion, and percussion graduate assistants. The University Bands Program produces the clinic at no cost to the invited schools.

Along with his extensive percussion instruction, McNutt has also arranged music and instructed for the Star of Indiana of Bloomington, Ind., the Glassmen of Toledo, Ohio, and the Crossmen. He has served on the faculty at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, along with instructing for the percussion companies Avedis Zildjian Co., REMO, Inc., and Vic Firth.  He has written music for the popular production “Blast!” and marching bands throughout the United States and Japan.

The University of Arkansas Bands Program, part of the department of music in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, includes the Razorback Marching Band, Hogwild Band, Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, Concert Band and Campus Band.