Mount Lebanon Percussion

Mount Lebanon Percussion is the percussion program for the high school of Mount 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; Subha Das, Principal Assistant Director; Jason Miller, Rick Laus and Dan Muenier, Assistant Directors.

History

Mount 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, Mount 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 1996. The series featured selections from the holiday season, and performed not only in Mount Lebanon, but across the Western Pennsylvania area. Moreover, the fall percussion ensemble was invited to be the house band for the KDKA-TV 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, Mount Lebanon Percussion performs numerous Grade 5 & 6 selections at its Evening of Percussion concert series, including works from Eric Ewazen, Christopher Rousse, Michael Hennagin, Nathan Daughtrey and Lynn Glassock.

In 2002, Mount 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, Mount Lebanon Percussion was honored by The MENC: The National Association for Music Education as the only percussion ensemble in the nation selected to perform at their biannual conference held in Salt Lake City, Utah. The ensemble traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana in 2007 for the National Percussion Festival which is affiliated with Bands of America/Music for All. The group then returned to the Pennsylvania Music Educators Conference, held in Hershey, Pennsylvania in 2008. For the year 2009 the ensemble will be making another trip to Indianapolis, Indiana for their second appearance at the National Percussion Festival.

Currently, the percussion program is a part of the award-winning Mount 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 local, regional, and national performances.

Staff

• Richard T. Minnotte - Richard Minnotte founded Mount 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 Mount 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.
• Subha Das - As the Principal 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 Mount 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 Muenier 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.

Ensembles

• Senior Concert Ensemble - Comprising students grades 10-12, 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 Mount 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; Alan Phear - 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 comprising several short drum cadences, at Friday night home football games and other community events. The cadence set is known for the Drumline's use of visuals, most notably a stick toss across the snare line. In 2000, for one performance only, two members of the cymbal line did a cymbal toss to compliment the snare line stick toss.
• Percussion Front - Nicknamed "the pit", the percussion front is another facet of the Mount Lebanon Marching Band. The percussion front is directed by Jeremy Smith and consists of multiple keyboards (marimbas, xylophones, vibraphone, 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. However, this year the conjoined ensembles will not be sporting a percussion feature, although a song called Race with the Devil was worked on during the summer.
• 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 and "Holiday Bells, Mallets and Drums" concert series. The ensemble practices multiple selections and performs them at each of the multitude of 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 from Ney Rosauro, a famous Brazilian percussionist and composer out of the University of Miami. More recently, the group began playing rhythms influenced by Marcus Santos, a distinguished Brazilian percussionist and friend of Subha Das.
• African Ensemble - Premiered in 1998, the African Ensemble has been under the direction of Rick Laus (1998–2005) and Dan Muenier (2005–Present). 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. The Drumset Ensemble rehearses for a performance which includes choreographed lights, a smoke machine and solos by each of the groups members.
• Keyboard Ensemble - The Keyboard Ensemble comprises 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.
• Middle School Honors Ensemble - This ensemble gives students in grades 6-7 the experience of playing in percussion ensemble.
• Elementary School Honors Ensemble - The Elementary Honors Ensemble introduces percussion ensemble to elementary students.

Malletech

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

In 2006, Malletech named Mount 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, Mount Lebanon is given discounts on instruments and equipment. In addition, they are recognized in Malletech's annual catalogue and other press releases.^[2]

Commissioning Series

In 1995, Mount Lebanon commissioned Kurt J. McNaught, then staff member, to transcribe Morning Dance by musical group Spyro Gyra for percussion ensemble. This began the Mount 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 Mount Lebanon's Percussion Commissioning Series.

The Commissioning Series comprises transcriptions and original compositions. Transcriptions include Rhapsody in Blue by Kurt McNaught, excerpts from Les Misérables 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 Mount Lebanon's music library.

Notes and references

1. ^ Fabregas, Luis (2005-12-11). "Bogut's benefit losing sparkle". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_402891.html. Retrieved 2006-06-18. 
2. ^ "News & New Releases". MostlyMarimba. http://www.mostlymarimba.com/bin/news.php. Retrieved 2006-06-20. 

General sources:

• Laura Pace (May 26, 2004). "Mount Lebanon Schools ensemble marches to beat of its own drums at 20". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04147/321843.stm. 
• Mount Lebanon School District Fine Arts News, April 2006

External links

• Official Website
• Subha Das's Homepage