Shawn Preston
I started taking formal lessons and playing at age 12. In high school, I played in every ensemble possible. While in HS, I also performed as a member of the Indiana University Honors Band in 92 and 93, and the Concert Band of Northwest PA at Edinboro University from the winter of 92 through the summer of 95. After graduating in 1993 from Cochranton HS in Cochranton, PA, I moved on to studying music at the college level at Mansfield University and Slippery Rock University, both of which are in PA. At both schools, I participated in their marching bands, wind ensembles, percussion ensembles, jazz ensembles, and orchestras. In addition to my college coursework, I also got extensively involved in the drum corps activity as a performer, instructor and arranger.
At the end of my first 4 years of college, I then transitioned to the Marine Corps to perform with the Marine Band in San Diego in March of 98 until November of 98, where I served as percussionist in the field band, concert band, and jazz combo. While in San Diego, I arranged and instructed from time to time with a handful of high school marching bands in the area, and also began playing in various church bands.
The end of 98 marked a career change as a Marine as I transferred to Washington DC for duty with “The Commandant’s Own” United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps. I served as a percussionist and arranger from November of 98 until September of 2001 when I left active duty to return to study music at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va and continued performing at various churches and with other types of bands as time permitted.
While at GMU, I had the pleasure of studying percussion with National Symphony member Kenneth Harbison. I also enjoyed performing in the wind ensemble under the direction of world renowned conductor, Anthony Maiello.
In January of 2004, I moved to Nashville, TN where I performed with a number of bands in the region. Later that year, I made a move to south FL and performed and recorded with several independent acts. In April of 05, I made my way back to Marine Band San Diego for another tour of duty which had me performing, recording, and arranging with several artists in southern CA.
In August of 06, I returned once again and am currently serving as a percussionist and arranger with “The Commandant’s Own” United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps in Washington DC. In addition to my duties as a Marine, I also actively perform and record with the rock band Pallino, and a variety of church bands in the DC/northern VA area.
