Broomall, Pennsylvania, United States
Mark Beecher is currently a Teacher of Percussion at Drexel University in Philadelphia PA, where he also directs the Drexel University Percussion Ensemble; he is the President of the National Association of Rudimental Drummers, LLC (N.A.R.D.), a Voting Member of the GRAMMYs (The Recording Academy), has recorded over 40 albums with a variety of artists and has performed on stage with multi GRAMMY Award-winning and Nominated artists such as Shania Twain, The Chieftains, Peter Erskine, Kathy Sledge (of Sister Sledge), Elio Villafranca, as well as renowned Jesus Music Movement artist, Paul Clark. Mark has been on the 1st Round Ballots for numerous GRAMMY Awards, his creative work was featured on 2 GRAMMY-Winning albums and 5 Nominated albums, and was a Silver Medal Winner of individual snare drum competition (along with his colleague Andrew Reamer - Principal Percussionist with the Pittsburgh Symphony); Mark has opened for David Lee Roth, The Doobie Brothers, The Temptations, Dave Mason, Bo Diddley, Mike Stern, Leni Stern, etc., and has also entertained a number of international dignitaries such as Queen Elizabeth, President Valéry Giscard d'Estang of France and King Carl XVl Gustaf of Sweden. Mark has studied with master drummers - 4 time VFW National Snare Drum Champion, William H. Reamer (mentor and world-renowned drum & drumstick maker), Frank Zappa drummers, Chad Wackerman & Chester Thompson, as well as world rhythm percussionists, Oscar Sulley (Africa), Frankie Malabe (Latin), Jose Luis "Changuito" Quintana (Latin) & T.N. Bala (India). He is author of the DVD, "The Art of Ancient Rudimental Drumming," has written a number of articles and solos for several percussion publications, has over 36 years of experience teaching drums & percussion to various high school bands, drum corps & pipe bands and has a regular presence on YouTube. Mark has both produced & recorded the music soundtrack for the renowned video game series, Mount & Blade: Napoleonic Wars, and is presently recording a new soundtrack for the same Flying Squirrel Entertainment and their game based on the Civil War.