ABOUT THE DRUMLINE

The EMU Drumline is Directed by Jason Ihnat and John Dorsey.

Jason Ihnat has experience in teaching the pit of The Cadets drum and bugle corps and also Eastside Fury Percussion Ensemble. He has also served as a percussion instructor at Novi, Clinton, and Lakeland High Schools and as Caption Head with the Americanos Drum and Bugle Corps. Currently, Jason is on staff with the The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps and is the percussion arranger for Eastern Michigan University, L'Anse Creuse High School, South Lyon High School, and the Eastside Fury. As a percussionist, he has performed with The Cadets and Northern Aurora Drum and Bugle Corps as well as several university and community orchestras. Jason has served on the WGI Percussion Advisory Board, is the Percussion Liaison for the Michigan Color Guard Circuit and is a member of the Vic Firth Education Team.

John Dorsey is the Professor of Percussion at Eastern Michigan University. He plays frequently with the DSO (Detroit Symphony Orchestra) and is the President of the PAS (Percussive Arts Society) Michigan Chapter. "Mr. Dorsey is currently Principal Percussionist for the Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra, the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra and the Saginaw Bay Orchestra. When not performing in one of these situations, he performs for professional musical theater productions, national touring artists, percussion groups, jazz/dance bands and other freelance opportunities in the Southeast Michigan area. He performed and recorded as Timpanist and Percussionist with the Detroit Concert Band during its final years of existence under the direction of Dr. Leonard B. Smith, has performed as guest soloist with concert bands and he continues to conduct educational clinics and adjudicate at festivals and competitions throughout the region. Mr. Dorsey received his Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Michigan where he studied with Charles Owen and his Bachelor of Music degree in Percussion Performance from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas where he studied with Richard Brown and Phil Kraus (Dorsey, John)."