What is the Texas Virtual Percussion Contest (TVPC)?

In celebration of the world of virtual education we've moved into, PitHacks is proud to announce the Texas Virtual Percussion Contest!

To participate, each ensemble will need to complete the form via the following link:

https://forms.gle/T7yfvHBFj9cUuDrZ7

-First place will be awarded a $500 donation to their program!

-Open to Texas high school percussion ensembles.

-Submission deadline is May 7th.

-Early Bird Registration ($75) end on April 15th, 2022

-Each ensemble will also receive detailed feedback from each judge.

Join us for the Virtual Showcase on May 22nd, 2022 at 7:00 PM CST. The winner will be announced at the end of the program!

Adjudication Panel

Carlos Botello

Carlos Botello began his DCI marching career with Lone Star Drum and Bugle Corps in 1995-1997 marching snare all three years. In 1999 he was an age out of Pioneer Drum Corps and In 2000, he also played snare in the Blue Knights WGI World Class Percussion Ensemble. Botello has been teaching drum corps since 2005 and has taught many groups including (Pioneer, Revolution, Blue Devils B, Colts and Mandarins).

Botello has marched and studied with percussion instructors Mickey Hartzog, John Wooton, Allan Murray, Brian Stevens, Doug Rosener, and Curtis Pierre. Botello holds a B.A. in Music Education from New Mexico Highlands University and teaches Percussion at Naamn Forest High School. He has instructed and arranged for many groups all over the United States. Botello is the owner and creator of the Left Hand Path Drum Book series which has 13 books under the brand. Botello is a Beetle Percussion Artist and is sponsored by Salyers Percussion.

Mark Hunter

Mark is a well rounded and accomplished percussionist, composer, and educator that excels in the marching arts. A native of Chicago, his percussion education began under Bret Kuhn at the age of 12. Mark is a graduate of The University of Kentucky where he studied under James Campbell. Outside of his college studies, he marched snare drum with The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps (97-2000), during which time the group was awarded two high percussion awards and a World Championship. Upon graduation, Mark won an audition with the Tony and Emmy Award-winning show, Blast!, and toured Japan as the show’s marimba soloist.

He has had the opportunity to design and work with many different Drum & Bugle Corps’ and indoor percussion groups including Music City Mystique from 2012-2016. Mark is currently the battery arranger for The Colts Drum & Bugle Corps.

Now residing in Austin, TX, while working with Vandegrift High School, he has a large and active studio of private students, and arranges for several groups across the country. Mark’s writing has been published by Tapspace Publications in The Blue Book Volume(s) 1, 2 and 3, and Eine Kleine Nachtmusik for percussion quartet.

Lauren Teel

Lauren Teel is the Percussion Caption Head for the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps, Adjunct Professor of Percussion for Texas A&M University - Commerce, Percussion Instructor for Mililani High School on Oahu, and percussion teacher for the University of North Texas Green Brigade. Previous appointments include Interim Professor of Percussion for the University of Alabama and Adjunct Professor of Percussion for the University of North Alabama, University of Montevallo, and University of Alabama at Birmingham. Lauren holds a M.M. from Indiana University and B.M. from the University of North Texas, both in percussion performance.

Lauren is a member of the Heartland Marimba Ensemble. She has had the privilege to perform and judge at PASIC several times including in 2021 as a member of Gordon Stout's International Marimba Orchestra and in 2018, where she performed the solo marimba piece “Free Flight” as part of the 2018 PASIC Focus Day events. Lauren served as the Principal Percussionist of the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra for the 2018 /2019 season. She competed as a semi- finalist in the 2015 Great Plains Marimba Competition in Oklahoma City, OK. In 2012, Lauren had the privilege of traveling to Chennai, India to perform for an audience of over 75,000 people with Oscar winning composer, A. R. Rahman. Lauren also appeared in the 2013 blockbuster, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, as a timpanist.

Lauren proudly endorses Innovative Percussion, Marimba One, Zildjian Cymbals and Remo Drum Heads.

OFFICAL RULES:

CURRENT TOP PRIZE: $500 donation to winning programs.

1. Only Texas high school percussion ensembles may enter.

2. All ensembles must have a director from their program as a point of contact.

3. Submission must be played by percussion studio members only--no guest artists.

4. Submissions should consist of only one piece of music, in its entirety. A single movement of a larger work will be accepted.

5. Submissions must consist of a single take of audio and video. Only one video angle is required. *Please note: audio and video quality will not be adjudicated.

6. No editing of audio is allowed.

7. Registration for each ensemble must be completed by May 1st, 2022. Fees are due at this time. However, video uploads can be submitted at a later date by editing this form. Complete registration, pdf of music scores, fees, and video uploads are due by May 7th, 2022.

8. Winners will be announced on May 22rd, 2022 during the TVPC Virtual Showcase at 7 PM CST.