New 2025 PAS Board of Advisors and Board of Directors

Ricky Burkhead
Professor, entrepreneur, multifaceted percussionist and composer, Ricky Burkhead has been Professor of Music and Director of Percussion Studies at the University of Mississippi for 30 years, where he holds a full professorship since 2018. He founded the first world music ensemble at the University of Mississippi, the University of Mississippi Steel Orchestrawhich has performed concerts at Goombay Festivals in Pensacola, Florida, state Bandmasters conferences, and for the Mississippi and Missouri PAS Days of Percussion. On the Board of Directors of the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, Burkhead has coordinated scholarship awards for the underserved, and serves as an advisor for the national organization, Alliance of Black Orchestral Percussionists (ABOP). Selected by the Mississippi Arts Commission to be a Roster Artist for the state of Mississippi, Burkhead is also an active adjudicator in the South-Eastern United States, and has the distinction of being a past president of the Mississippi Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society, hosting Mississippi state PAS Days of Percussion. In his Fastrax Recording Studio in Oxford, Mississippi. Burkhead partners with composer and filmmakers to provide scores for films such as the Innocence Project documentary by the Ole Miss Law School, films for the Southern Food Alliance, and projects for local businesses. Burkhead was appointed to the national Percussive Arts Society High School Percussion Ensemble Committee and locally served on the University of Mississippi Faculty Senate. An active international clinician, he has conducted workshops and masterclasses in Uruguay, Argentina and Jamaica, as well as at many universities, conferences and schools. A symphonic percussionist as well, Burkhead also directs the UM Salsa Band. He is a former instructor at the United States Percussion Camp of Eastern Illinois University, where he completed his Masters in Performance degree, studying with Prof. Johnny Lane. Professional endorsements include Majestic Percussion, Remo, Vic Firth, Zildjian, LP Percussion.

Latrice Green
Latrice Green attended Jacksonville State University, where she received a BA in Music Education with a concentration in percussion. She performed with various ensembles at JSU, including the Marching Southerners, and participated in WGI, allowing her to teach at different middle and high schools in Alabama and Georgia. She received her masters in Public Administration and certificate in Nonprofit Management from UAB, which she uses to further the goals of her band and percussion programs. Ms. Green is the former vice president for the Alabama chapter of the Percussive Arts Society, a member of the National Association for Music Education, and an alumnae of Sigma Alpha Iota. As a member of the Alabama Bandmasters Association, she routinely presents sessions on various topics of music education at national and state conferences. She spent two years as a band director at Minor Middle School in Adamsville, Alabama, and the last five years as the assistant director of bands at Pinson Valley High School, where her percussion ensemble was selected to perform at the 2024 Alabama Music Educators Association Conference. Ms. Green currently resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where she aims to further her career by obtaining a PhD in Music Education at Louisiana State University.

Eric C Hughes
Eric C Hughes is a drummer and educator in the Houston, TX area. He is the former Drum Set Committee Chair for PAS and recipient of both the PAS Supporter and PAS Service Awards. As a member of the Texas PAS Chapter, Eric was called upon to create the first ever edition of the Drum Set category for the statewide UIL Prescribed Music List with Christian Dorn. He is currently a member of the PAS Education Committee.

A lifelong educator and performer, Eric has previously taught music and percussion classes at Wharton County Junior College (TX) and Plymouth State University (NH) as well as Westside High School and Hightower High School, both located in the Houston area. He is currently the private percussion teacher for Klein Collins High School in Spring, TX.

As a performer, Eric has shared the stage with soul legends Archie Bell, Barbara Lynn and Roy Head and toured the country with Jesse Dayton and John Doe. He is currently occupying the drum chair for Nick Gaitan, McLemore Avenue, and The High Roller. He has created a new project, The Repeat Offenders, comprised of several Houston-area sidemen.

He holds a Master of Music in Studio Music and Jazz from the University of Miami, FL and a Bachelor of Music from Plymouth State University. A lifelong learner Eric has studied with Joe Morello, Steve Rucker, Ed Shaugnessy, Joe Bergamini, Steve Fidyk and Dave Elitch. He has written articles for the PAS publications Percussive Notes and the Rhythm Scene Blog.

Gene Koshinski
“Jaw-dropping virtuosity and a flair for the unexpected” (PBS) is why Gene Koshinski has delighted audiences worldwide with his dynamic performances and creative programming. Best known for his extraordinary versatility as a percussion artist/composer, Koshinski serves as Professor of Percussion at the University of Delaware. He has performed in Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, China, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Japan, Jordan, Slovenia, the UK, Canada, and throughout the United States; including over 200 guest performances/lectures at some of the most prestigious institutions in the world. As a composer, his works have been used in television, film, art museums, and ballet productions, and in the concert hall have been performed in more than 40 countries, in 5 continents, with hundreds of performances per year. His performances have been heard on the CBS, PBS, ESPN and TBS/TNT television networks, on Netflix as well as NPR, and he has recorded for the Naxos, Innova, Centaur, MSR Classics, Neuma, and Equilibrium record labels. He is sponsored by Pearl/Adams, Sabian, Vic Firth, and Remo. www.genekoshinski.com.

Julie Spencer
Julie Spencer is an international performer, composer and visual artist. In her almost fifty-year career as a composer, Spencer’s catalog features over forty works for keyboard percussion and includes solo works as well as small chamber pieces and concerti published by Norsk Musikforlag, Norway. With commissions from orchestras, chamber ensembles, soloists, cities, festivals, and institutions, over 30 CD recordings and music videos, Spencer has had her music premiered, conducted and recorded by artists such as Lalo Schifrin, composer of the “Mission Impossible” film and television theme, Gordon Stout’s International Marimba Orchestra at PASIC, Pedro Eustache, the winds specialist of Hans Zimmer scores, Heartland Marimba Quartet, Beverley Johnston, Nancy Zeltsman, Ivana Bilic, Dane Richeson, Wei Chen Lin, Mika Stoltzman, Nino Masayuki, the Japan Percussion Society, the EKWE sound library and composition app, Katarzyna Myćka, Kurt Gartner, Dane Richeson, and Shiori Tanaka. Spencer has performed and presented at 6 PASIC conventions as a marimba soloist and MalletKat artist, featuring her music also in improvising world music ensembles, and presenting her technique for marimba. A graduate of Eastman and CalArts, she taught at the University of Michigan and CalArts, and was principal percussionist for the Antelope Valley Symphony, California, and a regular sub with the Oregon Symphony Orchestra. Part of Zeltsman Marimba Festivals, IKMMA, KOSA, and the United States Percussion Camps, Spencer is a returning member of the jury for international competitions of the Italy PAS in composition, the UK PAS/Southern Percussion in tuned percussion, in Japan, US, and for Rap Music and world music competitions in Germany. Spencer developed the “Spotlight Series with Black Percussionists” for Percussive Notes and is part of the Network for Diversity in Concert Percussion. Spencer’s work and techniques have been the subject of two doctoral dissertations written by Dr. Eric Middleton and Dr. Mariah Taller.

Satur Tiamson
Satur Tiamson is currently a member of the Board of Advisors of the Percussive Arts Society, the PAS World Percussion Committee, PAS Leadership Academy, PAS Diversity Alliance and the President of the PAS Philippine Chapter (PAS Outstanding Chapter Awardee 2021). Also he is the President of PASAMBAP (a 70 year old National Band Organization in the Philippines) and member of WASBE (World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles.

Satur, an accomplished musician, has garnered prestigious awards. accomplishments include The Outstanding Young Men for Arts in Music by JCI Philippines (TOYM) and the 2018 Presidential Award by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, both praised by the President of the Philippines. Other awards like Univeristy the Philippines Distinguished Alumnus for Culture and the Arts, Asia’s Influential Musician by Asia’s Influential Leader Awards, adding to his title as Asia’s Reputable International Musician from Asia’s Pinnacle Awards in 2023.

Time Out Magazine recognized him among the Top 20 Musicians in Hong Kong in 2008. Satur’s success extends to winning multiple gold medals at the 20th World Championships of Performing Arts in Los Angeles, USA, in 2016 and securing 2nd Prize at the 14th edition of the Italy Percussion Competition in Pescara, Italy, for the Drum Set Category. Additionally, from 2021 to 2023, he excelled in online competitions, seizing over 20 first prize awards.

Drew Tucker
Drew Tucker is a dynamic musician, educator, speaker, and arts administrator who blends his passion for the arts with a commitment to advocacy. As a trailblazer in the modern vibraphone movement, Drew reimagines the instrument by merging soul, funk, jazz, and hip-hop, creating a sound that is both innovative and rooted in tradition. His artistry has brought him to the stage with a diverse array of musicians, including Cory Wong, Victor Wooten, Shaun Martin, Stefon Harris, and Norah Jones. His contributions have earned him prestigious endorsements and the title of “Cultural Ambassador” from the U.S. Department of State.

Drew’s global impact is evident in his extensive tours across the U.S., South and Central America, Europe, and Asia, where he has captivated audiences with his vibrant performances. He co-founded MalletLab, a summer music intensive where he mentored over 50 students annually, collaborating with the world’s top educators to advance mallet percussion, and taught at the Magic of Orlando, Crossmen, Blue Stars, and Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps.

In addition to his performance and educational roles, Drew is committed to community development through the arts. He has played a key role in establishing and revitalizing arts centers in underserved areas, including Arts Garage and Old School Square in Delray Beach, Florida. His dedication to fostering artistic expression and accessibility is evident in his work. Currently, Drew serves as Director of the Jazz Road program for South Arts, overseeing a six million dollar grant that serves to bolster jazz artists across the nation. He tours with his band ‘The New Standard,’ serves on the Mallet Committee for the Percussive Arts Society, and continues to inspire as a guest clinician, speaker, and Cultural Ambassador.

Karlyn Viña
Praised by the South Florida Classical Review for her “dazzling” and “incisive” performance, Dr. Karlyn Viña is a dynamic and creative percussionist based in Virginia. Dr. Viña is proud to serve as Assistant Professor of Percussion at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, VA, and as a member of the percussion faculty at Interlochen Arts Camp in Interlochen, MI, during the summers.

Karlyn maintains a busy schedule as an orchestral, chamber, and solo percussionist, and has a particular interest in works that incorporate theatrical elements. Performance highlights include several seasons with Palm Beach Symphony and Florida Grand Opera, as well as performances with Madera Viva, a bassoon and percussion duo with Dr. Carlos Felipe Viña.

In addition to her teaching and performing, Karlyn is proud to serve on the Percussive Arts Society’s New Music/Research Committee, and was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board of Advisors from 2023-2024. From 2018-2022, she served as a Host, Co-Host, and Producer of the @Percussion Podcast. Karlyn earned her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Percussion Performance from the University of Miami as a fellow of the Henry Mancini Institute. Her dissertation focuses on the performance of works for theatrical percussion by Globokar, Kagel, and Smith. She also holds degrees in Percussion Performance and Music Education from The Boston Conservatory and the University of Maryland. Karlyn is proud to endorse Grover Pro Percussion, Marimba One, and Zildjian cymbals.

Dr. Scott Herring
Dr. Scott Herring currently holds the position of Professor of Percussion at the University of South Carolina. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from East Carolina University and a Master of Music and Doctor of Music degree from Northwestern University. While residing in Chicago, Herring performed with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and was a member of the Northwestern University Graduate Percussion Quartet, which traveled to Germany and London for performances.  Herring frequently appears as a guest artist with university percussion ensembles across US and has presented concerts and clinics at PASIC 1996, 2002, 2006, and 2011, and 2012. In addition, the University of South Carolina Percussion Ensemble has been selected as a winner of the 2012, 2021, and 2024 International Percussion Ensemble Competitions. In November 2014, Herring released his first solo CD, Carbon Paper and Nitrogen Ink: Works for Marimba and Percussion Ensemble.

Herring also performs with USC Saxophone professor, Clifford Leaman, as the RoseWind Duo. They have given numerous performances and clinics at universities across the country and have been invited to perform at many professional conferences, including the 2007 NASA Region 7 Conference in Greensboro, NC, the 2007 South Carolina Music Teachers Association State Conference, the 2007 and 2010 International Navy Band Saxophone Symposium and the 2008 Biennial Conference of the North American Saxophone Alliance. In May 2010 they also traveled to France and Spain for two weeks for a series of concerts and clinics, and in December 2010, they were featured artists at The First International Wind and Percussion Festival in Beijing, China. In August 2011, the duo traveled to Yantai China for a series of clinics and concerts. Recently, RoseWind gave a featured concert at the 2012 World Saxophone Congress in St. Andrews, Scotland and presented a performance/clinic at PASIC 2012 in Austin, TX. RoseWind has released two CD recordings on the Equilibrium Records label, Release and Devils Garden, Angles Landing.

Herring also performs as part of the Sympatico Percussion group. Sympatico has presented concerts in Ohio, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Wyoming. The group also performed as part of PASIC 2011 and gave a featured performance at PASIC 2021 in Indianapolis, IN.

Herring is a former member of the PAS Board of Advisors and he previously served as the Percussive Arts Society Keyboard Committee Chairman, President of the Kansas Chapter of PAS, Vice-President and President of the South Carolina chapter of PAS. In addition he has hosted the Kansas and South Carolina Days of Percussion and served as a new music reviewerfor Percussive Notes from 2002-2008.

Mr. Michael Huestis
Mr. Michael Huestis has been involved in music education since 1991 and is currently serving as the administrator for the Percussion Solutions for Band Directors social media platforms. Throughout his career Mr. Huestis’ bands, percussion ensembles and drumlines have performed at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, Music for All National Percussion Festival, MENC Biennial Conference, finalists at the Bands of American Grand National Championships, President Bush’s inaugural parade in Washington D.C., the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City and the Drum Corps International World Championships.

Mr. Huestis earned his Bachelor of Music Degree was from the University of North Texas where he performed with the 3 O’Clock Lab Band, U.N.T. drum line, Steel Band, the Brazilian Ensemble, Afro-Cuban Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble. He then earned a Masters in Percussion Performance from B.Y.U. serving as a graduate assistant for the Cougar Drumline and Latin-Jazz Ensemble. Mr. Huestis has studied with David Glyde, Shawn Glyde, Paul Rennick, Ron Fink, Dr. Jon Kellis, Dr. Ronald Brough and Dr. Robert Scheitroma.

A highly sought-after composer, arranger, and clinician. Mr. Huestis has worked as the percussion arranger for Pacific Crest Drum & Bugle Corps from Diamond Bar, CA, Genesis Drum & Bugle Corps from Austin, TX and Raiders Drum & Bugle Corps in Burlington, NJ. His compositions are published by Tapspace Publications, C-Alan Publications, Rowloff Productions, JKS Music, and Key Poulan Publications. Michael is also the author of “Developing the Percussionist-Musician” method books.

Mr. Huestis has presented clinics and master classes at numerous state music education association conventions and universities. Michael serves as the assistant coordinator of the Music for All, National Percussion Festival held yearly in Indianapolis, IN. His professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, Jazz Educators Network and the Percussive Arts Society, where he served as a chapter president of both Utah and Texas.

Christine Zetzl
Christine Zetzl, associate director of marketing at Visit Indy, has 12 years of experience in paid media strategy and market research to boost tourism in Indianapolis. Christine was honored as a “30 Under 30” by Destination International and has served as an adjunct instructor at IU Indianapolis, teaching social media marketing as part of the Tourism, Convention, and Event Marketing program. Christine currently serves on marketing boards for Downtown Indy, Inc., Destinations International, and the Indiana Historical Society.