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Hellcat
Drummers Perform and Present
at the Percussive Arts Society U.S.M.A. Band Percussionists Inspired by Legendary Rudimental Drummer Marty Hurley
Stacy has won prizes in numerous competitions from regional to international levels. Most recently, she was selected as a semi-finalist in the Jean-Marie Londeix International Saxophone Competition held in Bangkok, Thailand, and was the First Prize winner of the Indianapolis Matinee Musicale Instrumental Competition. Stacy became the first saxophonist to win First Prize in the William C. Byrd International Young Artist Competition held in March of 2005. As a winner of this competition, she had her professional solo debut as a concerto soloist with the Flint Symphony Orchestra in Michigan performing Henri Tomasi’s Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra. Additionally, Stacy received First Prize in the prestigious MTNA National Collegiate Artist Woodwind Performance Competition in 2003 by a unanimous decision by the judging panel, Third Prize in the North American Saxophone Alliance Young Artist Classical Competition (2004), First Prize in the Indiana University Travel Grant Competition (2007), and winner of both the Indiana University Woodwind Concerto Competition and the UNCG Annual Concerto Competition. In 2007, Stacy won a Recording Grant Competition that will enable her to release her debut solo CD in 2009. This recording will be distributed on the Emeritus recording label and will include works by Florent Schmitt, Ida Gotkovsky, Sy Brandon, Christian Lauba, and Edison Denisov. She has also recorded for award-winning composer Don Freund, in a video project aimed to assist composers and students in writing idiomatically for the saxophone. In 2006 and 2008, Stacy traveled to Laubach, Germany to participate in the 2nd International Masterclass for Classical Saxophone as a scholarship recipient to study with world-renowned saxophonists Arno Bornkamp and Vincent David. As a participant in the masterclass, Stacy was a featured soloist on a recital at the Hessenbrukenmuhle performing Christian Lauba’s Steady Study on the Boogie in 2006 and Max Bruch’s Nachtgesang in 2008. An advocate of new music, Stacy frequently takes part in premiers and has commissioned several new works from talented young composers. She has performed guest artist recitals and presented masterclasses at the Music at St. Paul’s Concert Series in Michigan, Western Kentucky University, North Carolina School of the Arts, Elon University, and the Carolina Saxophone Symposium.
Master Sergeant Dave Hershey, audio engineer, hails from Littleton, Colorado. After earning his Bachelor of Music from Oberlin Conservatory, he entered the Army in 1986. He served in the 76th Army Band (Germany) and the Army Ground Forces Band (Atlanta, GA) prior to his appointment in the West Point Band in 1994. During his tenure at West Point, Master Sgt. Hershey recorded, mixed, and mastered a multitude of recordings culminating as the Music Support Branch Head of the band. Upon his retirement, Dave and his wife will be relocating to South Carolina.
Hellcat
Drummers Perform and Present The drummers of the Hellcats were recently showcased at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Dallas, Texas. Their appearance included a performance/clinic concerning the historical components of modern-day drumming. In addition, members also presented four performances to Dallas-area high schools. For more information regarding the Hellcat performance, visit www.pasic.org. Download their masterclass materials for a comprehensive view of Hellcat Heritage and rudimental drumming techniques.
U.S.M.A. Band Percussionists Inspired by Legendary Rudimental Drummer Marty Hurley On Friday March 14, 2008, Rudimental Drumming Legend Marty Hurley provided a master-class, clinic and coaching session for the Hellcat drummers and Concert Band Percussionists. Mr. Hurley is famous for his long tenure with the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps of Rockford Ill as well as a highly sought after clinician and judge. Mr. Hurley and Staff Sgt. Jeff Prosperie instructed Phantom together for several years in the early 1990's. The session included valuable information about the evolution of modern rudimental techniques from the 1950's to the present; thus, bridging the gap from ancient drum and fife to contemporary marching percussion. One of this year's drum solos in the Hellcat show is entitled "Bridging The Gap" by Staff Sgt. Prosperie and draws upon many of the same influences Mr. Hurley discussed in his sessions. All unit drummers concluded the day with a massive snare drum line performing with Mr. Hurley on West Point cadences used in Reviews.
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Staff
Sergeant David Bergman, percussion is a
native of Oregon. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in percussion
performance from the University of North Texas and his Master of Music
Degree in percussion performance from Duquesne University. David has
performed with the Oregon Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, West Virginia
Symphony, Canton Symphony, and Youngstown Symphony. He was a member of
the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps in 2000 and the University of
North Texas Indoor Drumline. David has received numerous awards and
scholarships, including winner of the Pittsburgh Concert Society
Competition. SSG Bergman has studied percussion under Ed Stephan,
Christopher Deane, Mark Ford, Andrew Reamer, and Chris Allen. He was
also a student at Music Academy of the West for two summers where he
studied with Ted Atkatz and Mike Werner. Prior to his appointment with
the USMA Band David was a graduate student at Cleveland State University
under Tom Freer. 
Staff
Sergeant Jeremy Schlegel, administrative assistant, from Hanover
Township, Pennsylvania, joined the Academy Band Support Staff in August
of 2008. Staff Sgt. Schlegel earned his Bachelor of Music in trumpet
performance and music education from Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY. Staff
Sgt. Schlegel began his enlisted career in August of 2005. Prior to
assignment at West Point, Staff Sgt. Schlegel was assigned to the U.S.
Army Medical Command Band at Ft. Sam Houston, TX where he served as the
Personnel & Administration Branch Chief and performed as principal
trumpet player in the Concert Band, Jazz Combo, and Rock Band.
Staff
Sgt. Joseph Skinner, audio, attended the University of Oklahoma
where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in music composition and music
technology. While in Oklahoma, Staff Sgt. Skinner built and ran his own
audio studio where he recorded well-known regional artists, started work
on scoring an eight-part documentary series, and also did recording work
for the University of Oklahoma bands. It was in Oklahoma that Joseph met
his wife, Mikki, a bugler in Hellcats. In 2007, Staff Sgt. Skinner moved
to Cleveland, Ohio and started freelancing at Ante Up Audio as an audio
engineer and composer. In 2008, Staff Sgt. Skinner started writing music
for American Greetings’ eCards.
Staff
Sergeant Timothy Sutfin, clarinet received a Bachelor of Music Magna cum Laude
from Northwestern University in 2004, and a Master of Music with High
Honors from Oklahoma City University in 2007. Prior to joining the West
Point Band in October of 2008, Staff Sgt. Sutfin performed with the
Oklahoma City Philharmonic for three seasons. He has also appeared with
the Winston-Salem Symphony, Texas Festival Orchestra, Quartz Mountain
Music Festival Orchestra, and served on the faculty at Oklahoma City
University from 2007 to 2008. His primary teachers include Russell
Dagon, Jane Carl, Charlene Zimmerman, and Chad Burrow.
Originally
from North Carolina, Staff Sergeant Stacy Wilson, saxophone served as
Associate Instructor of Saxophone at Indiana University Bloomington
while pursuing the Doctor of Music degree in Saxophone Performance and
Literature. Stacy earned the Master of Music in Saxophone Performance
from Indiana University as a recipient of IU’s prestigious Performer’s
Certificate, the institution’s highest honor for instrumental
performers, and also holds the B.M. in Saxophone Performance degree from
the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Stacy has studied primarily
with Otis Murphy, Steve Stusek and Virginia-Novine Whittaker but has
also had the opportunity to study with saxophonists Arno Bornkamp and
Vincent David. 
Master
Sergeant Rachel Grasso, from Houston, Texas, came to the West Point
Band in 1988. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of
Houston and a master’s degree from Indiana University. During her
20-year tenure at West Point, Master Sgt. Grasso served as the E-flat
clarinetist in the Concert Band and performed with the Academy Clarinet
Quartet. Additionally, she served as an adjunct professor at the State
University of New York at New Paltz. Upon retirement, Rachel plans to
freelance in Hudson Valley.
