Elkins High School Percussion Ensemble

Performer Details

Performer Bio Synopsis

The Elkins High School Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Christopher Dial, has garnered national recognition for their exceptional musicianship. In 2024, the ensemble earned the prestigious National Winner Distinction for the National Percussion Ensemble Mark of Excellence. In addition to this honor, the Percussionists in the Elkins Wind Ensemble also received the 2024 Mark of Excellence National Winner distinction alongside the Wind Ensemble. The Symphonic Band percussionists were commended winners in the 2024 Citation of Excellence competition. Over the past two years, the ensemble has consistently placed double-digit numbers in the region band and has had numerous students advance to the Area Band and TMEA All-State Band. The marching percussion section has also regularly earned top placements in their marching contests, further highlighting the ensemble's dedication to excellence across multiple performance settings. Comprised of 35 talented percussionists from grades 9-12, the Elkins High School Percussion Ensemble continues to inspire audiences and set the standard for high school percussion performance, showcasing the skill and commitment of both its students and director.

Elkins High School Percussion Ensemble

Conductor's Bio

Christopher Dial is currently in his sixth year as an Assistant Band Director and Percussion Director at Elkins High School in Missouri City, Texas. Prior to joining Elkins, Mr. Dial served as Percussion Director and Assistant Band Director at Cypress Creek High School. He also held the position of Assistant Band Director at Mance Park Middle School and Director of Percussion for all campuses within Huntsville ISD. In his eight years of teaching, Mr. Dial has led his percussion ensembles to numerous accolades including being named national winners in the 2024 Mark of Excellence National Percussion Ensemble Honors Competition. His students consistently excel in the TMEA All-State Band process with multiple students earning placements in region bands. Many of his former students have gone on to pursue music at esteemed universities including Northwestern University, Baylor University, and Sam Houston State University. Mr. Dial earned his Master of Music degree from Sam Houston State University where he studied percussion performance under Dr. John Lane. During his time at SHSU, he served as principal percussionist for both the Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra. As a member of the Sam Houston Percussion Group, he performed Draping the Walls with Ice by Jeff Herriott which was selected for showcase at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) in 2017. Before relocating to Texas, Mr. Dial attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where he majored in Percussion Performance and Music Education. At UNCG, he studied under Dr. Kris Keeton, Dr. Neeraj Mehta, and Dr. Eric Willie. Mr. Dial was an active member of the UNCG Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Percussion Ensemble. He performed at the College Band Directors National Association Convention in 2013 and participated in the world premieres of The Frozen Cathedral by John Mackey, Solace by Stephen Bryant, and Alarm Calls by Scott Lindroth. Additionally, he contributed to three commercially available albums with the UNCG Wind Ensemble: Finish Line! (2011), Arts and Letters (2014), and Stories and Sanctuaries (2015). In his final semester, Mr. Dial participated in a submission for the PASIC International Percussion Ensemble Competition which was selected for performance at PASIC in 2015. Mr. Dial is committed to fostering continued growth and excellence at Elkins High School and looks forward to many more years with the program.