In Memoriam

by Rick Mattingly Former Boston Symphony Orchestra percussionist Arthur Press died on Nov. 5, 2026, at age 96. Born on July 9, 1930, in Brooklyn, New York, Arthur Charles Press bought his first pair of drumsticks while a freshman in high school. Soon, he got a small set of drums. Press began studying drums with…

Joseph Adato, born May 8, 1937, passed away on October 7, 2026, at the age of 89. A distinguished musician who lived a rich and active life, Joseph spent 44 years as a member of the Cleveland Orchestra, joining in 1962 during the tenure of George Szell. Earlier in his career, he performed with notable ensembles, including the New York Philharmonic and the New York City…

Richard “Rich” Lee O’Donnell, a visionary percussionist, composer, educator, and tireless champion of contemporary music, peacefully passed away at home on October 1, 2026, in St. Louis, Missouri. He was 89 years old. Born on February 13, 1937, Rich leaves behind a monumental 65-year legacy that completely reshaped the sonic landscape of St. Louis. He…

James H. Deschler died on August 9, 2026. Born in Brooklyn in 1949, James lived a life shaped by creativity and originality. After studying at the Manhattan School of Music, he proudly served as a percussionist in the West Point Band. His love of music continued long after his service, inspiring him to create Deschler…

Former Boise State percussion professor Dr. John Baldwin died on March 28, 2026. John Bardo Baldwin was born on April 12, 1940, in Arkansas City, Kansas. He grew up in Hutchinson, Kansas, and began piano lessons in the fourth grade and soon also began studying percussion. He played in junior high band and orchestra. In junior…

Percussionist, technologist, composer, and educator Dr. Scott Deal died on Jan. 23, 2026. William Scott Deal was born on April 11, 1957, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In 1975, the day after his high school graduation, Scott spent a year as the drummer for the rock band Blue Dawn, playing in clubs throughout the central U.S….

by Lauren Vogel Weiss Dr. Cosmo A. “Gus” Barbaro, longtime percussion teacher and marching arts adjudicator, died on January 2, 2026 at the age of 84. Born on November 14, 1941 in Auburn, New York, Barbaro graduated from Auburn High School in 1959. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in music education from New…

Best known for her marching arts partnership with Tom Float, Catherine Float passed away unexpectedly in October 2025.

by Rick Mattingly

Jack DeJohnette died on October 26, at age 83. He was usually labeled as a “jazz drummer,” and gigs with Charles Lloyd, Miles Davis, Keith Jarrett, John Abercrombie, Ornette Coleman, Pat Metheny, and others put him at the top of the jazz elite. But he also worked with members of the rock band Living Colour and a variety of world music artists, and much of the music he released under his own name defied easy categorization, save for the fact that there was always an emphasis on improvisation.

Charlotte Mabrey, former principal percussionist of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and head of the University of North Florida percussion area, died on sept. 7, 2025. Mabrey arrived in Jacksonville after she received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the University of Illinois in 1977. What was supposed to be a one-year…