percussion Archives - Reynolds College Blog

Missouri State University’s Lyndon Wilson, a senior music major in the Department of Music, placed first and second in two separate categories at the Missouri Percussive Arts Society (MOPAS) Day of Percussion competition April 25 at Battle High School in Columbia, Missouri.

Wilson placed first in the collegiate snare drum competition and second in the collegiate marimba competition.

“I was absolutely thrilled when I heard that he had won second place in the marimba division,” said Dr. Yun Ju Pan, assistant professor of percussion in the music department and Wilson’s instructor. “Then, to my complete surprise, I heard his name announced for first place in the snare drum division. I couldn’t help myself—I jumped up and cheered for him! Seeing his hard work recognized in that moment was incredibly rewarding as his teacher.”

For his snare drum competition, Wilson selected Thomas Kotcheff’s Obbligato Snare Drum Music No. 1, “The Power of Love.” He performed Peter Klatzow’s “Dances of Earth and Fire” for the marimba competition.

Sophomore music performance major Lyndon Wilson and senior music education major Alex Sharkey took top honors at the Missouri Percussive Arts Society College Marimba Competition April 13, 2024, in Columbia, Missouri.

Wilson and Sharkey are both students of Dr. Scott Cameron, associate professor in the Department of Music.

“Several MSU students have competed over the past several years, but Lyndon is the first student to take first place,” Cameron said.

Drawn to percussion from an early age

Wilson and Sharkey both started playing musical instruments as young children.

“I was drawn to percussion because I, like most people, enjoyed hitting things as a small child,” said Sharkey, who plans to be a band director. “I was drawn to the marimba specifically because, in my opinion, it has the most engaging and musically challenging literature of any instrument in the percussion family.”

In addition to being able to play all the percussion instruments, Sharkey is also a classically trained pianist.

Wilson, who plans to earn a Ph.D. in music performance and teach at the university level, was heavily influenced by his family to play percussion instruments.

“Both of my parents were percussionists and so was my oldest brother,” he explained. “However, in college my passion for this instrument family and performing has grown astronomically.”

Music student Lyndon Wilson places first at Missouri Percussive Arts Society competition

Percussion students bring home top honors

Drawn to percussion from an early age