Brendan Mason is an active teacher, performer, and clinician in the New England area. He currently teaches general and instrumental music at East Shoreline Catholic Academy in Branford, CT (previously Saint Mary School) and serves as the Assistant Marching Band Director for Jonathon Law High School in Milford, CT. He provides private lessons to many students of all ages in the New England Area. Brendan also has served as caption head or technician to several area drumlines and percussion sections including the Cheshire High School Marching Band, Col. John Chester Drum Corps, Connecticut Patriots Drum Corps, The Stony Creek Drum Corps and the 7th Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps. He has provided clinics and workshops all over the world, including a 2014 presentation for the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Indianapolis, a week of clinics in Singapore for the Singapore Armed Forces Band and for The Royal Marine School of Music in Portsmouth, UK. Brendan is a regular teacher, performer and guest throughout China as a member of The China Percussive Arts Society.
Brendan is a student of Paul Cormier, Mike Gagnon, Matt Mayotte, and Tim Cecil. He later studied under Ken Green while attending Northwestern State University of Louisiana where he pursued a degree in music education and percussion performance. Brendan started playing rudimental snare drum at the age of 6 as a member of the Col. John Chester Drum Corps. He soon began competing individually through the Corps, winning honors at the Connecticut, Massachusetts, Hudson Valley, and Northeastern States Championships. At age 9, Brendan became the youngest drummer to hold The Dan English Trophy as the Connecticut State Junior Snare Drum Champion, a distinction he has won more times than any other individual.
In addition to teaching, Brendan is a member of the Connecticut Patriots Drum Corps. He has also performed with the Grand Republic Fife and Drum Corps, the Middlesex County Volunteers and The Top Secret Drum Corps of Basel, Switzerland. Through these groups, Brendan has toured both nationally and internationally, performing in Switzerland, France, Germany, and Australia. He has individually performed with notable musicians, such as Shania Twain, and was featured on an ESPN recording. Brendan is a proud member of The Company of Fifers and Drummers, USARD and NARD. He is also an endorsee of Mapex and Majestic, The Cooperman Drum
James Martin Clark began drumming in 1963, at nine years of age. He was a snare drummer in the East Hampton (CT) Fife and Drum Corps (1965-1969), the Nathan Hale Ancient Fifes and Drums (1970-1972), the Connecticut Yanks (1973-1976) and the Connecticut Patriots (1979-1981) before helping to organize the Connecticut Valley Field Music in 1988, with which he continues to perform and serves as musical director.
While his formal education in drumming is rather spotty, he has learned from personal contact with Tom Distefano, Dave Smith, Bob Castillo, and Ed Classey. Paul Cormier, Charlie Poole, and Ken Lemley very generously gave of their time in helping him to learn about drumming.
He holds a B.A. degree in History from Central Connecticut State University, an M. A. in Liberal Studies from Wesleyan University, an M. A. in Music History and Musicology from the New England Conservatory, and a Ph.D. in Music History and Theory from the University of Connecticut.
Available Books by James Clark: Ten Pieces for Field Drum
