Herschell Clark has been playing percussion for over 20 years.  At 10 years old he began playing drumset at church functions.  In high school, in addition to playing percussion, I was a first chair trombone player in the jazz, concert, symphonic, and marching bands. In his final year of high school, he was a performing member of the Francis Howell North winter Drumline (3x WGI PSA finalist). While attending College, Herschell began to branch out and started to snare drum as a member of the SEMO Golden Eagles marching band. His sophomore year, he was appointed to be the section leader.  The winter before graduating college, he became a snare tech at Marquette High School where I have been ever since.

Over the past 5 years, the Marquette percussion ensembles have been one of the most successful programs in Missouri both in the indoor and outdoor activities winning or placing at almost every competition they attended. Most notably a bronze medal at MCCGA circuit championships for the 2012-2013 season. Marquette has also seen success in the solo and ensemble setting, having compiled an impressive collection of number one ratings at the district and state levels. 

In 2009, Mike Davis a mentor to Herschell gave him an opportunity to work with Freedom Indoor Percussion.  This partnership also led to him returning to my alma mater to work with WGI Regional Finalists Francis Howell North Drumline.  Since joining the “Free Team”, I have taught on the visual staff as both tech and caption head, the music staff as tech and front ensemble caption head, and also written the drill.

This year will be my first as ensemble director.  I began using Innovative Percussion products in 2008 and haven’t looked back since. The consistency and attention to detail really helps me to achieve a sound quality that’s simply better than anything else I’ve tried.