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Dan Armstrong , percussion
Brian Fronzaglia , percussion
Gifford Howarth, percussion (adjunct)
Dan C. Armstrong, director of percussion studies at Penn State since 1982, teaches percussion and directs the Penn State Percussion and Mallet ensembles. He previously served on the faculties of the University of North Texas and the University of Oklahoma.
Professor Armstrong's orchestral career includes performances with the Dallas, San Antonio, and Oklahoma City symphony orchestras, as well as with the Aspen, Breckenridge, and Grand Teton music festivals and the Santa Fe Opera orchestra. He currently performs with professional orchestras in central Pennsylvania and in Tampa and Jacksonville, Florida. In the summers he performs with the Colorado Music Festival in Boulder.
A versatile performer, Armstrong has made recordings with the Armstrong Flute and Percussion Duo, the Grammy-winning Chestnut Brass Company, and the North Texas 1:00 Lab Band. He has made appearances across the country, including Alaska, with the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra and performed at numerous jazz festivals as drummer for The Tarnished Six Traditional Dixieland Jazz Band. As solo xylophonist, he has performed in England and Scotland, as well as across the United States.
An active member of the Percussive Arts Society (PAS), Professor Armstrong has served as a judge for national PAS competitions and as president of the Pennsylvania chapter. Well-known in the field of mallet ensemble, Professor Armstrong's arrangements have been performed and recorded by the PASIC '90 Marimba Orchestra, the 164-member Marimba Festival Orchestra at West Point, and numerous college and high-school percussion groups.
Armstrong is a clinician for Sabian Ltd. cymbal company and Innovative Percussion Inc. He holds degrees from The University of Michigan and the University of North Texas.
Click here for information on Dan Armstrong's recordings
Brian Fronzaglia, Instructor of Percussion at Penn State University holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Penn State where he was awarded the Performer’s Recognition Award. He also holds a Master’s degree in Percussion Performance from Michigan State University and is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Percussion Performance at the UMKC Conservatory of Music.
Brian, performing on many international stages has been seen throughout the United States and Europe. He has also been seen performing with the Sunflower Music Festival Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, Kansas City Ballet, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Kansas City Symphony Chamber Orchestra, The American Opera Studio, Flint Symphony, Lansing Symphony, Altoona Symphony, Nittany Valley Symphony, Pennsylvania Centre Chamber Orchestra, National Wind Ensemble and the Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings. Brian, a former member of the group Marimba Sol de Chiapas was also a member of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps. He is a founding member of the NFL’s St. Louis Rams “Battering Rams” drum line and has also directed/arranged for MLB’s Kansas City Royals.
Brian has been on staff for many summer camps including the Yamaha Sounds of Summer Percussion camp and has been a consultant and arranger for several high schools across the nation. He is currently an active adjudicator throughout the Midwest and has previously been on staff with the WGI World Finalist, Gateway Indoor. He is currently on staff with United Percussion and The Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps.
Brian is a Yamaha Performing Artist/clinician and is also a performing artist/clinician for SABIAN Cymbals, Remo Drumheads and Innovative Percussion Sticks and Mallets. Brian has given numerous master classes, performances and clinics throughout the United States. As a performer Brian has been active in commissioning and premiering new works for percussion and has been recorded on numerous labels.
Brian is currently taking a year leave of absence from his full time position at Missouri Southern State University where he is the Assistant Professor of Percussion. Upon the completion of his contract at Penn State he plans on resuming his duties at MSSU.