Youth Performing Arts School Percussion Ensemble

Performer Details

Performer Bio Synopsis

The Youth Performing Arts School (YPAS) Percussion Ensemble meets every other day for 90 minutes and for select weekly after-school rehearsals when needed (generally once a week in the months of January through March). The ensemble performs on average at two band concerts a year and one Showcase Concert in late March that includes collegiate and professional repertoire. All members of the ensemble perform études in all areas of percussion, including marimba, vibraphone, timpani, snare drum, and drum set. All students are expected to audition for All-District and All-State Band in all three areas (mallets, timpani, and snare drum). In addition, each member will perform eight solo convocation performances throughout their high school career. Convocation solos usually focus on multiple percussion, marimba, vibraphone, timpani, and xylophone solos. YPAS percussionists are also expected to perform at least one solo at the Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA) District 12 Solo and Ensemble Festival each year. Lastly, all senior percussionists perform a full recital in the spring semester. The YPAS Percussion Ensemble has had the opportunity to perform at KMEA music conferences, at four BOA/Music for All Sandy Feldstein National Percussion Festivals, and at the Percussive Arts Society International Conference and commissioned and premiered "Hurtling through Space at an Unimaginable Speed" by composer David Maslanka in 2012. In recent years, the YPAS Percussion Ensemble was again selected to perform at the KMEA state music conference (2014) with guest artist Michael Burritt of the Eastman School of Music, won the large ensemble division of the Black Swamp High School Percussion Ensemble national competition in 2015 (first place) and 2022 (second place), was a featured ensemble at the Music for All/Sandy Feldstein National Percussion Festival (2016), and was selected to perform at the International Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic (2017). In addition, the YPAS percussion program averages 6 to 8 percussionists in Kentucky All-State Ensembles, 4 to 6 percussionists in the Kentucky All-State Percussion Ensemble, and 14 to 16 percussionists in All-District Bands each year. Many YPAS percussionists have moved on to successful careers in music.

Youth Performing Arts School Percussion Ensemble

Conductor's Bio

Dr. Kevin Callihan is currently the Director of Bands at the Youth Performing Arts School in Louisville, KY and an Associate Conductor of the Louisville Youth Wind Symphony. He has previously held Director of Bands positions at Longwood University (VA), Kentucky Wesleyan College, and Apollo High School (KY). Callihan holds degrees from Morehead State University, Northwestern University, and the University of Kentucky. In addition, Dr. Callihan was named the KMEA High School Teacher of the Year for the 2024-2025 school year. Ensembles under Dr. Callihan's direction have been selected to perform at the Midwest Clinic, the Music for All National Concert Band Festival, the Jazz Education Network Conference, the College Band Directors National Association/National Band Association Southern Division Conference, the Phi Beta Mu Concert Festival, and the Kentucky Music Educators Association Conference. The YPAS Wind Ensemble was selected as a 2023, 2024, & 2025 National Winner in The Foundation for Music Education’s Mark of Excellence/National Wind Band Honors Project in two divisions (AAAAA & New Music). In addition, Dr. Callihan has presented and/or performed at the Virginia Music Educators Association Conference, the Virginia Band & Orchestra Directors Association Clinic, the Kentucky Music Educators Association Conference, the International Tuba & Euphonium Conference, the International Trombone Festival, the College Band Directors National Association Conference, and the International Society for Research and Promotion of Wind Music International Conference. Dr. Callihan is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the Kentucky Music Educators Association, the American School Band Directors Association, the National Band Association, Phi Beta Mu, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia National Honorary Music Fraternity, and Who's Who in America. He is an active performer, clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator both regionally and nationally. Callihan currently serves as the KMEA State Jazz Chair and the KMEA District 12 president-elect. He resides in Louisville, Kentucky with his wife Kaitlin and their daughter Katherine.