Justin (b.1980 Southampton, New York) is a 25 year old educator and percussionist from Austin, Texas. He received his BM in Music Education with Highest Honors from the University of Florida (12/2002) with a Certificate of Percussion Performance, and his Master of Music from the University of Texas at Austin (05/2005). He is now continuing at the University of Texas, pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts. His percussion, composition, and conducting teachers have included Ken Broadway, Tom Burritt, Tony Edwards, Paul Richards, David Waybright, and Glen Richter. Justin's numerous ensemble performances have been under the batons of Jerry Junkin, Kevin Noe, Yoichi Udagawa, Colonel Arnald Gabriel, James Morrow, Craig Hella-Johnson, Peter Bay, David Waybright, Evans Haile, Raymond Chobaz, and Thomas Burritt.

Currently attending the University of Texas at Austin, Justin is a performing member of the UT Wind Ensemble, UT Symphony Orchestra, and Percussion Ensemble. He is also on the teaching staff for the Longhorn Bands, assisting with the marching, basketball, and volleyball bands. In he spring semesters , he assists with undergraduate Intermediate Conducting and Longhorn Jazz Band. This past spring, he joined the Wind Ensmble in premiering a commissioned work, John Corigliano's Symphony No. 3 Circus Maximus, at Carnegie Hall. Soon after, the symphony was recorded in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and has a planned release for Spring 2006.

While at the University of Florida, Justin received the Theodore Presser Award Scholarship for the 2001-2002 academic year. He performed with the Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, Steel Drum Band, Marching Band, and Basketball Band, while consistently appearing on the Dean's List. His percussion and piano performances can be heard on three University of Florida Wind Symphony compact discs under the baton of David Waybright, on the Mark Record Label; Millennium Concert Live (3490-MCD), Française et Américaine Musique (3837-MCD), and Mountain Music (2002). In addition to School of Music ensembles, he performed with the Gainesville Symphony and Chamber Orchestras under the direction of Raymond Chobaz and Evans Haile.

Justin is an active member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), Percussive Arts Society (PAS), and the Music Educators National Conference (MENC), having performed at the 1999 PAS International Convention in Orlando and the 2000 MENC National Convention in Washington, D.C. under the baton of Colonel Arnald Gabriel (USAF). Although not a member, Justin recently performed with the Wind Ensemble for the 2005 International Double Reed Society Convention, hosted by the University of Texas. In addition to involvement in collegiate and professional organizations, he teaches and arranges music for percussion at the high school level throughout Florida and Texas.

Justin is a composer of solo and chamber works for percussion and has studied with Dr. Paul Richards. His three compositions, Escape! for two marimbas, Martian Variations for timpani soloist, and Shenanigans for timpani soloist have been performed to audiences of thousands. He is currently working on three new projects--a mallet percussion ensemble, a 5-octave marimba duet, and a duet for Euphonium and marimba. Justin's most recent composition, ...from the darkness, there is light (French horn, vibraphone, marimba), was premiered at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in December of 2003.

During the summer months from 2000-2002, Justin toured and performed in the Front Line of the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps from Madison, Wisconsin. He was the timpani caption winner at the 2001 & 2002 Drum Corps Midwest and Drum Corps International Individual and Ensemble Competitions. In 2003, he served as the front line instructor.

Justin has been featured in issues of Modern Drummer magazine (01/2002, 01/2003) and Percussion News (11/2002).

Further Biographical Information

I was born in the town of Southampton, New York and grew up in the small hamlet of East Quogue. After graduating from East Quogue Elementary School , I was in seventh grade at Westhampton Beach Junior High School in Westhampton Beach, New York. In July of 1993, we relocated to Orlando, Florida where I attended Discovery Middle School for eighth grade. I graduated from University High School in 1998, and the University of Florida in 2002 with a BM in Music Education (Highest Honors) and Certificate of Percussion Performance.

As a band member at University High School, I had the priveledge of marching in the 1995 Cherry Blossom Festival Parade in Washington, D.C., the 1995 Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, and the 1998 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California.

I am a 1997-98 John Philip Sousa Band Award recipient, "in recognition of outstanding achievement and interest in instrumental music, for singular merit in loyalty and cooperation, and for displaying those high qualities of conduct that school instrumental music requires."

In 2001, I was a recipient of the Theodore Presser Scholarship Award given by the Presser Foundation, "in recognition of selection by the music faculty as the most outstanding music student entering his senior year, demonstarting excellence in performance and merits as a Music Major [at the University of Florida]."

I love to travel, and have been to 41 (80%) of the United States (shown in red, below). I have also been to the Grand Cayman Islands, St. Maarten, and Montreal, QUE.

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