PERCUSSION

Jim Bartelt comes from Charlottesville, Virginia. He spent 24 years with US Air Force and Army Bands worldwide, performing in all concert and jazz/commercial idioms. Besides military ensembles, Jim has played with the San Antonio, Birmingham (Alabama), Richmond (VA), and Corpus Christi Symphonies, among others. He was a fellowship participant at major summer festivals in Aspen and Graz, Austria and Germany’s East-West International Orchestra. Jim has served on the Percussive Arts Society Education Committee and instructed for numerous schools in Texas, Virginia, and elsewhere. He has presented clinics and masterclasses at important conferences, the scholastic and university levels here and abroad, and is active in recording and adjudication. He recently joined the Artist Faculty of Michigan’s Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and his private studio has placed students into America’s finest music colleges. Jim earned his B. Mus. from Virginia Commonwealth University and his M.M. at Florida State, where he taught applied lessons and Percussion Methods. He is an Educational Endorser for GroverPro Percussion.

Rodney Clark currently studies at Bard College/Conservatory under the direction of Sò Percussion members Jason Treuting, Eric Cha-Beach and Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Principal Timpanist Jason Haaheim. Rodney will be receiving two degrees, a Bachelor of Arts and Politics degree in the year 2026.

Cori Fincher is currently getting her Masters Degree in Percussion Performance at the University of Arkansas. She is the Graduate Assistant for the Razorback Drumline. When she’s not performing she’s reading books on her porch with her dog!

Hayden Floro grew up in Dayton, OH and currently lives in Cincinnati, OH. He is a 2021 graduate from the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education with a Jazz emphasis. Since graduating, Hayden performs regularly in musical theater orchestras, local symphony orchestras, and various jazz groups around the city. He also teaches percussion students both privately and at Stivers School for the Arts in Dayton as the Adjunct Percussion Instructor. He is very excited to be participating in his first festival orchestra and looks forward to more opportunities just like this!

Briana Wadenpfuhl received her Bachelor of Music degree from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Tx where she served as Principal Percussionist for the Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. She also performed with the Percussion Ensemble, Opera, Austin Civic Orchestra, West Texas Symphony and the Round Rock Symphony while living there. In 2012 Briana moved to Houston to pursue her Master’s degree. While studying at UH she performed with the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble and Opera, including performances at the TMEA and Midwest Clinics. Since graduating in 2014 she has maintained an active freelance schedule while also teaching privately in the Greater Houston Area.

Dr. Patrick E. Young currently serves as the Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Low Brass at Idaho State University. He also serves as the principal tubist of Opera Colorado, a renowned opera company located in the heart of Denver, CO, and serves as the bass trombonist in the Idaho State-Civic Symphony. Dr. Young received a Bachelor of Music Education degree at Young Harris College, a Master of Music Performance in Tuba from the University of Georgia, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Music Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Colorado Boulder.