artists

BANISHED BEYOND
Banished Beyond is an avid percussionist longing to find a place in the Drum Corps Community. Legend has it, that he was spawned in the depths of Mount Doomforge, from dragon's blood and shattered orc bones. An evil wizard of black magic cast a banishment spell on him, fusing a mask to his face, never to be removed. Banished Beyond relocated to the Banished Cave and spent many years practicing numerous percussion techniques and styles. It is rumored that anyone who dared to visit Banished Cave uninvited, have been vanished from the face of the Earth.

After many years of preparation, Banished Beyond began the long journey to find his way to the 50. Many tapes have recently surfaced, depicting Banished Beyond's attempts at making the proverbial cut, only to be literally "banished beyond existence". It is uncertain where these tapes originate, or who could have filmed them, but we can only thank the advancements of technology today for providing us with such amazing footage.

Banished Beyond has almost performed with world class groups and various other ensembles. Once, he was almost considered to play at Carnegie Hall. Multiple times, he almost made the local high school marching band. He was most recently spotted at WGI Championships in Dayton observing lines, auditioning at booths and sparring with the pros. OffWorld is now proud to brandish this accomplished rudimental spectre as a Featured Artist. Check out the now infamous Invader practice pad video on his Youtube site right here.

Ronnie LaGrone

Ronnie currently serves as percussion arr./caption head for the Seattle Cascades Drum & Bugle Corps (Seattle, WA). He has served in the capacities of consultant, arranger or caption head with several award-winning ensembles including the Westview High School Percussion Ensemble (5th place scholastic A div - 2007 WGI Finals) and with the Oregon Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps from 2003-2005 (2004 Division 3 Champions). He has also worked with groups such as Grenada High School, Tupelo High School, Vicksburg High School, Southridge High School, the University of Mississippi Drumline, The Northern Lights Summer Marching Band and Oregon State University Percussion ensembles.

LaGrone received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1995 from the University of Mississippi majoring in Percussion Performance. He attended the University of Oregon Graduate School for further studies in music education and percussion performance under the eminent Charles Dowd. Ronnie plays professionally in and around the Portland metro area and serves as the director of bands in Banks, OR. He is also a REMO, Pro-Mark and Dynasty artist.

Micah Brusse

Born and raised in Springfield, Or. Micah Brusse was drumming by age ten, and began private instruction with NW marching percussion specialist Alan Keown soon thereafter. He continued studies throughout high school, winning numerous awards throughout state level solo competitions. With entrance into the University of Oregon in 1993, he focused on classical percussion techniques under the eminent Charles Dowd. Micah was a vital member of the Oregon Drumline (OMB) directed by Keown, performing for 5 consecutive years within the organization (‘93-’97).

Brusse was a member of the renown 1995 Concord Blue Devils snare line under the tutelage of Scott Johnson. He returned in 1997 to "age-out" in the world champion corps, participating in the DCI I&E competition with an original composition on rudimental snare, garnering a third place overall finish in that caption.

Micah was tapped to became full-time director/arranger for the renown Oregon Drumline in 1998, a position in which he continues to foster a level of excellence he helped attain within the ensemble as a performer. From 1999 to 2001 he served as the snare tech to the Blue Knights of Denver, CO. directed by the legendary Ralph Hardimon. He returned to the Blue Devils organization in the same capacity serving within Scott Johnson’s incomparable program from 2002 to 2005.

Brusse is Yamaha artist and a Vic Firth endorser. He serves as a expert clinician and adjudicator for the NW marching band circuit and teaches privately. As an authority in the marching percussion field, he is regularly sought as an arranger/instructor for numerous successful HS programs throughout the Pacific Northwest. Micah Lives in Oregon City with his wife Suzie and their son Issac.

Adam Gust

Adam Gust attended the reknown University of North Texas on a Jazz Scholarship. After working as a professional drummer in Dallas he relocated to Los Angeles in 2000. He regularly tours the US, Europe, and Russia, performing at LIVE 8 televised worldwide from Moscow's Red Square before 20,000 fans. Gust has numerous TV, movie, and album credits to his credit and has recorded in meccas the likes of Dallas, LA, and Nashville. Countless hours of education and experience involving rock, jazz, metal, country, latin and metal gigs and sessions resulted in the creation of his revolutionary 3D Drumming method.

In his new video series, Adam illustrates his perspective on the relationship between sound, space and time. Equipped with OffWorld’s Invader V3 drum pad he exhibits how to develop consistent and relaxed motions. He then applies this approach to the drumset to achieve the same in drum sound and time feel. The video will be available in summer of 2010.

Gust is currently working on projects with numerous artists, including singer/songwriter Mark Salling guided by renown producer Francis Buckley, Karma Swanepoel of South African superstar band "Henry 8, Milka Ramos for new power duo "High Towers", Ali Handel. Adam is also showcased on tour this year with RedElvises (www.redelvises.com)

Matthew Bell

Matthew Bell is a percussionist known for his unique versatility and high degree of finesse in both the Ancient Rudimental and Scottish Pipe Band Drumming Styles.

Matt began his Celtic Percussion Career in 1993 as a member of the City of Washington Pipe Band under the direction of Jonathan Quigg. After several top-five finishes from 1996 to 1998, the band won the Grade 2 World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland in August of 1999. The City of Washington Pipe Band’s Drum Corps were also Champions that day. The Band was immediately upgraded to Grade 1. Presently, The City of Washington is one of only four Grade 1 bands in the United States. In 2006, Matt was admitted to the Adjudicator’s Panel of the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association. He is a frequent drumming judge at Pipe Band Contests throughout the United States.

Since 2002, Matt has served as a Snare Drum Instrumentalist with the United States Army’s renown Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. He has performed hundreds of shows with the Corps over the last eight years, including the inaugurations of Presidents Bush and Obama. Matt has also enjoyed serving as a clinician at Shenandoah University, the Ohio University, and the Ohio State University. Matt performed as part of the Old Guard Drumline at PASIC in 2007 as well.

Matt has performed and/or recorded on the bodhrán with with a host of Celtic Musicians including Bonnie Rideout, Jerry O’Sullivan, William Jackson, John Doyle, Cathie Ryan, Liz Carroll, Joanie Madden, Mick Maloney, Brendan Dolan, and Billy McComiskey. He is featured on Billy McComiskey’s Grammy Nominated Album, Outside the Box, on Compass Records. His new book, Thoughts on the Bodhrán is now available on his website.

Matt holds a Bachelors of Music Degree in Percussion Performance from DePaul University under the tutelage of Ted Atkatz and Michael Green.

Jose Rosa

Born and raised in Humacao, Puerto Rico, Jose has been performing on percussion instruments since he was five years old. At 11, he began formal education with Professor Jose “Tito” Rivera at the Escuela Libre De Música de Humacao. At 12, Jose started performing with the Humacao Symphonic Band under the direction of Professor German Peña Plaza, traveling to Venezuela, New York, Costa Rica, Virgin Islands and Dominican Republic. At age 14, Jose received formal percussion lessons from Professor Jose "Pepe" Torres at the Escuela Libre de Música de Caguas. Under Torres direction, Jose performed with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, Puerto Rico State Band and also with a variety of local bands. By the age of 17, Jose was accepted into the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music where he studied percussion with Professor Jose Alicea. Under Alicea's direction, Jose played for the America youth symphony orchestra based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In 1994, Jose moved to Miami, where he attended the University of Miami and currently attends the University of Central Florida.

Jose has had the opportunity to perform with renown artists such as Arturo Sandoval, Tito Puente, Marcos Barrientos, Gerson Kelly, Danilo Montero, Mike Orta, Bobby Cruz, Jose "Papo" Rivera, “Steel Pan virtuoso” Liam Teague, Gregg Bissonnette, etc... He has performed at the Disney’s Animal Kingdom “Tarzan Rocks” and “The Village Beatniks”, “The I Love Lucy tribute show!” at Universal Studios, Florida. Jose currently resides part-time in Los Angeles and Orlando, FL where he performs, records and teaches regularly. He leads his own percussion group “Los Rumberos de El Nuevo Dia”, a latin jazz band "Jose Rosa and Friends" and co-leads with Hector "Pocho" Neciosup a fusion Latin-American Jazz band "Tinya". In addition, he has perfomed in multiple radio ads and TV programs, including syndicated PBS program “Jazz Then and Now” and the Travel channel’s "The making of Disney's Animal Kingdom".

Jose has co-written several instructional books with his long time friend Prof. Hector ”Pocho” Neciosup some of the titles are: Award winning: "Beyond The Secret Hand / Mas alla de la Mano Secreta", “The Contemporary Hand Drummer”, “The Art of Latin Drumming” and “New World Music History Resource Book” all books published by Hal Leonard Corporation. He is currently director of the University of Central Florida’s “Contemporary Drums and Percussion Camp” in Orlando. Jose proud endorser of Pearl Percussion, Remo, Paiste, Innovative Percussion, Pintech, PhatFoot, Beato and is a Hal Leonard Corporation Artist.

Scott Pellegrom

Scott Pellegrom is one of the hottest rising percussive entities today. Since performing live at the age of five, Scott has transformed from a natural born rhythmist to an international clinician and educator. He finds rhythm in everything that surrounds him and currently inspires over fifty students with his world renowned talent. Scott currently facilitates over thirty clinics a year. He endorses and works exclusively for Dream Cymbals, DrumCraft Drums, Pro-Mark Sticks and Aquarian heads. Scott can be seen in Modern Drummer Magazine, DRUM magazine, and a host of many other publications world wide.

Scott has made appearances at the Cape Breton International Drum Festival 2009 and 2010, Tiger Bill's Drum Beat Fest 2009, Fun With Drum Clinic in 1999, 2005 and 2008, Portland Vintage Drum Show 2004, and Bass Up in Atlanta. You can also find Scott performing and demonstrating products at NAMM, Musikmesse and PASIC events every year. In 2006 he was featured at the Guitar Center Drum Off national finals out of 5000+ competitors. Scott currently resides in West Michigan and tours Internationally. Visit his website at for more information.

Nick Werth

Nick Werth graduated from the University of North Texas in the spring of 2003. He has been fortunate enough to study with Paul Rennick, Sriji Poovalur-Vasan, Ed Smith, Christopher Deane, and Mark Ford. Currently, Nick is a percussion specialist, composer, arranger, author, and private teacher in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Nicks performance accolades include two first place finishes with the UNT drum line (00 and 02 PASIC Marching Festival), three first place finishes in the PASIC Multi-Tenor Solo Competition

(00,01,02), and third place in the 2002 DCI Multi-Tenor Solo Competition with Carolina Crown.

Nick's teaching accolades include the 2006 DCI Fred Sanford High Percussion award (Phantom Regiment), two first place finishes with the Flower Mound high school drumline (06 and 07 PASIC Marching Festival), and the 2007 PASIC Fred Sanford award (Flower Mound HS).

Recently, Nick's band, HATCH, released their first LP (SOUNDCRACK). He has also released the 2nd edition of his tenor method book, "Movement and Mentality." You can find these, along with the rest of his cutting edge compositions, at his website (nickwerth.com).

Matt Keown

Matt Keown began shaping his career at a young age, studying with his father, renowned northwest percussionist/educator Alan Keown. Along his journey it became clear that he should embrace all areas of the percussion spectrum, dedicating himself as a life-long student of the drum.

Throughout high school Matt pursued multiple competitive events at local and national drumming levels, achieving several records in the Oregon state Solo Contest. He earned an unprecedented 19 medals during his four years in the competition, including his last year being awarded 1st place in all five categories of percussion; Rudimental Snare, Orchestral Snare, Marimba, Timpani, and Multiple Percussion, an accomplishment that encompasses his belief in honoring all forms of percussion.

Matt competed in the PASIC high school rudimental snare drum competition receiving 2nd in 2007 and 1st in 2008. He most recently won 2nd at the DCI hosted 2010 I&E snare drum competition and 1st place in both the “CHOPS” Individual snare drum category and Open category.

Matt currently attends the University of Oregon, having studied percussion performance under the late Charles Dowd and rudimental snare under Micah Brusse. He is a snare drummer for the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps, a position he’s held since 2009.

“OffWorld is on the cutting edge of percussion accessories. No other company is as dedicated to making new innovations to push the activity. By giving us drummers the most realistic feeling pads we can have more effective practice sessions than ever before. Thank you OffWorld for providing the tools for us to play at our best with no limitations.”

Paul Stivitts

Paul Stivitts has been a drummer since the day he discovered ‘Animal’ on the Muppet Show. A consummate professional, Paul’s been performing, recording, teaching, and composing music for over two decades. A member of the World Champion Santa Clara Vanguard, and the Blue Knights drum and bugle corps, he is recognized as the creator of what is now known within the rudimental activity as the infamous “Book Report”. Paul graduated from the

University of North Texas with a degree in Jazz Studies. where had the opportunity to perform with the likes of Dave Liebman, Airto, Slide Hampton, and Bob Mintzer. Paul was fortunate to have studied with renown percussive educators Ralph Hardimon, Paul Rennick, Jim Chapin, Anthony Cirone, Tom Float, and Ed Soph.

Paul's inspired musical career has taken him to 48 states, 15 European Nations, Brazil, Canada, England, Mexico, Nicaragua, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, and Russia. In this boundless journey around the globe, his musical diversity has led to touring, recording, and sharing the stage with: Jazz legend Maynard Ferguson, Lauryn Hill, Jamie Benjamin, Ian Axel, James Blunt, Burlap to Cashmere, Braddigan, Brave Combo, Billy Childs, Peter Christlieb, Dispatch, Susan Enan, Evensong Rising, Stan Getz, Dave Grusin, Slide Hampton, Matthew Hasletine, Jackopierce, Diana Krall and the Henri Mancini Orchestra, Taylor Hicks, Vertical Horizon, Wayne Krantz, Toby Lightman, Kelley McRae, Jon Regen, Arturo Sandoval, Diane Shuur, Train, Bill Watrous, Ernie Watts, Gary Willis, Zach Williams, and many others. This has also produced many major and indie label recording credits as well.

Paul currently resides in NYC and continues to actively clinic and perform throughout a wide rage of engagements. He is currently assisting as an educator of Brazil's all star drumline, Tcha-Degga-Da.

Phone : 360.921.6988 | EMAIL : offworldpercussion@gmail.com

Alex Kuldell

Alex began learning to play the drums in 1986 with the Washington Scottish Pipe Band under lead drummer Ed Bauder.

Throughout grade school he was a member of virtually every musical ensemble in the Fairfax County school system including the George Mason Honor Band, District 10 Band, and the Virginia State Band. During this time Alex was also a marching member of the Patriots of Northern Virginia and studied under the late Sam Evans. In 1997 he was recruited by lead drummer Jon Quigg into the grade II City of Washington Pipe Band. Within the next two years the band won the 1999 North American Pipe Band Championships and World Pipe Band Championships, resulting in a promotion to grade I. In addition Alex was the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association professional snare drum solo season champion in 2000 and 2001.

Currently, Alex is now the lead drummer of the City of Washington Pipe Band, and is serving as a member of The Army’s Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. As well as being a private drum instructor, he freelances and is the drummer for the bands Her Next Friend and Anonymous Brave. Visit Alex’s personal SITE for more information.

Matt Patella

Matt Patella began playing drums in 1958 at age 12. Soon after he would join the Woodsider Cadets, and Saint Lucys Cadets drum corps developing his rudimental chops. He studied with Carl Wolf and Charley Tappan and went on to play in his high school marching and big bands. In 1967 Matt joined the US Army and performed in the 174th, and 15th US Army Bands.

Throughout his early career he studied with many local teachers but, none became more influential to his playing than the legendary Joe Morello. Matt adopted Morello’s natural/Stone technique

and began playing with many high profile national acts including: Jimmy Smith, Gene Krupa, Wes Montgomery, Toots Thielemans, Carter Jefferson, Shirelles, Chiffons, Joey Dee and the Star Lighters, Brooklyn Bridge (Johnny Maestro), Crest, Dupress, Ink Spots, Tony Williams and the Platters, The Coasters, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chubby Checker, The Toys, Tokens and the Belmonts, to name a few.

For the past two decades Matt has been dedicated to educational spectrum and is currently enlightening students of all ages at his home studio, on Youtube and as a clinician to local percussion programs.

Michael Eagle

Michael Eagle is a World Champion Scottish and Breton percussionist who operates out of New York City, NY as an independent musician, educator, composer, clinician, manager, and consultant. Mr. Eagle is a music instructor for NYU whose interests and career involve many musical circles including symphony orchestras, chamber orchestras, percussion groups, studio projects, marching bands, Drum Corps International, Winter Guard International, Irish Folk, Scottish Pipe Band, Breton Folk and Bagad, West African Drumming, Musical Theater, and Contemporary Music. Mr. Eagle regularly performs in some of New York City’s most prestigious venues including Avery Fisher Hall, Radio City Music Hall, Grand Central Station, The Grand Hyatt, The Beacon Theater, Javits Center, Madison Square Garden, and Yankee Stadium. He earned his B.A. in Music Ed., Perf, and Comp. from the University of Arkansas, and his M.M. in Music Performance from the University of Texas, at Austin.

As a performer, Michael has appeared throughout the US, as well as Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, the Caribbean Islands, Scotland, England, France, China, and South Korea. His groups have included the University of Texas Wind Ensemble, the University of Arkansas Wind Symphony, The North Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Magic of Orlando Drum and Bugle Corps, Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps, the Opera Theater of St. Louis, Axiom Percussion, Mr. North, Gavin DeGraw, the Garden State

Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, and the Empire State Sinfonia. He is also the current Music Director/Designer for RVI (River Valley Independent) WGI ensemble from his native Northwest, AR. As a performer of Scottish pipe band and Celtic folk arts, Michael has shared the competition field and concert stage with many elite groups including the City of Washington Pipe Band, Ulster Scottish Pipe Band, Niagara Police Pipe Band, The North Texas Caledonians, Sarah Dinan, Scottish Mayhem, Blackwater, Amadaun, Bagad New York, Canada’s Tartan Terrors, Parcel of Rogues, and the world famous Chieftains. Since 2007, Michael has performed at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland and as of 2010, annually performs in Brittany, France including the Festival InterCeltique in Lorient. Both of Mr. Eagle’s current Celtic groups took top prizes in their respected 2011 competitions: The New York Metro Pipe Band won the 2011 Grade 3B World Pipe Band and Drum Corps Championship, and Bagad Buezeg was crowned the Grade 2 World Bagad and Drum Corps Champions. 2011 marked Michael’s 5th appearance at ‘The Worlds’, 1st Pipe Band Championship, 2nd Drum Corps Championship, and he is the first American drummer/percussionist to garner a World Bagad Championship. Mr. Eagle has presented clinics on various percussive and musical topics at Day’s of Percussion, Percussive Arts Society events, PASIC 2011, college lecture series, as well as at public school presentations.

Michael is an active member of the Percussive Arts Society (PAS), Eastern United States Pipe Band Association (EUSPBA), American Federation of Musicians (Local 802), and the Beethoven Society. He is a sponsored educator/artist for Pearl Drums, Innovative Percussion, Offworld Percussion, Bachovich Music Publications, Sticktape.com, and Eagle Made Products. Please visit www.michaeleagle.com for more information.

Danny Gottlieb

One of the most respected drummers of the jazz and contemporary idiom, Danny Gottlieb is best recognized for his amazing work within the original Pat Metheny Group. Over the the course of 30 years, Danny has performed and recorded with some of the world's greatest musicians including Bobby McFerrin, Sting, Chick Corea, Gil Evans, Gary Burton, John Mclaughlin, Stan Getz, Jeff Berlin

, Pat Metheny, David Byrne, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Gerry Mulligan, Clark Terry, Al Di Meola, The Blues Brothers Band, Booker T and the MG’s, Lew Soloff, and many more. He is featured on more than 300 CDs to date, including four Grammy Award Winners.

Danny is an Associate Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville and has released 10 educational DVDs, including three with his long time teacher, the legendary Joe Morello entitled “Natural Drumming”, He also co-authored “The Drummer’s Workbook” with Michael Green, published by Mel Bay. Danny’s latest work “The Evolution of Jazz Drumming” published by Hudson Music is one of the most sweeping historical

analysis of the art, covering 31 of the most influential jazz drumming legends of all time.

Danny along with his wife, Beth Gottlieb (an accomplished percussionist in her own right) are members of Gary Sinise’s Lt. Dan Band, performing 30-40 concerts per year throughout the world, 75% of which serve as benefit concerts for the USO and US Military. Danny has been featured on the cover of Modern Drummer, Down Beat, Drums and Percussion, Rhythm, and Drum Scene Magazines. He endorses Zildjian, Remo, Hot Sticks, DW Pedal and Hardware, Regal Tip Brushes Basix Drums, Eames Drum Shells, Vic Firth Mallets, Shure microphones, and Alternate Mode-Kat Products. Click here to see his OffWorld interview.

Jeff Queen

Jeff Queen has been involved in percussion field since the age of 10. He began his drum corps career at 15 with the Canton Bluecoats and continued on to march with equally acclaimed organizations such as Velvet Knights, the Santa Clara Vanguard, Blue Knights and the University of North Texas. Jeff was the DCI Individual and Ensemble Snare Drum Champion in 1994 and 1995 as well as the P.A.S. Individual Snare Drum Champion in 1994 and 1995. He has since instructed throughout the drum corps activity for over 15 years, including as caption head for the Carolina Crown drum and bugle corps from 2003-04, and percussion arranger for the Colts Drum and Bugle corps for 2007-08.

Jeff is an original cast member of the renown Tony and Emmy award winning Broadway Show "BLAST" where he was a solo performer and battery instructor from 1999 - 2003. He has performed on stages across the country and in Europe, including Broadway and London. Jeff has appeared on and composed for numerous television broadcasts and media including: The Late Show with David Letterman, The Kennedy Center Honors 2000, NBA All-Star Game 2001, Grey Cup 2007, “BLAST” and “The Making of Blast” on PBS DVD and Video.

Queen is the author of “The Next Level: Rudimental Drumming Techniques” available through Jeff Queen Productions and “Playing With Sticks”, a intensive 3-hour instructional DVD available through Hudson Music. More of Jeff’s

compositions are available through Drop6 Media, Tapspace Publications, and jeffqueen.com. Jeff is a signature artist for Vic Firth Drumsticks and Pearl Drums, and proudly endorses Evans Drumheads and Zildjian cymbals.

Jeff lives in Indianapolis, Indiana and holds a BM in Music Theory and Composition and a MM in Percussion Performance from Butler University. Currently, he is percussion director for the BOA Grand National and WGI World Champion Avon Band program and Drum Line as well as on percussion faculty at Butler University, and the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps. When not teaching at home, Jeff traverses the globe as an active composer, arranger, judge, clinician, and performer continuing to share his passion for music and percussion.