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Questions about Percussion

  • Is percussion a part of the marching band?
    • Yes.  The percussion is an integral part of The Sound of Brownsburg Marching Band.  When we refer to the marching band, that includes percussion.  
  • What is the difference between the drumline and front ensemble? 
    • The drumline refers to the marching drums performing on the football field/floor.  These drums include snare drums, tenor drums, bass drums, and single tenors.  The front ensemble is the large group of instruments typically seen in front of the full ensemble.  These instruments often include keyboard instruments (marimbas, vibraphones, xylophones, etc.), electronic equipment, and miscellaneous percussion instruments.
  • Is percussion experience required for involvement in marching band?
    • Yes.  In order to be a member of the marching band percussion section a student must be in band – middle school band, high school band, etc.
  • How do I know what part of the schedule includes percussion?
    • If the schedule says “Winds and Percussion” or “Full Marching Band” that includes the percussion section.
  • Can I get my required high school PE Credit through marching band/percussion?
    • Yes. Marching Band fulfills the required high school PE Credit. If enrolled in percussion, students do not need to enroll in a PE/Gym class in high school.
  • Is percussion a class or extra-curricular?
    • Percussion is a class AND the percussion meets outside of school hours. The high school percussionists are required to be enrolled in a band class.  That band class is determined by the band directors.  The percussion also meets regularly outside of school hours.
  • Who teaches the percussion?
    • The Brownsburg Community Schools District Percussion Director is John Marque.  Additionally, every band director in the school district will teach percussionists as well. The percussion also has a large staff.  Percussion is a part of the Performing Arts Department at the high school. Chris Kaflik is the Director of Bands and Performing Arts Department Chair.  He, John Marque, and the district band directors work together to run the percussion program.
  • What is Winter Percussion?
    • After the marching band season, the percussionists audition for winter percussion.  Winter Percussion performs with just the members of the percussion section.  There are no wind players or color guard involved with their show. They do not perform with a marching band. They have various set pieces used in a gym to create their winter percussion program.
  • Is Winter Percussion required?
    • No, winter percussion is not a required element of percussion at Brownsburg High School.  However, it is also required in order to receive full PE Credit. Should winter percussion involvement pose a problem with a schedule, we ask that the student and parents speak with the director.
  • Is a band class required to be in percussion?
    • Yes.  In order to be in the drumline or front ensemble for the marching band or winter percussion students must be enrolled in a curricular band class.
  • Is Marching Band required for percussionists?
    • No.  Drumline and front ensemble are auditioned and optional.

Winter Percussion 2023-2024 Accomplishments

  • WGI World Class Finalists – 2024
  • IPA World Class Finalists – 2024
  • Indiana Percussion Association (IPA) Plainfield Invitational – First place in PSO class
  • Winter Guard International (WGI) Indianapolis Percussion Regional Finalist – Second place in PSO class
  • IPA Brownsburg Invitational – First place in PSO class
  • IPA State Prelims – First place in PSO class, advancing to State Finals
  • Promoted to World Class (PSW) before IPA State Finals and WGI World Championships
  • IPA State Finals – Fourth place in PSW class – first time ever performing in World Class
  • WGI World Championships – 14th place in PSW class, first time ever performing in World Class

Percussion Staff

John Marque, Percussion Director

For more than 10 years John has been a central piece of the Indianapolis music scene. Being a versatile drum set player has placed him in many different circles of the community. Recently, John has performed with multiplatinum-selling singer, composer, lyricist, pianist and actress Ann Hampton Calloway and has upcoming shows on the book with her as a drummer for her Indiana tours. He has also had the great pleasure of working with iconic organist Melvin Rhyne of Wes Montgomery and has released a record with Indianapolis jazz guitarist Steve Weakley of popular 70s band Funk Inc. Performances with other local jazz greats in the area include The Buselli Wallarab Jazz Orchestra, Rob Dixon, Marvin McKay, and Frank Glover. John is also well versed in the blues scene as he has played several gigs with Severn, Delmark, Rounder Records recording artist Tad Robinson and other local greats Gordon Bonham and Paul Holdman.

For the past 7 years, John has been the drummer for the corporate party band The Bishops Entertainment LLC  and plays over 100 shows a year ranging from weddings and outdoor festivals to corporate parties and events. He has also served as a sub drummer for many of the community’s most successful corporate bands including Living Proof, Dave and Rae, Blue Water Kings Band, and many others. John was also very fortunate to be a part of A.R. Rahman’s Unity of Light tour as he performed with Global Rhythms, under the direction of Srinivas Krishnan.

John has recorded hundreds of tracks throughout Indiana studios such as Primary Sound Studios, The Lodge Studios, Gaither Studios, Owl Studios and Twin Mono Studios. John recently recorded with popular Canadian singer and songwriter Matt Epp. John also has appeared on Cari Ray’s record Modern Relic,  recorded and produced Carrie Pietz’ records Reckless Decisions and Stars and has written and recorded with several other artists. (John is a Vic Firth, Zildjian and Remo Artist and endorser as well as an endorser of Drum Dots and Big Fat Snare Drum. For more media and recordings, visit www.johnmarque.com.

Chris Murphree, Front Ensemble Coordinator

Chris is currently a percussion instructor and arranger at Brownsburg High School in Brownsburg, Indiana.  He also serves as an arranger and teacher for the Plainfield Percussion program, directed by Derrick Shannon.  Chris is also serving as the Front Ensemble Caption Head at Legacy Indoor Percussion based out of Indianapolis, Indiana and the Front Ensemble arranger for Orange County Independent, a PIO group based out of Costa Mesa, California. 

He received his Master’s degree from Indiana University, and his Bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University, where he also served as an Adjunct Professor of Percussion in 2014. During his time at IU he served as the associate instructor for the Marching Hundred Drumline. His responsibilities included teaching and writing for the drumline throughout the fall season. His responsibilities at MTSU included teaching private lessons, working with the MTSU drumline, and teaching percussion ensemble.

Chris marched with Spirit of Atlanta in 2008 and The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps in 2009 and 2010.  He also marched with Music City Mystique in 2010.  He worked with the Troopers front ensemble in 2011, Phantom Regiment from 2012-2014 and is currently on staff with the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps serving as a front ensemble manager for the 2017 season. 

Throughout his career Chris has performed in several solo and ensemble competitions, most notable being his performance with the IU Percussion Ensemble PASIC showcase concert in 2013.  He’s also competed in the PASIC marching competition in Keyboard Individuals and Small Ensemble.  He was also a performing member of the MTSU PASIC Clinic Drumline in 2009 (snare) presenting a clinic on incorporating world percussion styles into the drumline setting.  He has performed as a featured soloist for several groups including the MTSU and Indiana Percussion Ensembles.  His major influences include Erik Johnson, Kevin Bobo, Michael Spiro, John Tafoya, Lalo and Julie Davila, Alan Miller, and Leigh Howard Stevens. 

Zach Schlicher, Battery Coordinator

Zach Schlicher began his drum corps career with The Cadets in 2001. Upon aging out in 2004, he began teaching the snare line at the Madison Scouts. After two seasons with the Scouts, he moved to be on the faculty of Carolina Crown for the next ten years. Away from the drum corps field, Zach works with several scholastic and independent programs within BOA and WGI. Over the last twelve years, he has developed a unique set of skills which allow him to take on multiple responsibilities and roles with any ensemble. Zach studied percussion at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Presently, he resides in Indianapolis, IN, but travels to work with multiple programs within North America. Along with his design/instruction commitments, Zach occasionally performs on cast with Aerial Experience Productions and has performed with Blue Devils Entertainment. He has also been featured on VicFirth.com in the video lesson series “Hybrid Rudiments.” Zach is endorsed by Vic Firth and Evans Drumheads.

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