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Meet the Percussion Instructors

Aubrey V. Adams

AubreyadamsAubrey V. Adams retired with honors in November 2001 as principal percussionist and section leader for the United States Air Force Band in Washington, D.C. after over 21 years of service.  Mr. Adams has performed in the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall with the National Symphony Orchestra. He is currently a member of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and has performed as principal percussionist with the Washington Ballet.  Mr. Adams has performed with the Washington Bach Consort, National Philharmonic, Fairfax Symphony, Alexandria Symphony, Annapolis Symphony and numerous choral ensembles.

 

Mr. Adams has performed on many local and national TV and radio broadcasts.  He may be heard on recordings of the U.S.A.F. Band and Orchestra, Capitol Winds, Warner Brothers, Meredith Publications, and Garwood Whaley’s’ Recital Duets For Snare Drum.  At present, Mr. Adams can also be heard playing all 40 of the Percussive Arts Society International Rudiments at their web site: http://www.pas.org/Resources/RudimentAudio.cfm.

Mr. Adams serves as adjunct faculty at the University of Maryland and is a percussion instructor for the Royal Guard of Oman. He has taught at George Mason University and is in high demand as an instructor at schools throughout the D.C. metro area.  Mr. Adams adjudicates throughout the state of Virginia for solo/ensemble festivals and district band/orchestra auditions.

Mr. Adams is also active as a writer.  His competition solos for snare drum are published by Pioneer Percussion Company; he has contributed articles for the Instrumentalist and Percussive Arts Society magazines.  Mr. Adams has an active percussion rental business and is sponsored by the Vic Firth Company.

 

Ben Tufts

Ben Tufts - Percussion Instructor"Ben Tufts, a NoVA native, holds a Bachelors in Music Education from Longwood University, and a Masters of Music from University of Maryland. He maintains a private studio of fifty students while clinicing and adjudicating marching, concert and jazz percussion in the region.

 

He is a freelance jazz and rock drummer, having shared stages like the 930 Club and the Kennedy Center with a wide range of artists, including Blues Traveler, David "Fathead" Newman, Ted Nugent, Benito Gonzalez, Candlebox, Edwin McCain, Chris Vadala, Sponge and The Gourds."