Poovalur Sriji, a prolific composer, performer, educator, ‘A’ Top grade artist recognized by All India Radio (the Indian government through their radio network grades artists and “A” Top is the highest ranking), studied South Indian classical music from his father P. A. Venkataraman. For over four decades Poovalur has performed with leading artists from both South and North Indian classical traditions. Since his move to the United States he has performed and recorded with Sir Yehudi Menuhin, Béla Fleck, Mark O’Connor, John Bergamo, and Glen Velez to name a few.

Ed Smith's music career as a jazz vibraphonist and percussionist spans more than three decades. He has performed with distinguished artists such as John Cage, Phil Wilson, Louie Bellson, Johnny Mathis, Ed Soph, Glen Velez, Trichy Sankaran, Nyoman Wenten, Hands On’Semble and many others.

Stockton Helbing is always moving.  If he is not playing the drums he is busy being a composer, arranger, producer, bandleader, educator, music director, author, and entrepreneur. 

Paul Rennick is Assistant Professor in Percussion at the University of North Texas where he has served on the faculty since 1991.  A leading figure in the world of marching percussion and percussion education, Paul has a long history of successful students and renowned performing ensembles, and has been a featured clinician and guest artist worldwide.

Mark Ford is a marimba artist and the Coordinator of Percussion at The University of North Texas College of Music in Denton, Texas.  As a Past-President of the Percussive Arts Society and the coordinator of one of the largest percussion programs in the United States at UNT, Ford is an active performer and composer.  Mark has been featured as a marimba soloist throughout the United States at universities, festivals and music conferences. He has performed internationally throughout Europe as well as in Japan, China, Taiwan, Australia and South America.

Christopher Deane is a Professor of Percussion at the University of North Texas College of Music teaching orchestral timpani, mallets, and directing the UNT Percussion Players percussion ensemble. He holds performance degrees from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He studied with James Massie Johnson, former principal timpanist of the St. Louis Symphony and percussion with Allen Otte. He has also studied independently with Roland Kohloff, N.Y. Philharmonic, Eugene Espino, Cincinnati Symphony and Leonard Schulman, N.Y.