Percussion

Patrick Bowen has been the Percussion Instructor at the Las Vegas Academy since 1992, where the Percussion Ensemble or soloists have won the Nevada All State Command Performance numerous times. Mr. Bowen is in his eighth year at the Academy where he teaches full-time the World Jazz Studies area and Chamber Ensembles. He was the percussionist for the hit Broadway show “Mamma Mia” at the Mandalay Bay Resort and is presently the Principal Percussionist with the Las Vegas Philharmonic. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from the Hartt School of Music (Cum Laude), a Master’s degree in Music Performance from the University of Montana, and a Teaching Certificate from UNLV.

Jazz Bands at the Las Vegas Academy have won “Best in State” at every Reno Jazz Festival in attendance, Downbeats “Outstanding Big Band” and “Best Combo” awards, Lionel Hampton Jazz Festivals “Overall Winner” and first places in the big band and combo divisions, Monterey Jazz Festival finalist, Monterey’s 51st Jazz Festival participant, “Superior’ ratings at CCSD Jazz Festivals, and the fine arts area were six time winners of the Signature Gold Grammy Award, and two Signiture Grammy Awards. Mr. Bowen housed the IAJE Teachers Training Institute and was invited to the IAJE Conference in Long Beach,California.

Mr. Bowen has been a guest soloist with the Hartt Symphony, Henderson Civic Orchestra, and UNLV Percussion Ensemble. Mr. Bowen has performed with the Nevada Symphony Orchestra, Nevada Dance Theater Orchestra, Mahler Orchestra, New Haven Symphony, New Britain Symphony, Las Vegas Pops, Nevada Wind Ensemble, Nevada Opera Theater, and the Missoula Symphony Orchestra. He has extensive ensemble experience premiering works at the Columbia New Music Festival, Yale University New Music Festival, and the Saratoga Springs Festival.

He has been the Dance Accompanist at UNLV accompanying such choreographers as Gus Solomans, Jr., Loretta Livingston, Marcus Alford, Walter Nicks, Judith Moss, Sam Watson, Billy Siegenfield, and the Alvin Ailey Dance Company. He has also played with Celine Dion, Elton John, Clint Black, Sheila E, Wynonna Judd, Lionel Richie, Dudley Moore, Boyz II Men, Michael Bolton, Kenny G, Olete Adams, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Wonder, Don Henley, Tim McGraw, Brian McKnight, Andre Bocelli and David Foster.

Mr. Bowen has served as the President of the Percussive Arts Society for the State of Nevada. He has also published Snares and Sets: A Book of Duets, and Temple: A Timpani Concerto for Timpani and Percussion Ensemble. He has written articles for the Percussive Arts Society and many of his original works have been recorded.

Patrick Bowen is a proud sponsor of Bosphorus Cymbals, Grover Pro Percussion, and Silverfoxx mallets and sticks.

ROBERT BONORA, percussion – has worked with a variety of entertainers, performing in virtually every hotel and showroom in Las Vegas. A native of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, he currently is on the faculty of The College of Southern Nevada (CSN), where he is Lead Faculty for Music, coordinator of Percussion/Steel Drum and Drum Set Studies as well professor of History of Rock Music. Bob is also currently percussionist with Vegas! The Show, at Planet Hollywood. He has performed as percussionist with The Wayne Newton Orchestra, and as a member of the Crimes Against Nature Band for the Emmy Award Nominated Penn & Teller television show “Sin City Spectacular.” He has also performed with Harry Connick, Jr., Alicia Keys, Vanessa Williams, Bernadette Peters, Lyle Lovett, Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, Placido Domingo, Charlotte Church, Alan Parsons Project, Dennis DeYoung (Styx), Bill Cosby, Jerry Lewis, Don Rickles, Debbie Reynolds, Wierd Al Yankovic, Joe Williams, Marlena Shaw, Pete Chrislieb. Bob has done work in many of the Broadway shows playing in Las Vegas including The Producers, Mama Mia, We Will Rock You, Avenue Q, Annie, and The Full Monty.

Bob is active in steel drums with PANACEA, his own pan group, as well as starting the Calypso Coyote Steel Drum Band at CSN in 2003. He is active in the Nevada Chapter of Percussive Arts Society, organizing the annual mass steel drum band from around metro Las Vegas. He has also appeared as percussionist with the Nevada Symphony, Nevada Chamber Orchestra, Nevada Wind Ensemble and Nevada Opera Theater.

Bob received his Bachelor of Music Degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Akron in 1984 and went on to get a Master’s Degree in Percussion Performance from University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1994. He is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Percussion at UNLV.