The President’s message in the October 2024 edition of Percussive Notes highlights the upcoming PASIC event in Indianapolis, emphasizing its unique blend of world-class performances, educational masterclasses, and strong camaraderie among members. The message reflects on the strategic planning undertaken by PAS leadership, expressing gratitude for the support received during this process. It also announces new partnerships and initiatives for the convention, including a collaboration with WGI featuring the RCC Drum Line. The President encourages members to explore both their interests and new facets of percussion during the event, while also celebrating legacy members who have attended 40 or more conventions.

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Opening the Percussive Notes PASIC Preview issue is exciting as that means PASIC is right around the corner. In a few weeks percussionists from all over the world will travel to Indianapolis to attend what many consider the greatest weekend of the year! 

What makes PASIC truly exceptional is its blend of world-class performances, renowned artists, educational masterclasses, student competitions, and vibrant late-night hangs. Beyond the professional recharge, I think most agree what energizes us all is the nurturing of lasting friendships and the strong camaraderie among our members. The synergy and energy are electric! We have begun a tradition of celebrating membership milestones before the Friday evening concert at PASIC, honoring “legacy” members who have attended 40 or more conventions. It is profoundly moving to see these long-standing members recognized in front of a diverse audience. My hope is that attendees feel this deep connection and pride in being part of PAS, and that it inspires many to continue their journey with PAS.

I always look forward to reading the highlights in the preview issue, which sparks excitement as we enter the final stretch of preparation. Joshua Simonds, the PAS staff, the Board of Directors, and the Committee Chairs have done an outstanding job curating PASIC 2024 with a rich array of genres, artists, and programming, ensuring a convention that caters to a wide range of interests. I encourage our younger members to not only explore their personal areas of interest — the aspects of percussion that first captivated them — but also to use this concentrated weekend as an opportunity to branch out and discover new facets of the percussion world.

New this year is a partnership with WGI to bring the incredible “RCC Drum Line” from Riverside, California to the PASIC international stage. In addition to a showcase performance, the RCC staff will lead an interactive Movement for Drum Line masterclass, a Culture Building/Program Management session, and a design clinic. 

In addition to featuring numerous outstanding sessions, the popular exhibit hall is shaping up to be one of the largest in the history of PAS. There is nothing quite like the experience of walking through the exhibit hall, where you can immerse yourself in the industry scene and witness the latest innovations in product development, new compositions, and the continually evolving craftsmanship of the percussion industry.

Regarding what I refer to as “PAS 360,” a term that reflects the full year of PAS programs and initiatives, I am excited to announce that PAS leadership has dedicated the past nine months to rigorous strategic planning. For the first time in our organization’s history, we enlisted an external consulting firm to conduct an audit, reflect on operations, and guide the staff and Board of Directors in aligning vision and enhancing clarity for the future of PAS. The Board of Directors has unanimously approved a dynamic plan that will provide a solid framework for moving our organization forward. We owe much of this progress to those of you who participated in our surveys and contributed to our discussions with Taylor Advising over the past nine months. We look forward to sharing more details as we enter the action phase beginning in 2025

As my tenure as PAS President comes to a close, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the trust you’ve placed in me. It has been an honor to serve our organization over the past 30 years in various roles, particularly on the Executive Committee for the past eight years. I extend my thanks to Past-Presidents Michael Burritt, Chris Hanning, Brian Zator, and Julie Hill, as well as Executive Director Joshua Simonds, for their support and council. 

Lastly, PAS is in excellent hands with the leadership team — Thad Anderson, Lamon Lawhorn, Megan Arns, and Jules Thomas. Their dedication, combined with an exceptional Board of Directors and a forward-thinking strategic plan, promises to chart a bright future for PAS.

See you in Indy!
Julie Davila