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Derrick Shannon
Percussion Co-Caption Head
Derrick Shannon is a percussion specialist originally from the Chicago-land area. He currently holds the Director of Percussive Arts position at Goshen Community Schools and is also the founder of DAS Productions. At this time, he is on staff with the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps from Rockford, IL and a board member of the Midwest Percussion Cooperative which serves as an outlet for the advancement of percussion in the Midwest. Derrick has been very grateful to have had the opportunity to study with many greats in the music world at the VanderCook College of Music under the instruction of Kevin Lepper and Bret Kuhn. Other greats that he has studied with include Paul Rennick, Adam Hill, Erik Johnson, Alan Miller, Mike McIntosh, Brian Tinkel and many more.
Derrick has marched seven years as a member of various DCI Corps such as the Americanos (2004), Pioneer (2005 & 2006), Phantom Regiment (2007 & 2008), and the Cavaliers (2010 & 2011). During his first five years he played bass drum. While at Phantom Regiment he was on the leadership team and helped capture a world championship as well as the Fred Sanford High Percussion Award. In 2010, Derrick joined the Cavailiers Front Ensemble playing lead vibraphone. He returned back to the Cavaliers in 2011 for his age-out playing a center marimba in the ensemble and helped capture his second Fred Sanford High Percussion Award but this time in the front ensemble.
The winter guard activity was also a big part of his life as he was the center snare drummer and ensemble leader during a five year span with the Americanos Indoor (2006) which was then renamed Pioneer Indoor (2007-2010). Derrick helped the group capture two WGI world championships in the years of 2007 and 2008. During this time Derrick taught and wrote for various high school programs. He has now been teaching for several years with some notable groups which include Mount Prospect High School and Lake Park High School. Previously, Derrick was the Director of Percussion at Lemont High School where he oversaw the percussion program writing for and teaching various ensembles. He also held a private studio there as well.
Other notable experiences include playing snare drum on both the Chicago Bears and Chicago Bulls drumlines for several years now. In 2008, Derrick was selected as one of the charter members of the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band. He also performed at PASIC in 2008 with the Phantom Regiment. In 2009, he took 4th place at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention Snare Solo Competition. Derrick has appeared numerous times on high profile television networks such as ESPN, ABC, WGN and has been invited to perform in numerous countries such as England. Derrick is a proud Innovative Percussion artist.
