Taylor Marvin Awarded Yamaha/Dennis Delucia Scholarship at WGI World Championships

L-R: Dennis DeLucia, Kathy Marvin, Taylor Marvin and David Marvin.

DAYTON, Ohio — Yamaha is pleased to announce Taylor Marvin as the recipient of the 2012 Yamaha/Dennis DeLucia Scholarship. The scholarship, named for renowned percussion teacher, arranger, clinician, judge and Yamaha Artist Dennis DeLucia, is awarded each year at the Winter Guard International (WGI) Indoor Percussion World Championship Finals to a deserving percussionist. This year's winner, Marvin, is an outstanding drummer and guitarist and a senior at Northglenn High School in Colorado.

"It is such an honor to receive this award," says Marvin. "My six seasons performing within the world of WGI have been absolutely tremendous, allowing me to gain performance experience and a solid music background that many other students and musicians my age lack. I have truly enjoyed working with Yamaha, which has been a huge support to up and coming percussionists, like myself, at a local level. They gave me an invaluable opportunity to play on a massive stage – keeping together with a band of 4 is fun, but keeping together with a band of 40 is much more so!"

The WGI Indoor Percussion World Championships is the culminating event of the season for indoor percussion, with over 180 percussion ensembles traveling to Dayton for the 2012 Championship finals, the Yamaha/Dennis DeLucia Scholarship is both a way to honor Mr. DeLucia's contributions to marching music and a continuation of Yamaha's long history of supporting the study of music. 2012 marks the seventh presentation of the award at WGI.

"We are thrilled to present Taylor with this prestigious award," said Troy Wollwage, Percussion Marketing Manager, Yamaha Corporation of America, Band and Orchestral Division. "He is a strong, confident performer who never ceases to impress with his skill, rhythm and dexterity. We look forward to his continued success and his contributions to the world as a musician."

Marvin first began playing percussion in middle school band, though he started out on a guitar at the age of 10. Since then, he has played at venues around the country, including Invesco Field (now Sports Authority Field), Red Rocks Amphitheater, the first annual Miami Music Festival, the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, and most recently, the WGI Finals where he was part of the World Class "Fan Favorite" Northglenn Percussion Theater.

An Eagle Scout, Marvin works at Peaceful Valley Scout Ranch, where he is a counselor. In September 2012, he will move to Boston to attend the Berklee College of Music where he plans to pursue a degree in Music Production & Engineering. Following in his parents' footsteps – both of whom are Yamaha Artists, Marvin hopes to play professionally someday.

For more information about Yamaha products, write Yamaha Corporation of America, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622-6600; call (714) 522-9011; email infostation@yamaha.com; or visit http://4wrd.it/YAMAHAUSA.