Dana Slabaugh

Dana is a graduate of the University of Kentucky, where he studied percussion under James B. Campbell and received his bachelor’s degree in Music Education.  Dana was also a member and instructor of the World Champion Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps for a total of 5 seasons.  Currently, he has spent the last 13 years as the Director of Percussion at American Fork High School and Junior High, where he also teaches the intermediate jazz band and co-teaches the concert band.  American Fork percussion sections have received numerous awards under Dana’s direction, including best 6A marching band percussion section, best 6A large percussion ensemble, best 6A chamber ensemble, and best Junior High ensemble at Utah PAS Day of Percussion.  Numerous American Fork percussion students under his direction have also placed 1st in solo categories at Utah PAS, PASIC, and many have made the Utah All-State Band.  Previously, he spent 14 years as a freelance teacher, performer, and arranger in the metropolitan Denver area where he was the head percussion instructor and arranger for several area schools. During his time in Denver, his ensembles won a total of 9 state championships in marching band and RMPA indoor percussion.  Dana was on staff with the Blue Knights indoor percussion ensemble when they received the Bronze medal at WGI world championships.  He has also appeared as a guest clinician and adjudicator numerous times throughout his career and has served as member of the Board of Directors for RMPA in Colorado, and InterMountain Percussion Association (IMPA) in Utah. Dana is the past President of the Utah Percussive Arts Society and is proud to be an Innovative Percussion Artist and also an endorser of Evans Heads. ​