For many directors, the percussion section can often be the most perplexing in the entire band. Keeping up with current trends and ensuring the right implementation is being used at all times can often be challenging and overwhelming. We will present you with a few simple ideas to revitalize and rebuild your percussion section with a minimal time commitment. Much like flipping a house you can turn your older, outdated home into something you will be proud of.
Moses Simon
- Biographical Information
Moses Anthony Simon, a native of Houston, Texas, is in his 16th year of teaching in Roma ISD. As Director of Percussion for Roma ISD, his teaching responsibilities include beginner/non-varsity/varsity percussion for Roma Middle School and leading ninth through twelfth-grade percussion at Roma High School. Mr. Simon received his Bachelor of Music Performance from Baylor University. While at Baylor University, he served as principal percussionist for the Wind Ensemble under Dr. Kevin Sedatole, the symphony orchestra under Mr. Stephen Heyde, and drumline section leader of the Golden Wave Band. Mr. Simon was a student of the late Dr. Larry Vanlandingham, Dr. Todd Meehan, Daniel Vega, and Alex Parker. He has also had additional private lesson studies with Brian Del Signore and Doug Howard. Under Mr. Simon’s direction, students have succeeded in the TMEA All-Region, All-Area, and All-State processes. The Roma Percussion Ensemble has achieved many successes and awards in marching, concert, and chamber festivals throughout the past decade, being recently named winners of the 2019 Percussive Arts Society’s International Percussion Ensemble Contest and performed at Midwest Clinic in 2022. Mr. Simon is an active clinician, arranger, performer, and adjudicator and is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Percussive Arts Society. Mr. Simon is supported by his loving family, excellent Roma ISD band staff, Roma Percussion Group members, friends, and his two dogs.
Matt Ehlers is in his second year as Director of Percussion for Dripping Springs High School and Middle Schools. Before his appointment at Dripping Springs, he served as Director of Percussion at A.N. McCallum High School and Lamar Middle School Fine Arts Academies in Austin, Texas. Originally from Seward, Nebraska, he graduated Cum Laude
with a degree in Music Education from the University of North Texas. As Percussion Director at McCallum High School, Ehlers coordinated the high school and middle school percussion curriculum, conducted the Beginner and Advanced Steel Bands, and directed the Samba Knights. The Advanced Steel Band was honored to perform at the 2006 Percussive Arts Society International Convention, the 2007 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the 2012 P.A.S.I.C., and the 2012 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. McCallum’s percussion ensemble was also selected as a winner of the
2015 Black Swamp Percussion Ensemble Showcase, they were winners of the 2015 Percussive Arts Society International Percussion Ensemble contest and were chosen to perform at the 2019 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. In 2013, with the help of a Creative Classroom grant, Ehlers founded the thirty-piece Brazilian Samba School, known
as the “Samba Knights,” at McCallum High School and created a community partnership
with the Austin Samba School. His compositions and arrangements for both steel band and
percussion ensemble can be found at Boxfish Music Publishing and Row-Loff Productions.
Matt and his wife Katie live in Dripping Springs with their daughter Lily and dog Carter.