2027 Marching Percussion
Dr. Brian S. Mason – Percussionist • Educator • Composer • Innovator
Dr. Brian S. Mason is a trusted voice in the world of percussion—an acclaimed performer, composer, educator, and innovator whose influence spans the concert hall, the marching field, and the classroom. As Professor of Percussion and Coordinator of the Percussion Studies Program at Morehead State University, he leads a vibrant community of young artists through his work with the MSU Percussion Ensemble, MSU Steel, and the award-winning marching percussion ensemble—featured nationally on Vic Firth’s Marching Percussion 101 video series.
A passionate educator, Brian has earned some of MSU’s highest honors, including the Distinguished Teacher Award and Distinguished Faculty Service Award, as well as recognition from the Kentucky Music Educators Association as College/University Teacher of the Year. His dedication to his students and to the growth of the percussion community has also been recognized by his peers through leadership roles with the Percussive Arts Society, where he served on the Board of Advisors and as President of the Kentucky Chapter.
Beyond the university, Brian maintains an active performing career as Associate Principal Percussionist with the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra and Principal Timpanist for the Cave Run Symphony Orchestra. He’s also a sought-after guest artist, appearing with ensembles and educational programs across the United States and around the world.
A true innovator in the marching arts, Brian’s creative voice helped shape modern percussion ensemble performance. During more than two decades in Drum Corps International, he led legendary groups such as the Cavaliers, Phantom Regiment, Yamato, and Santa Clara Vanguard, earning multiple World Championships and High Percussion titles. Today, he continues to share his expertise as a respected adjudicator for Winter Guard International, working alongside some of the most respected judges in the activity.
Brian’s compositions and arrangements are performed worldwide and are published through Row-Loff Productions, Tapspace Publications, and Bachovich Music Publications. His writing and interviews have appeared in Percussive Notes, Modern Drummer, and Band and Orchestra Magazine.
A proud artist and endorser for Mapex Drums and Majestic Percussion, Vic Firth, Zildjian, Evans, Black Swamp Percussion, and Etymotic Hearing Protection, Brian continues to inspire audiences and students alike with his artistry, insight, and contagious passion for percussion.