BIO
Jeff Queen has been involved with percussion since the age of 10. At the age of 15, Jeff began his drum corps career with the Canton Bluecoats (’89) and continued on to march with the Velvet Knights (’90-’91), Santa Clara Vanguard (‘92), Blue Knights and the University of North Texas (’93-’95). Jeff was the Drum Corps International Individual and Ensemble Snare Drum Champion in 1994 and 1995 as well as the Percussive Arts Society Individual Snare Drum Champion in 1994 and 1995. Jeff continued to be involved in the drum corps activity after aging out, including being the caption head for the Carolina Crown drum and bugle corps from 2003-04, percussion arranger for the Colts Drum and Bugle corps for 2007-08, and a DCI judge from 2012-2018.
Jeff is an original cast member of the Tony and Emmy award winning Broadway Show "BLAST" where he was a solo performer and battery instructor from 1999 - 2003. Jeff has performed across the US, Europe and Asia. In addition Jeff has appeared on numerous Television shows including: The Late Show with David Letterman, The Kennedy Center Honors 2000, NBA All-Star Game 2001, Grey Cup 2007, “BLAST”, and “The Making of Blast” on PBS DVD and Video.
Jeff has been an active teacher since 2003, where he was the drumline coordinator at Avon High School from 2003-2012, winning 3 back-to-back BOA Grand National Championships with the Avon Marching Black and Gold (2008,’09,’10), and becoming a perennial finalist for WGI with the Winter Drumline. In 2012, Jeff became the percussion coordinator for Carmel High School in Carmel Indiana, where he assisted with winning 4 Grand National Championships (2012, ’16, ’17, 18), started their indoor percussion program along with developing their concert percussion program.
Mr. Queen holds his BM in Music Theory and Composition and MM in Percussion Performance from Butler University and served on Butler University’s faculty from 2010-2019. Jeff was the assistant director of the Butler Marching Band from 2010-2019, adjunct percussion faculty from 2010-2019, and served as the full time Artist in Residence for the 2017-18 academic year.
Queen is the author of “The Next Level: Rudimental Drumming Techniques” available through Jeff Queen Productions and “Playing With Sticks”, a more than 3-hour instructional DVD through Hudson Music. More of Jeff’s compositions are available through Row-Loff Productions, Tapspace Publications, Fannin Music, and jeffqueen.com.
Currently, Jeff is the Southwest District Sales Manager for Yamaha Corporation of America and lives in Southern California with his wife Rosie, and golden doodle Indy.