Percussion Director

John Gurke

As a graduate from the prestigious University of North Texas, John has embarked on everything percussion from orchestral, Drum Corps International (DCI) to jazz drum set and everything in between. A professional music educator/band director in the Dallas area, John keeps a busy schedule between band/drum line competitions, composing, arranging, recording, performing, adjudicating and conducting clinics. As a professional artist, John has to his credit, recorded/performed with numerous artists, including Torrid Affair (Warner Brothers), Fearless (Independent), Michael Harris (Lion Music), Cheap Trick, The Supremes, Joe Nichols, Vince Neil, Al Green, Sting and even landed an audition with Ozzy Osbourne.

John has had the honor and privilege of studying with Dr. Robert Schietroma (UNT mallet pedagogy),

Ron Fink (UNT timpani pedagogy), Ed Soph (UNT drum set pedagogy), Steve Smith (Journey/Vital

Information), John Riley (Manhattan School of Music), Greg Bissonette (UNT, David Lee Roth, Ringo Starr, ELO), Jim Chapin (Drummer Collective NYC), Dom Famularo (education consultant for Vic Firth sticks/mallets and Sabian cymbals) , Mitch Marine (Dwight Yoakam) and Ignacio Berroa (Dizzy Gillespie).

Currently, John is a professional music educator/band director in the D/FW area and peforms with the Dallas based Journey Tribute Band "Escape" and the Michael Harris Tranzfusion. John is an active member of TMEA, PAS, AMF and ASCAP.