Jauvon Gilliam
Principal Timpanist of the National Symphony since 2009. He also performs regularly as guest principal timpanist of the Budapest Festival Orchestra. In addition, he is timpanist of the All-Star Orchestra, a made-for-PBS group comprised of players from orchestras across the United States. An an educator, he is Co-Director of Percussion Studies at the University of Maryland. In the business realm, he owns a DC metro based multiuse recording/rehearsal facility and instrument/backline rental company, The Shed DMV and Capitol Percussion + Backline (www.thesheddmv.com).
Brian Prechtl
Percussionist with the Baltimore Symphony since 2003. Prechtl studied with several of the giants in the field of orchestral percussion, among them Charles Owen, Michael Udow and Alan Abel. Prechtl is a passionate advocate for music education, and he has worked as an educator and mentor with the BSO’s outreach program, OrchKids, since 2009. Prechtl works with more than 200 children weekly in three schools in Baltimore’s most at-risk neighborhoods, calling it the most fulfilling work he does.
McClenty Hunter
Jeff Stern
Dr. Sean Daniels, composer-in-residence
Terrell Smith
Chris DeChiara
Multiple grammy nominated jazz drummer featured several times in Modern Drummer magazine. Has toured the world with the Kenny Garrett quintet and the Dave Stryker trio. Has performed with several jazz artists including: Lou Donaldson, Curtis Fuller, Cedar Walton, Wycliffe Gordon, and many others. Mr. Hunter is a graduate of The Julliard School and Howard University. In May 2018, Mr. Hunter released his debut solo album, The Groove Hunter, with a bevy of world class artists including: Corcoran Holt, Eric Reed, and Donald Harrison.
Marimba and Chamber Percussion Specialist. Percussion Faculty at the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University. He has worked closely with and given premieres of works by composers such as Martin Bresnick, John Luther Adams, Michael Laurello, and James Wood, including Wood’s recent marimba solo, Secret Dialogues. He is a member of the chamber group, icarus Quartet (www.icarusquartet.org). He is also a member of the newly comprised ensemble called The Percussion Collective, created by percussion pioneer Robert Van Sice (www.thepercussioncollective.com).
Dr. Sean Daniels has performed in variety of settings. He has shared the stage with outstanding artists such as Kenny Garrett, Lou Rawls, Rufus Reid, Carl Allen, and Fred Wesley. He formerly served as the Percussion Area Leader at Tennessee State University in Nashville, TN. Under his leadership the TSU Percussion Program performed at the Percussive Arts Society's (PAS) State and International Conferences. His recordings are available through CD Baby, Itunes, and Amazon. His compositions are available through C. Alan, Dutch Music, Permus, and Sean Sarah Publications. He received his Doctoral degree in Percussion Performance and Pedagogy from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, his Master’s degree in Percussion Performance from The Ohio State University and the Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from Alabama State University. Sean is currently a member of the PAS Board of Advisors. He has presented at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, HBCU Band Directors Consortium, Metro Nashville Summer Band Camp, College Band Directors Association Southern Region Conference, and several High Schools, Colleges, and Universities. In March 2021, he was appointed Chairperson of the Department of Fine Arts at Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi. Dr. Daniels will be presenting a jazz vibraphone clinic and coach percussion ensembles on his composition(s).
Terrell Smith has enjoyed years of success as a music educator, adjudicator and clinician along the East Coast. and also works as a music arranger, show designer and program coordinator for high school and college marching bands, and drum and bugle corps. He has been on the instructional staff of several world class drum and bugle corps, including: The Cadets, Santa Clara Vanguard and Reading Buccaneers. Currently, he is the Director of Athletic Bands at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Terrell is the founding Director of the award winning Thunder Brigade Drum and Bugle Corps – Maryland’s only competitive DCI – SoundSport drum and bugle corps.
Percussionist with The United States Navy Band since 2001. Bachelor’s Degree from University of Massachusetts, and Master’s from New England Conservatory. Marched with the DCI drum corps - the Boston Crusaders in 1994. Mr. DeChiara is equally masterful in symphonic, rudimental, mallet percussion, and drum set realms. He performs regularly with the Annapolis and Alexandria Symphonies, Kennedy Center Opera Orchestra, and several other orchestral ensembles. In addition, he is an in demand rock drummer as he plays with three different rock bands: Dr. FU, Eyes of the Nile, and Herr Metal.
John Spirtas
John Spirtas joined the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra in 2000 as Principal Percussionist. John has performed with the Post Classical Ensemble since 2005. He has performed as a substitute percussionist with the National Symphony and the Chautauqua Symphony. John currently serves on faculty at George Mason University as Adjunct Professor in Percussion and at Washington Adventist University in the same capacity. Prior to joining the KCOHO, John was a percussionist in the New World Symphony, in Miami Beach, Florida. He performed with the NWS in the 2000 American Mavericks Festival in San Francisco under the batons of Michael Tilson Thomas and composer John Adams. John is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the New England Conservatory of Music. His teachers include Alan Abel, Will Hudgins, Salvatore Rabbio, Michael Udow and Nora Davenport.