Dion Placencia
University of Albany - United States
Overview
Dion Placencia is a percussionist and composer born in Chicago IL and raised in Houston TX. He relocated to New Hampshire, where he graduated high school and discovered Drum and Bugle Corps.
In 1993 Dion became a member of the tenor line in the Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps which led him to the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps in 1995. He attended Keene Sate College in 1995-1999, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music. While in college, Dion began his marching percussion arranging, teaching at Plymouth High School in Plymouth, Mass.
Moving to Saugerties, New York in 2000, Dion began a career in public education. He conducted 7/8th grade concert band and jazz ensembles. This experience led him to further his formal music education, graduating from the College of St. Rose in Albany, New York with a Masters Degree in music education.
Dion continues his marching percussion arranging with 18 years experience in public education. While employed as a Music Teacher, he was the arranger/caption head with the Onteora, High School Marching Band, the Kingston High School Marching Band, and was the Percussion Coordinator for the Arlington High School Marching Band. Also included as a Marching Percussion Coordinator, were the Excelsior Senior Drum and Bugle Corps and a Marching Percussion Camp at the Ulster County Community College.
Performances include, The Center for Performing Arts in Rhinebeck, NY, The Chain Gang Band, Poughkeepsie, NY and Hudson Hollow Suagerties NY. As a clinician he endorses Sabian Cymbals, Vic Firth drumsticks and Pearl drums . Dion is also a US Bands adjudicator and was a guest judge for Guitar Center’s “Drum Off”, Albany NY. He is also involved with theater productions, studio work, clinics, and private and group lessons as well as educational consulting.
He is currently a Music Teacher at Hudson HS, Hudson NY teaching the Mohonasen HS percussion section and is the Percussion Director for the University of Albany Marching Band.