Chops, Inc. is delighted to announce that Deondre' Carter has joined our staff in the role of Director of Drumline Programs. Dre is a drummer, educator, clinician, composer, and director from Richmond, Virginia who has been part of the Twin Cities percussion scene since 2020.
In his role as Director of Drumline Programs, Dre will lead and shape the future of:
DrumUp, Chops' program to help community-based and scholastic drumlines achieve their goals through residencies, clinics, equipment and technical support
Chops' collaboration with Minnesota Percussion Association to make the regional drumline competition circuit more relevant and accessible for urban-core drumlines
ChopsLIVE, our DJ drumline band, which gives everyone from professional drummers to students a chance to perform in a fun and low-stress environment
Chops' partnership with Ordway's "Beyond the Stage" program to fund drumline residencies.
In his new role at Chops, Deondre' will also continue to support our fiscal sponsee, All City Music, as an artist-in-residence and clinician.
Dre marched with Virginia State University’s Marching Trojan Explosion drumline, became a member of Mu Phi Sigma National Percussion Fraternity, Incorporated and Snare S.I. Phi, Incorporated, and is currently an Endorsed Educator Artist for Promark and Beetle Percussion.
Deondre's compositional experience includes drumline warmups, block music, features, and solos for various playing abilities in North and South American drumline programs. In addition to composing, he travels as a clinician, providing insight, interventions, and technique development to improve drumline programs throughout the U.S.
Chops is thrilled for Dre to bring his extensive marching credentials to our programs. "Dre is passionate about supporting students in taking their music to the next level, making post-secondary plans, and identifying ways to continue their music careers into college and beyond. He is a relationship builder, both with students and with other music educators, and we're thrilled for him to bring his people skills and his percussion chops to our team," said Executive Director Megan O'Leary.