George Willis, co-founder of Pulsa Musica, is the director of percussion studies at West Virginia University. His background is largely in orchestral music, performing with many orchestras, broadway and opera companies for over 35 years.
He has extensive contemporary music experience as well. George is also the director of the Mountaineer Fifes and Drums, a historical music ensemble at the West Virginia University School of Music. His love of traditional rudimental drumming has grown along with his interest in the fife and drum artform.
George holds music degrees from Carnegie-Mellon and Temple Universities, as well as a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh.
George has been married for over thirty years to violinist Ellen-Maria Willis. George and Ellen-Maria regularly perform together as The Willis Duo.
Mark is considered by many to be one of the foremost military music connectors in the world. As an internationally recognized performer, speaker, educator, and consultant, Mark’s experience has allowed him to travel the world extensively working at the state and royal level. Mark has presented at such prestigious institutions such as the Amsterdam Conservatory, the Royal College of Music, and the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, Austria.
His collaborative work with the Top Secret Drum Corps , His Majesty’s The King’s Guard of Norway, Her Majesty’s Royal Marines, de la Garde republican and the Pontifical Swiss Guard has given him vast experience in international cultural events.
He holds degrees in Music Education from Northwestern State and Boston Universities, is endorsed by Mapex Drums, Majestic Percussion, REMO, Innovative Percussion, Sabian, Prologix, Loyal Drums, and Büchler Trommelbau and is a adjunct professor at West Virginia University.
Alexander Nedelkos is a unique blend of drummer, educator, presenter-producer of music shows, rudimental drumming evangelist, physicist, and owner of an IT company.
As a rudimental drummer, he has a unique way of applying the language of rudiments to traditional Greek music and odd meters, having studied the main rudimental schools of America, Switzerland, Scotland, and France.
As a drumset player, he has numerous appearances with bands on television, live music scenes, and festivals throughout Greece.
Alexander Nedelkos is extensively involved with rudimental drumming and its promotion in Greece. He is the country's representative and a board member of the global organization SIRD (Society of International Rudimental Drummers), president of PAS Greece (Percussive Arts Society), founder of the non-profit community GRDC (Greek Rudimental Drumming Community), member of the historic NARD (National Association of Rudimental Drummers), USARD (United States Association of Rudimental Drummers), Company of Fifes & Drummers, and organizer of the International Rudimental Drumming Festival in Athens.
He has performed at the Heritage Concert of the internationally renowned event PASIC (Indianapolis, USA), and has given lectures at West Virginia University (USA) on the application of rudiments in Greek Tradition. He also represented Greece at the 3rd international symposium of the SIRD organization in Portsmouth, England, performing and conducting clinics. He has also written articles for the American magazine Percussive Notes.
Together with Nikos Sidirokastritis, under the auspices of Lab Music Education, he created the first comprehensive Greek course on rudimental drumming in Greece. Along with Fotis Giannopoulos, he created the Rudimental Academy, an online platform for learning Rudimental Drumming. He has taught drums at Drummania, Lab Music Education, and the Greek Conservatory.
He is also the presenter and producer of the web shows Woodiments & Rudimental Coffee, which feature Greek and foreign drummers, with a focus on rudimental drumming. He has interviewed drumming legends such as Steve Gadd, Billy Cobham, David Garibaldi, etc. Learn more about the Woodiments show here.
He has endorsements from Gabriel Drums and Agner Drumsticks.
Damián Bonesi works as a rudimental drumming performer and teacher. He is the editor consultant for "Pulsa Musica", a new publishing company founded by Mark Reilly and George Willis. Along with Samanta Casarramona Denkberg and Gustavo Olech, Damian directs the drumming group SER RUDIMENTAL, which develops artistic and educational programming.
Damian’s compositions mix the language of rudimental drumming with textures and ideas from the folk music of his country and other influences. SER RUDIMENTAL played his music in a live performance at Percussive Arts Society International Convention in the USA in 2019. Today Damian’s projects grow in an organic rudimental community incorporating SER RUDIMENTAL Chile and SER RUDIMENTAL Spain.
Damian has studied with great drummers including Pablo Menegozzo, Andrea Alvarez, Christian Faiad, “Pepi” Taveira, Sebastián Hoyos, John Wooton and Mark Reilly. He has participated two times in John Wooton´s “Summer Drummin´” rudimental campus at The University of Southern Mississippi, and he was invited to visit The Old Guard Drum Corp, in Fort Myer (Washington), to learn more about USA “Fife & Drum”.
In 2018, Damián attended the 2nd International Rudimental Drummers Symposium in Paris where the Society of International Rudimental Drummers (SIRD) was founded. Today he is the Latin American regional representative for SIRD.
He is an endorser of Loyal Drums and Agner Drumsticks and also manages and develops a monthly online international workshop, called “#padtikndo”.
