Since elementary school, Mario Carrillo—Claremont High School’s AP physics teacher and percussion director—has been inseparable from music. Much of his first year as the CHS percussion director has been spent making meaningful improvements and sparking newfound success. Under the supervision of Carrillo, CHS percussion students have learned how to play more efficiently and incorporate nuanced dynamics in their drumlines. Rebuilding the program from the ground up has been no easy task, but Carrillo has helped CHS’s percussion team make strides. From these experiences, Carrillo is ecstatic to continue his role as percussion director and encourage students to have a “beating” passion for music.
Carrillo began his musical journey picking up the clarinet in elementary school and eventually discovered the drums in middle and high school. During his senior year, Carrillo was accepted into an independent group “Gold” based in San Diego. Through Gold, he competed with percussion groups nationwide.
“I don’t want to call it like the NBA of drumming, but it’s a competitive external marching band,” Carrillo said. “Groups from all over the world compete at world finals during the summer.”
Throughout the year, Carrillo has made headway in reigniting students’ passion for percussion after years of lacking specialized instruction, citing the exceptional receptiveness the students exuded. He also found self-fulfillment through teaching percussion and is beyond proud of the progress his students have made this year.
“It was very refreshing to be there,” Carrillo said. “There was a part we had changed in the show […] towards the end of our season; […] it finally hit the way I was hoping it would hit.”
During the 2007 World Finals Winter Percussion competition, CHS’s percussion program received a bronze medal, akin to an Olympic Medal in the percussion world. Inspired by the legacy of CHS’s percussion program, Carrillo hopes to incorporate a competitive or indoor program into future percussion seasons.
“I really want us to have a competitive or indoor program—that’s what I personally find is the best part of marching percussion,” Carrillo said. “It will give us more time and space to be more creative with the music.”
Scoring successes in percussion scores, Carrillo’s first year directing CHS’s drumline was highly productive. Maestro of music Carrillo has decades of music experience that allowed him to implement sweeping improvements to rebuild the program. Upbeats mastered, CHS’s drumline is ready for another great season under Carrillo’s guidance. Rhythms set, the stage is ready for CHS percussion’s bright future. Full forte ahead, Carrillo is primed to continue inspiring students in and out of the classroom.
