Tobie Wilkinson, Camp Director

Tobie Wilkinson has been a member of the music faculty since 2002. Since his appointment, the percussion studio has become a vibrant place to train young percussionists using the “total percussion” model, and has become a respected member of the percussive community. In addition to concerts every semester on the UWW campus, the Percussion Ensemble has performed at the WSMA State Music Conference, and at the Wisconsin PAS “Day of Percussion”. Active as a free-lance performer, Mr. Wilkinson has performed with the Bel Canto Chorus Orchestra, the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra, the Racine Symphony, and the Waukesha Symphony. He has also performed with the Madison Symphony, and the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. Prior to his appointment at UW-Whitewater, he was Principal Percussionist with the Greater Lansing Symphony, and Principal Timpanist with the West Shore Symphony, and Orchestra X in Houston, TX. Mr. Wilkinson was also a member of the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas and Charles Dutoit. In addition, Mr. Wilkinson has performed with touring Broadway companies, and pop artists for special events.

Equally active as a chamber musician, Mr. Wilkinson performs on faculty recitals and is co-founder of the UW-Whitewater new music ensemble, SONICT. The UW-Whitewater Percussion Ensemble also performs on many SONICT concerts under his direction.

In his role as Assistant Marching Band Director, Mr. Wilkinson works closely with the percussion section as instructor and arranger. He also adjudicates marching bands and has worked with numerous high school percussion sections across the Midwest.

Dedicated to teaching young musicians, Mr. Wilkinson has hosted Percussion Camp every summer since his appointment. He also remains active as a clinician and adjudicator. Mr. Wilkinson is a member of the Percussive Arts Society, the Music Educators National Conference, and the American Federation of Musicians. He is currently the Vice President/President-elect for the Wisconsin Chapter of PAS, and has served as director of the Wisconsin PAS Collegiate All-Star Percussion Ensemble.

Derek Crawford

Drummer/ percussionist Derek Crawford has come a long way from his humble origins in Port Huron, MI. Taking an interest in drums at age seven, Derek has gone from basement band beginnings to being a first-call figure in the Chicago music scene. Derek always brings a distinctive percussive voice to any situation he plays in while displaying versatility not found in many musicians. He is equal parts rock and jazz and is at home locking into a tight rock and roll groove or stretching a composition to its improvisational limits. His style could be described as 'John Bonham plays Stewart Copeland on a Miles Davis gig.' While attending Central Michigan University, Crawford studied orchestral percussion under the late Robert Hohner. He performed as a member of the Robert Hohner Percussion Ensemble and recorded with this nationally recognized group on composer David Gillingham’s landmark recording "Stained Glass; Music for percussion". In 1995 he transplanted himself in Chicago’s budding music scene and set about making his mark.

Since making Chicago his home, Derek Crawford has performed and recorded with some of the best talent the Midwest has to offer. A partial list of credits reads like a who’s who of Chicago music and includes; organ trio Bakelite Army, songwriter Brent Puls, The White Saddle Band (celebrating 30 years in 2010), pop newcomers Clip Art, singer Brad Cole, songbird Katie Todd, Dick Prall, Glen Phillips (Toad The Wet Sprocket), alt-country stalwarts Bleary, Sunday Runners, the futuristic Todd Bowie, John Munson (of Semisonic), Mike Hoffman (of E.I.E.I.O.), Starch Martins, saxophonist Frank Catalano, The Northwoods Improvisors, indo-pak-fusion guitarist Fareed Haque, Ellen Rosner, punk blues legends The Convulsions, jazz legend Ari Brown, The All Rectangle, and R&B chanteuse Jade Maze.

Don Raaymakers

Director of Strike Percussion Ensemble, Don received his Music Education Degree from Central Michigan University where he studied with the highly esteemed late Robert Hohner. Currently, Don is the band director at Duncan Lake and Kraft Meadows Middle Schools in Caledonia, Mich. Don played with the Robert Hohner Percussion Ensemble for six years in which time he recorded three CD’s, “Far More Drums” for Sony and DMP, “Third Wind” (independently released), and a third disc which has not yet been released. Don has also taught four years at the Central Michigan Percussion Workshop and eight years with marching band camps. Strike was created in the fall of 1996 with only a few members now having grown close to fifty percussionists. Strike has played many venues such as the Grand Rapids Festival, Van Singel Museum, Michigan Youth Arts Festival, PASIC, and many more. Strike prides themselves on the many genres of music they play and the complexity of the music as well as the hours of dedication put forth. Strike continues to grow musically as they live by the philosophy of Don’s late teacher, “Play beautiful music, become beautiful people.”

Kelley Radowick

Kelley Radowick has been teaching middle and high school students for over five years. Radowick received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Central Michigan University where she was a member of the Robert Hohner Percussion Ensemble and student of the late Robert Hohner. Radowick currently teaches elementary music, percussion ensemble, and percussion lessons in the Woodhaven School District. Her ensembles have consistently received outstanding ratings at Michigan solo and ensemble festivals. She has also taught and arranged for high school drumlines throughout the State of Michigan. Radowick maintains an active teaching and performing schedule and is a member of the Percussive Arts Society.