2023 STAFF

The 2023 MSU Performing Arts Camp has an expert, caring, and fun staff. All have experience either playing in or teaching the MSU Drumline! The following people will be on the 2023 staff:

Dr. Jon Weber has taught the Spartan Marching Band Drumline for the past 26 years. Dr. Weber teaches applied percussion in the MSU College of Music. He has presented at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention on creating a model drumline in the university setting and using rudimental drumming as part of the overall percussion curriculum. University, NBA, and NFL drumlines across the country have performed his arrangements. Dr. Weber has also taught at Oklahoma State University and for the Detroit Pistons Drumline. His students have performed in the Blue Devils, Phantom Regiment, Santa Clara Vanguard, The Cavaliers, Carolina Crown, The Cadets, Bluecoats, Madison Scouts, Blue Stars, Blue Knights, Rhythm X, Northcoast Academy, Matrix, and many other ensembles. He has presented clinics, performed, and / or taught camps in Taiwan, South America, Austria, and throughout the US. Weber is a Yamaha Performing Artist, Tapspace Artist, and proudly endorses Zildjian, Vic Firth, and Remo products. Dr. Weber is the percussion division head for the Music for All Summer Symposium.  For more information on that camp, please click here.

Wayne Bovenschen has been the Associate Professor in Percussion at Oklahoma State University for 30 years. The OSU Concert Percussion Ensemble has been invited to perform at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) twice in 1996 and 2014. The OSU Drumline has also competed in the PASIC Marching Percussion Competition seven times finishing as high as second in 2001 and 2012. Mr. Bovenschen has been active in Drum Corps International as a percussion instructor and arranger with Northern Aurora, Phantom Regiment, Suncoast Sound and Black Gold. Northern Aurora finished 1st in percussion at the 1988 DCI World Championships in Division II Finals. Mr. Bovenschen also performed as a snare drummer with the Cavaliers in 1982 and Phantom Regiment in 1983. Wayne is a graduate of Michigan State University with a Bachelors of Music Education in 1985 and Master of Music Performance in 1987 and served as section leader/teaching assistant for the Spartan Marching Band Drumline from 1983-1986. He is currently a member of the Vic Firth Education team and OSU is a proud sponsor of Yamaha Percussion, Remo Drumheads and Zildjian Cymbals.

Dr. Alex Smith is Assistant Professor of Percussion at UCM, where he instructs and writes for the UCM Marching Percussion Section. Smith received his D.M.A. in Percussion Performance at Michigan State University, where he also received his M.A. in Ethnomusicology and M.M. in Percussion Performance. In 2005 and 2006 Smith marched with the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps and has since worked with marching ensembles at the high school, collegiate, and independent levels such as the Michigan State University Drumline, East Carolina University Drumline, Eastside Fury, Green Hope High School, and Okemos High School.

Dr. Steven Wulff is an active performer and educator in the Lansing area. He started his career at MSU, where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Percussion Performance. As a member of the MSU Percussion Ensemble, Dr. Wulff was often a featured soloist. During his undergrad he played snare drum on the MSU Drumline, the WGI group Northcoast Academy, and the Detroit Pistons Drumline. Dr. Wulff received a Master’s Degree in Percussion Performance from the University of South Carolina. While there, he directed and arranged music for the USC Drumline, and served as snare tech for Palmetto Percussion in WGI. Dr. Wulff earned his DMA Degree from MSU. During that time, he assisted Dr. Jon Weber in teaching and arranging music for the MSU Drumline. Currently, Steven directs the percussion programs at both DeWitt and Grand Ledge high schools. He also teaches privately in the mid-Michigan area. You can often hear him play at the Wharton Center for musicals and other performances. Steven is a Vic Firth Artist/Educator and you can find his published music at Tapspace.com.

Amanda Watson has the unique distinction of being the only female center snare in the history of the Michigan State University Drumline. She was a member of the Spartan Marching Band from 2009-2012, serving as snareline section leader for her last two seasons. Amanda also performed with Phantom Regiment in 2011 for their production of "Juliet" and competed in BOA and WGI circuits as a member of the Plymouth-Canton High School Drumline. Watson earned a Psychology degree from Michigan State University and a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Eastern Michigan University. As a community-based occupational therapist, she specializes in Traumatic Brain Injury and Performing Arts Medicine and Rehabilitation. She recently launched her company, The Well Musician, where she serves as a healthcare consultant for musical ensembles and individuals. Her mission is to empower the performing arts community to prevent injury, address mental health challenges, and maximize the performance and experience of members. If you would like to learn more about Amanda or the services she provides, please visit www.thewellmusician.com.

Jack Tallman is a music educator and performer hailing from Jackson, Michigan. Jack has been a percussionist since he was twelve years old, in addition to studying voice and drum set. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a minor in Jazz Studies from Michigan State University. While at MSU, Jack performed as a member of the Michigan State Drumline, Salsa Verde salsa ensemble, Spartan Brass, MSU Symphony Orchestra, University Chorale, Percussion Ensemble, Mbira Ensemble, and more. Jack has performed globally in Taiwan, where the MSU Taiwan Percussion Ensemble won the TPAA World Championship in 2019. Jack has also performed with the Lansing Symphony Orchestra and Hillsdale College Percussion Ensemble. Jack currently teaches multiple high school percussion programs and drumlines in the Jackson, Ann Arbor, and Metro Detroit areas. He serves as Adjunct Professor of Percussion at Jackson College where he teaches the JC Drumline. Jack maintains a private lesson studio, and his students have gone on to perform in top ensembles such as the MSU Drumline and Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps. Jack is a proud member of the Vic Firth Education Team.

Darrien Spicak is a music educator, performer, and composer who is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Percussion Performance at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. He currently holds a Bachelor Degree in Music Education from Michigan State University, teaches private lessons, and instructs drumlines across North Texas. While completing his undergraduate degree at MSU, Darrien studied percussion with Dr. Jon Weber. He was a member of the Spartan Drumline where he served as the bass drum section leader in 2017. In 2018, he was an assistant percussion instructor who taught the bass line and composed the percussion music for several halftime show tunes. He was also a member, designer, and instructor for a percussion ensemble that performed in the 2019 Taiwan World Percussion Championships in Taipei, Taiwan, which took home three first place trophies and the competition’s Grand Prize. In addition to competing, he assisted Dr. Weber in an educational clinic in Taipei that covered a variety of marching percussion related topics. Darrien is now pursuing a Master’s Degree in Percussion Performance and serving as a graduate assistant for Dr. Brian A. West. He has performed with the award-winning TCU Percussion Orchestra at the 2019 Percussive Arts Society International Convention, led by Dr. Brian West and Dr. Richard Gipson, and the TCU Wind Symphony at the 2020 TMEA Convention, led by Bobby Francis. He also performs with, instructs, and supervises the Percussion Ensembles, Steel Bands, and Concert Band. Darrien has also been involved with Drum Corps International and Winter Guard International as a performer and an instructor. In 2016, he was a member of the bass line for the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps and continued his performing career with the Matrix World Percussion Ensemble bass line, placing in the top eight at WGI World Championships. Since 2019, he has been a bass drum instructor for the Legends Drum and Bugle Corps, receiving the high percussion award at the 2019 DCI Open Class Championships.

Cameron Halls is an active percussion educator and arranger based in Dayton, OH. He is a graduate of Michigan State University, where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. Cameron is an accomplished marching and concert percussionist with extensive performance experience in both fields. While at Michigan State, he performed in their Wind Symphony, Percussion Studio, and the Spartan Marching Band, as well as DCI & WGI groups including the Blue Devils, Carolina Crown, NorthCoast Academy, and Rhythm X. Cameron is currently the Percussion Director at Bellbrook HS as well as the Battery Coordinator for the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps. He is a part of the Vic Firth/Zildjian Education Team and proudly endorses their products.

If you have any questions, you can send them to Jon Weber at drumline@msu.edu .