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Noon Clinic:

AMERICAN COMPOSER & MUSIC EDUCATOR BEN WAHLUND (b. 1977) is a Grammy-nominated music educator, composer, and performer who serves as full-time percussion instructor at Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, IL) where he was awarded the prestigious NIU Excellence in Undergraduate Instruction Award and serves as the Director of Percussion at the College of DuPage (Glen Ellyn, IL) where he was awarded the College-Wide Outstanding Faculty Award.
Mr. Wahlund’s engaging teaching style has availed him of the opportunity to work for years with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra as percussion ensemble director, director of a number of high school regional camps and workshops, and university residencies across the country.
His music compositions have won numerous international awards and are performed by professionals around the world. His works are distributed by C. Alan, Musicon, Bachovich, and HoneyRock Publications.
Mr. Wahlund serves as the President of the Illinois Percussive Arts Society and has performed a number of times at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, state music educator association conferences, and schools across the country. He has been awarded and served long-term artist residencies on the island of Key West, Florida, Montello, Nevada, and Gettysburg National Military Park in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Ben Wahlund received his Masters of Music degree in music theory/composition and Performance Certificate in percussion from Northern Illinois University and Bachelor’s Degrees in Music Education and Music Performance with minors in math and philosophy/theology from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota. Mr. Wahlund is a member of the Yamaha Performing Artist roster, the Zildjian Artist Program, and endorses Innovative Percussion Sticks and Mallets.
2pm Clinic:

Featuring this year:
Kalyan Pathak-Rhythm Yatra: a Tour of Indian drums and rhythms
“Fleet Finger Virtuosity” says Chicago Tribune Critic, Howard Reich for Kalyan Pathak“Signature Brand of Percussion Magic” Downbeat Magazine
Kalyan Pathak is one of the most sought-after tabla, drumset and multi-ethnic percussionists in the USA. With a career spanning diverse genres and international stages, Pathak's musical journey is a testament to his unparalleled talent and versatility.
From performing alongside icons like Aretha Franklin and jazz organist Dr. Lonnie Smith to being a vital part of esteemed ensembles like the Aretha Franklin Orchestra, invited to perform at the Aretha Franklin Memorial as an RnB percussionist in August 2018, Pathak's impact on the global music scene is significant. Memorable performances include showcases at renowned venues such as the High Sierra Music Festival in California, the Noche Primavera Festival in Mexico City, the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, IL, and the Pritzker Pavilion at the Chicago Jazz Festival.
Pathak's musical accomplishments extend beyond performances. He has been a soloist with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra and the San Francisco Ballet, toured in Israel with Alberto Mizrahi and Peter Yarrow under the musical direction of Howard Levy, and collaborated with artists like Fareed Haque, Howard Levy, and Greg Spero for over 2 decades.
A recipient of a scholarship to the Chicago Musical College, Pathak earned his bachelor's degree in jazz studies with Summa cum laude honors and was named to the National Dean's List in 1996. Known for his dynamic stage presence and proficiency across drumset, tabla, and world percussion, Pathak captivates audiences with his rhythmic innovation and improvisational skill. Continuing to explore new artistic horizons, Pathak has composed for the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic's "Immigrant Stories" and recorded with his ensemble "Jazz Mata." He has also collaborated with the Chicago Silk Road Project, Fulcrum Point New Music, and Bollywood film composers Shankar Ehsaan Loy, showcasing his adaptability and inventive arranging style.
Currently, Pathak tours with blues harmonica and piano legend Corky Siegel, leading Corky Siegel's Chamber Blues to new heights. As a longstanding member of the Tributosaurus band since 2002, Pathak's meticulous attention to detail and virtuosic command of a variety of percussion instruments have solidified his reputation as a true master of his craft.
Pathak's dedication to his artistry is further exemplified through his role as an Artist Endorsee for Tycoon Percussion, Paiste Cymbals, and MalletKat. Whether gracing the stage or captivating audiences through recordings, Pathak's musical prowess continues to inspire and resonate, leaving an indelible mark on the world of percussion and beyond.
Clinicians:
Ben Wahlund-Northern Illinois University
Douglass Bratt- Moraine Valley Community College
Raychel Taylor- Prospect Percussion, Girls March
For any additional information, please contact:
Ron Fiorito, Jr. Tom Leddy
500 W. Elk Grove Blvd. 630/640-0173
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 [email protected]
847/718-4498
[email protected]
General Festival Information
Directions to Elk Grove High School
500 W Elk Grove Blvd.
From the North: Take 294 South. Merge onto 90 West. Exit Arlington Heights Rd. and turn left. Turn left onto Elk Grove Blvd. and EGHS is directly on the right.
From the South: Take 355 North. 355 turns into IL-53 (290 West) Exit Biesterfield Rd., turn right. Turn left onto Arlington Heights Rd. Turn right onto Elk Grove Blvd., school is on the right.
From the West: If taking 90 East, exit Arlington Heights Rd. and turn right. Turn left onto Elk Grove Blvd. School is on the right. If taking 88 east, exit 355 N/ IL-53 (290). Exit Biesterfield Rd., turn right. Turn left onto Arlington Heights Rd. Turn right onto Elk Grove Blvd., school is on the right.
From the East: If taking 90 West, exit Arlington Heights Rd., and turn left. Once you get to Elk Grove Blvd. turn left. School is on the corner. If taking 290 West, exit Biesterfield Rd., and turn right. Turn left on Arlington Heights Rd. Turn right onto Elk Grove Blvd, school is on the right.
Festival Instructions
Performers:
Your bus driver/parents should drop you off in the BACK of the school. Enter through Door 29. 2 Chaperones per group are covered in the pre-paid entrance fees. Plan on bringing all equipment to the cafeteria (Home Room) until 15 minutes before your performance time. Raffle tickets will be given to each student upon entrance. Drawings will begin mid-morning and winning tickets will be posted on the raffle board in the foyer.
Bus Parking
Buses and/or vans must park near the football field. Please do not allow students to leave valuable items on the buses, as we will not have any staff to secure the parking lot.
Admission
General admission to the festival is $10, $7 for PAS members. All attendees should enter through the BACK entrance (Door 29). Please encourage family and friends to watch your performances. Accessible entrance: If anyone needs closer access to our performance rooms, please let us know.
Concessions
There will be concessions available throughout the day until about 2pm. The concessions are in the foyer/cafeteria.
Past Clinicians/Artists:
Dr. Christopher Butler
Third Coast Percussion
Adam Hopper
Paul Wertico
She-e-wu
Rob Fergusson
Brett Kuhn
Adam Hill
Tom Benko
Gregory Beyer
Dede Sampaio
NIU Percussion Ensemble
Doug Perkins
Kevin Lepper
Ruben Alvarez
Joel Spencer
Huei Yuan Pan
Ed Harrison
Jeff Handley
Bobby Everson
The Screaming Norwegians
DePaul University Percussion Ensemble
Ben Wahlund
Doug Bratt
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