BEST OF THE BEST: TOP PERCUSSIONISTS PERFORM AT SCOTCH PLAINS DAY OF PERCUSSION, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11

From the world of jazz and classical music and drum corps, three world-famous percussionists will perform and teach on stage at the Day of Percussion on Saturday, February 11 at the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School.

Performances begin at 9 a.m. with percussion ensembles from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, Ridge High School, Metuchen High School and North Brunswick High School, Kean University and Terrill Middle School.

Clinics begin at 11:00 a.m. with John Riley.  Riley is an 11-time Grammy Award nominee and two-time Grammy winner.  He has played with world class musicians including Stan Getz, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and many others.  Riley is on the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music and the author of The Art of Bop Drumming and The Master Drummer.  He has taught master classes around the world and is listed as one of the top 500 drummers in Drummerworld magazine.

Dennis DeLucia and The Bridgemen Drumline will perform at 1:30  DeLucia is considered one of the most renowned percussion arrangers, teachers, clinicians and judges in North America.  He is the first percussionist to be inducted into all three major Halls of Fame: the World Drum Corps Association, Winter Guard International and the Drum Corps International.  His drumlines have won 16 championship “High Percussion” titles.  DeLucia has judged band competitions since 1985 and Winter Guard International Indoor Percussion Championships since 1995.  DeLucia is the author of four books, including “The Drummers Daily Drill” and “Marching Percussion Essentials.”  He has conducted percussion clinics and workshops in 43 states and six countries.   

Michael Zellers will take the stage at 3:00 p.m.  Percussion composition and arranging is the heart of Zellers’ percussion background.  He uses his vast wealth of marching percussion to instruct numerous drum corps including the Reading Buccaneers, Jersey Surf and most recently the 2011 Drum Corps International World Champion Cadets.  He has served as the front ensemble arranger for the Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps and Juliana Drum and Bugle Corps from Middleburg, Holland.  Zellers is an active solo and concert percussionist. 

Prizes, giveaways, raffles, vendor merchandise and refreshments will be available throughout the day.  Admission is $5 for entrants under 12 years of age, and $7 for anyone aged 12 and older.  The Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School is at 667 Westfield Rd. in Scotch Plains.