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Murray Gusseck is considered an innovator and trend setter in the world
of marching percussion. He served as the percussion caption head of the
Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps (SCV) 2003-2005. Prior to that
he served as the head battery instructor 1996-1999 and 2002 alongside
Jim Casella. Murray’s compositions for battery include Martian Mambo,
Electric Wheelchair, SCV’s DoubleBeat, and many others. These
compositions as well as a signature sound have set Murray in a class of
his own in the realm of rudimental battery percussion.
Murray started his career as a marching member of SCV in 1988 and aged
out in 1992. He played tenors all 5 of those years under Ralph Hardimon,
Glen Crosby, and Scott Johnson. As a member of those SCV drumlines
Murray helped start a new trend of drumline parking lot “events” by
composing entertaining battery compositions that attracted large
audiences outside the normal competition arenas. As a player Murray
received many accolades for his tenor playing and for the extreme
ability levels of the tenor sections and drumlines he was a part of
during his tenure with SCV. During the 14 years Murray was part of SCV,
he won the Fred Sanford Percussion Trophy 5 times and the DCI First
Place Award twice.
Murray is also a part of
Tapspace Publications LLC (Portland, OR), a
company Murray co-founded with his friend and partner Jim Casella. He is
the author of several publications published by Tapspace, including
Fresh Perspectives for the Modern Drumline which has become a basic
staple in the world of rudimental percussion.
He
has taught and arranged percussion music for various high schools and
winter percussion ensembles throughout the country, including Amador
Valley (CA), Richland Hills (TX), Tunstall Concert Ensemble (VA), Fred
C. Beyer High School (CA), James Logan High School (CA), Evergreen High
School (WA), and currently Stephen F. Austin High School (TX).
Currently Murray resides in the Portland area of the northwest where he
helps manage Tapspace and plays drums in several local bands. Murray
proudly endorses Pearl drums, Remo drumheads, Vic Firth drumsticks,
Zildjian cymbals, and Xymox practice pads.
http://web.mac.com/mgusseck
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