Rone Sparrow
West Point Band - United States

Overview

Rone Sparrow is a multi-faceted musician with credentials as a classical percussionist and drum set artist. He has performed in Europe, Asia, Australia, and throughout the United States. His career includes engagements with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Sundance Summer Theater, The Drifters, Garland/Las Colinas Symphony, Walt Disney Corporation, Dallas Wind Symphony, Hudson Valley Philharmonic, and performances at the Montreux and North Sea international jazz festivals. He has shared the stage with a wide range of artists including Eddie Daniels, Joe Alessi, Phil Smith, Larry Combs, Dick Oates, Mike Mainieri, Bob Mintzer, James Carter, Victor Mendoza, Caissie Levy, and Lea Solanga. 

Rone currently serves as a member of the West Point Band, located at The United States Military Academy. As a member of the band, he has been a featured soloist on steel pans, piano, drum set, and mallet percussion. Performances include the premiere of Stephen Anderson's Concerto for Solo Percussion commissioned by the Barlow Endowment for the Arts, television broadcasts for PBS, the Today Show, and Fox News, multiple performances at home games of the New York Yankees, New York Jets, and New York Giants, collaborations with the New Jersey Ballet, and concerts with the New York Philharmonic at Avery Fisher Hall.

The West Point Band's percussion section has been featured in clinics at university master classes, the New Hampshire and New York City "Day of Percussion" events, the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, and The Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic.   

Rone earned a Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance and Pedagogy from Brigham Young University and a Master of Music in Percussion Performance from The University of North Texas. While at UNT, he taught in the percussion department, performed with the UNT Wind Symphony, played in the UNT jazz department in both big band and small group settings, and was a member of the Percussive Arts Society World-Champion UNT Drumline.   

Rone's principal teachers include Ron Brough, Christopher Deane, Ed Soph, Paul Rennick, and Mark Ford. He also studied with Jay Lawrence, George Brown, Mike Werner, and John Riley.   

Rone proudly endorses Pearl/Adams musical instruments and Innovative Percussion Inc. sticks and mallets.