Sonaris Percussion Educators
Bio
Nathan is an active performer, educator and composer. He earned his bachelors degree in percussion performance with a minor in jazz studies at Indiana University and his masters degree in percussion performance from the University of Colorado Boulder. He is currently finishing his DMA at the University of North Texas.
His recent performance experience includes playing with the One o’clock lab band, North Texas Wind Texas Wind Symphony, UNT Percussion ensemble and Afro-Cuban and Brazillian Ensembles at UNT. Nathan has shared the stage with many amazing musicians including Evelyn Glennie, Paquito D’Rivera, Andy Narell, Mark Walker, the Barcelona Clarinet Quartet and many others.
Nathan has been involved in the marching arts for several years, performing with Vigilantes Indoor Percussion in 2014, Rhythm X (‘16,’17) and the Bluecoats (‘18). He has taught the Front Ensemble at Legends Drum and Bugle corps and most recently Genesis drum and Bugle Corps.
His teachers include Dave Hall, Paul
Rennick, Kevin Bobo, Mark Ford, Ed Smith, Jose Aponte, Doug Walter, John Tafoya, Michael Spiro, Steve Houghton, Brian West and Stuart Spoon.
Nathan writes and arranges percussion music for groups across the metroplex. Most recently, he composed a percussion ensemble piece titled “Ark” and a collection of six marimba etudes titled “Creatures of the Wood” both premiered at UNT.
Nathan primary specialties are solo marimba improvisational research and performance and Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Brazilian percussion. Nathan creates online content geared for young keyboard players and those who are interested in technique and improvisation. This fall, Nathan will present his clinic titled “Fun with Improvisin’” at the PASIC convention in Indianapolis.
Bio
Joshua Hartwell is an accomplished performer and dedicated educator based in the city of Houston, TX. Born and raised in the Houston area, Joshua’s passion for music led him to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana, studying under the esteemed guidance of Dr. Lonny Benoit. He further honed his skills by earning a Master’s degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, studying with renowned professors Dr. Dean Gronemeier and Dr. Timothy Jones.
With a wealth of experience, Joshua has made significant contributions to various educational programs and ensembles. He served as a valued member of the staff at Foothill High School in Henderson, NV, where he instructed both the front ensemble and drumline. Joshua’s expertise extends to numerous marching activities in Texas and Louisiana, encompassing both outdoor and indoor settings. He has also held private lesson positions, imparting his knowledge of percussion and drumset to aspiring musicians. Previously, he held the the position of Director of Percussion for Goose Creek Memorial High School and its feeder cluster in Baytown, TX, and currently, he contributes his talents to Pearland High School with colleagues Clay Jasper and Ethan Ahmad.
Joshua’s musical journey has seen him perform with a diverse range of ensembles and bands across Texas, Louisiana, and Nevada. In 2016, he was a member of the Louisiana Stars Drum and Bugle Corps, playing in the front ensemble and being a part of DCI’s Most Improved Corps that season. In the Las Vegas area, he was as part of esteemed organizations like the Nevada Conservatory Theatre, Destinations by Design, and the UNLV Wind Orchestra. Notably, he entertained audiences on the renowned Las Vegas Strip, delivering captivating performances at corporate events, conventions, and private parties with various entertainment ensembles. Today, Joshua’s freelance endeavors take him throughout the Greater Houston area, where he continues to perform with the Royal Dukes Band, Lucas Sousa, Dyllan Culp, Kate Watson, Deep Steel Thunder, and a variety of orchestral ensembles, including the Momentum Percussion Group and Baytown Symphony.
Joshua is proud to endorse Salyers Percussion sticks and mallets, as well as SABIAN Cymbals, further emphasizing his commitment to delivering top-notch performances and achieving sonic excellence.
Bio
JC Calhoun is a dedicated and experienced percussion instructor, with a solid foundation in both performance and education. He earned his BM in Music Performance with a focus in percussion from Mars Hill University, where he studied under renowned instructors Mr. Paul Babelay, Mr. Justin Mabry, and Dr. Brian Tinkel. During his time at Mars Hill, JC participated in a variety of ensembles, including marching, concert, chamber, world percussion, and jazz groups, gaining comprehensive experience across multiple styles and settings.
In addition to his performance experience, JC received extensive training in percussion repair and maintenance, a skill he honed throughout his four years at university. This expertise has been invaluable in his role at Ludwig-Musser Percussion since 2021, where he creates, repairs, and tunes various percussion instruments.
JC’s performance career includes marching with Scholastic AA groups from Asheville, NC, North Greenville Indipendent from Greenville, SC, and Revelation Percussion from Fort Mill, SC. His versatility as a performer extends to theme park productions, where he was an original cast member in multiple JMMD productions at Cedar Fair’s Carowinds and Kings Island theme parks.
As an educator, JC has been teaching percussion since 2017, bringing his passion and expertise to several high school programs. At Catawba Ridge High School, he taught the battery and front ensemble from 2021 to 2022, assisting with their back-to-back 3A and 4A South Carolina state championships and multiple BOA regional championships. He also assisted in coaching the Catawba Ridge world-class scholastic concert ensemble to a bronze medal at the World Championships in Dayton, Ohio, in 2022.
In 2023, JC worked with the Nation Ford High School front ensemble, guiding them to a bronze medal at the South Carolina state championships and a semi-final placement at the Grand National Championships in Indianapolis Colts Stadium. His ongoing work with Revelation Percussion since 2022 has seen the group earn a bronze medal at the WGI World Championships in Dayton, Ohio, in their 2024 season.
JC is the owner and founder of 8&IN Percussion Studio LLC, located in Fort Mill, SC. Under JC’s leadership, the studio focuses on providing world-class service to each and every student involved, with the mission of making real percussion education available to everyone.
JC is endorsed by the Sonaris Percussion, reflecting his expertise and standing in the percussion community.
Currently, JC serves as the percussion director at Nation Ford High School and is committed to fostering excellence in his students, combining his extensive performance background with a deep understanding of percussion techniques and maintenance. His dedication to music education and his proven track record of success make him a valuable asset to any band program.
Online Lessons
Bio
Percussionist Bella Scotti is currently active in the State College area, collaborating and working with local rising artists, including current Penn State students, as well as performing with local ensembles such as the State College Municipal Band, the Raystown Wind Orchestra, the Nittany Valley Symphony, the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra, the Altoona Symphony Orchestra, and the Penns Woods Winds Symphony. She has also performed nationally at CBDNA-E as both a member of the Collegiate Band and through the Penn State Wind Ensemble’s featured performance in 2024, as well as with the New Orchestra of Washington in Washington, D.C. Bella has performed multiple local solo percussion gigs, including at The Village at Penn State Retirement Community and Messiah University’s Percussive Arts Society Day of Percussion. She is an active private instructor for both piano and percussion with students ranging from elementary school-age to PhD candidates, and was a percussion instructor with the State College Concert Percussion Academy during the Spring 2023 semester. Bella was one of the Percussion Teaching Assistants at the Interlochen Arts Camp during Summer of 2024. She serves on the Education Committee of the Percussive Arts Society.
Bella earned her undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree in music and percussion performance and a Professional Performance Certificate from Penn State University, and is currently completing a Master of Music in Percussion Performance as the Percussion Studio Teaching Assistant at Penn State under the instruction of Dr. Lee Hinkle.
In her free time, Bella likes spending time with friends, playing video games, and exploring new music genres. She is also an avid listener and enjoyer of electronic dance music, and frequently draws musical inspiration from artists such as Avicii, Zedd, Jacob Collier, Anomalie, and Skrillex.
Bio
Emily Ickes grew up in Kalamazoo, and attended Western Michigan University from 2003-2007, obtaining a Bachelor of Music in Percussion. She went on to Ithaca College, where she studied with Gordon Stout, and received her Master of Music in Percussion performance in 2009. After graduating, Emily remained in central New York, and was an adjunct faculty member at Ithaca College for several years. There she taught music theory and aural skill classes, percussion methods class, and twice served as a long-term substitute percussion professor. Concurrent with her work at Ithaca College, Emily was also a private music instructor, providing piano, percussion, and music theory lessons throughout the Southern Tier region of New York.
Emily has been a member of Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes in Corning, NY since 2008, and became the orchestra’s principal timpanist in 2012. She has performed extensively as a freelance percussionist and pianist throughout central New York. Since returning to her hometown in 2022, she has continued teaching both piano and percussion, as well as performing, appearing with such groups as the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and the Southwest Michigan Symphony.
Bio
Born and raised in Georgia, Nic Farris is a seasoned percussionist with over a decade of
experience, having marched with acclaimed groups like the Bluecoats and Music City Mystique.
Currently, he teaches at Music City Drum and Bugle Corps, Civitas Independent, and various
high schools throughout Georgia. Through his teaching his students have made various
prestigious ensembles such as All State, Bluecoats, Cavaliers, Music City, Troopers, and many
more.
Nic is also a tech enthusiast, with a bachelor’s in Computer Science and a master’s in Machine
Learning from Georgia Tech. His love for technology blends with his passion for music, creating
a unique and innovative approach to his work, such as his videos on the statistics of WGI
Marimba and Vibraphone or using machine learning to identify emotion. In his free time, Nic
creates Youtube Videos and Instagram Reels of himself playing music and works on various
percussion projects such as his recent packet on 4 mallet technique!