John Marshall High School Percussion Ensemble Takes Third in Indiana Competition

John Marshall High School's Percussion Ensemble captured third place during a competition at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana.

JM's eight-piece group, which included students Lauren Rice, Ricky Robinson, Liam Marlin, Sydney Gray, Joey Armstrong, Jude Thomas, Lizzy Howard and Marra Tharp, competed in the high school division of the Percussion Ensemble Competition.

The percussion instructor is Josh Garrett. Their teacher, Tracey Filben, is director of bands for JMHS.

Thomas, a senior at JM, said it was exciting to participate in the event on Nov. 10 as his ensemble was competing against 11 other groups from across the country.

"We ended up getting third place, which was phenomenal because everybody who goes there is already really good," he said. "You're playing against tough competition."

Thomas noted most of the judges were the people who wrote the music being played by the students.

"I loved it. Those are my heroes. The music I play for my mallet solos, one of the judges, Ivan Sorvino, he was there and wrote some of the music I played," he added. "It was nice to see him grooving along to what we were playing."

The group clinched third place by playing "Wanderlust" by composer Chad Heiny of Pittsburgh.

Getting to travel to the competition was a great opportunity for Thomas and the group.

"It was amazing. I go there and see all of my heroes and the people I idolize and people who know everything about it, and sit there and watch them and learn from them," he said.

Thomas said there were clinics for the students to attend where professionals played various percussive instruments and talked about their craft.

"They're showing off their skills and you're blown away every time," he said.

Thomas said the groups were judged in four different categories with each worth 25 points. There were three judges.

"We got 284 points out of 300. We got docked a little bit, but for a high school group I'd say that's pretty good," he added.

Thomas said percussion encompasses instruments that are hit, struck or shaken including drum sets, marimba, vibraphone, glockenspiel, steel pan, bongo, congas, gong, shakers, wind chimes, suspended cymbals and more.

Filben said she wanted her ensemble to enter a competition outside of West Virginia for a change. Indianapolis is about five hours away. She said they had to submit an application before being selected to compete. The maximum number allowed in the ensemble was eight.

"The kids played really well. ... The kids are fantastic; that's what makes us do what we do," she said.