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Band Director, Percussion Instructor, Color Guard, Percussion Instructor -Bill Phalen “Mr. P” is a native of Huntingtown, Maryland. He started his musical career as a violinist, and then switched to percussion full-time in high school. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Maryland, then went to the University of Kansas for his Master’s degree. While he was at Maryland, he worked with several schools in Maryland and Pennsylvania as a percussion instructor and arranger. In 1994 he was instructor for two groups that were State Champions in their class in Maryland, as well as the winner of the Best Percussion award at the Atlantic Coast Championships. He also performed in every instrumental ensemble needing a percussionist at the University of Maryland and was the principal percussionist for the Symphonic Wind Ensemble from Fall 1993 through Spring 1994. At Kansas, he was a Graduate Teaching Assistant with the KU Bands, instructing the KU Drumline, coordinating percussion for the entire KU Band program, and performing as Timpanist for the KU Orchestra. He was also a member of the Percussion Ensemble, and performed with Jazz Ensemble I as part of the 1997 KU Jazz Festival, backing up Toni Tenille in the headliner performance of the festival. Mr. P served as the Assistant Conductor of the University Band and was a director of the Basketball Bands, conducting at Big-8, Big-12, and NCAA Tournament games for both men’s and women’s basketball. As a music educator, Mr. P has worked as a band director in Texas, Maryland, and Colorado, and earned Excellent and Superior ratings in concert, marching and orchestra performances. While teaching in Maryland he was one of the conductors of the Potomac Valley Youth Orchestras and served as Chief Percussion Judge for the Maryland All-State Band and Orchestra auditions for three years. Since moving to Colorado, he has been a judge for the US Scholastic Band Association for contests in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Nevada, and has judged for RMPA for three years, as well as assisting CBA with State Championship events. He was one of the host directors for the Canon City Music & Blossom Festival for four years, and continues to help with the festival as a member of the Bands committee. As a percussionist, he was a student of Ron Barnett at Maryland and George Boberg at Kansas. He has also been heavily influenced by Tom Aungst and Thom Hannum for marching percussion, and Vic Firth, Fred Begun, Evelyn Glennie and Tony Asero for orchestral percussion, and he is a fan of Stewart Copeland, Neil Peart, and Vinnie Colaiuta. Mr. P is currently the Percussion Instructor for Pine Creek HS and The Classical Academy as well as Doherty, and hopes to build a private percussion studio once he finally gets moved to Colorado Springs! His wife Karen is an oncology nurse currently working in Pueblo, and they are the proud parents of Meredith (age 4) and Brenna (age 2) who love to see all the groups their dad works with. Under Construction
Thank you for your patience
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