Department of Music Percussion Faculty

David Taylor

Dr. David Taylor holds B.M. and B.A. degrees in Music Education and Music Composition from Utah State University, an M.A. in Music Theory/Composition from the University of Wyoming, and a D.M.A. from The Ohio State University specializing in music composition. Mentors include Gary Smart, Elliot Schwartz, Dennis Griffin, Steve Hemphill and James Moore.

He  has appeared with such artists as Danny Kaye, Roger Williams, Ed Calle, and Kurt Bestor. He has also performed nationally with numerous contemporary ensembles. Selected compositions are published by Per-Mus Publications.  He is the author of Basic Theory: An Interactive Introduction to the Fundamentals of Music. Dr. Taylor currently serves as the Director of Percussion Studies at BYU-Idaho where he founded the RixStix Percussion Group which he conducts. He also teaches music theory, history and technology courses in addition to various percussion courses.
.

Jay Lawrence

Jay Lawrence has been enjoying a diverse career as a performing artist, composer, arranger, clinician and adjudicator. His vast professional experience began at age 15 in Nevada showrooms working with Liza Minelli, Sammy Davis Jr., Linda Ronstadt, Cher, Tom Jones, Dionne Warwick, Roy Clark, Ann-Margret, Gladys Knight, Lou Rawls, The Coasters and others. He has toured with Liberace, Chris LeDoux, The Osmond Brothers, James Moody and Enoch Train. Jay has many movie sound track, film trailer and television score credits. He has performed in concert with Brian Bromberg, Pete Christlieb, Cyrus Chestnut, Hank Jones, Phil Woods, Milt Jackson and many others. In addition Mr. Lawrence has recorded more than 80 albums, including recordings with Terrance Blanchard, Joey DeFrancesco, Mike Stern and Tom Garvin.

Click here to return to the Department of Music Faculty Page

Click here to return to the Department of Music Home Page