BORN IN: Maysville, Missouri

LIVES IN: Kansas City, Missouri

PLAYING SINCE: 2010

BIGGEST INFLUENCES: Anthony DiSanza, Kevin Bobo, Nate Smith

MOST MEMORABLE PERFORMANCE YOU PLAYED IN: Performing in Finals with the Madison Scouts in 2017

MOST MEMORABLE PERFORMANCE YOU DIDN’T PLAY IN: JU Percussion Group, PASIC 2022

CAREER HIGHLIGHT: Watching my students grow in their musicianship every day.

FAVOURITE SABIAN CYMBAL: HHX 21” Raw Bell, Dry Ride.

Mr. Walling serves as an Assistant Band Director and Percussion Director for Blue Springs South High School, Moreland Ridge Middle School, and Delta Woods Middle School. He teaches private lessons in the Blue Springs area, and has had multiple students make the district honor band as well as make it to the Missouri State solo and Ensemble Competition. He has his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Central Missouri where he studied under Dr. Alex Smith, and his Master’s Degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he studied under Dr. Anthony DiSanza. He graduated from Maysville High School.

Mr. Walling has held numerous positions as an instructor and designer, including the Wisconsin Badger Band where he instructed and wrote music for the University Drumline, front ensemble technician for Rhythm City Rhythm in 2021, as well as numerous high school positions including Blue Springs South High School, Lee’s Summit High School, Odessa High School, and Warrensburg High School. He has also worked with the indoor percussion program at Lee’s Summit High School, where he was a front ensemble technician and sound design engineer.

Mr. Walling has vast experience as a performing artist in multiple areas of percussion. In marching percussion he marched with the Sacramento Mandarins (2016), the Madison Scouts (2017,2018), Gateway Indoor Percussion (2018), and the UCM Marching Mules where he also served as drum major (2015-2019). He has also explored chamber group performances vigorously, having been a part of the Graduate Quartet at UW-Madison, the Mid-Missouri Percussive Arts Trophy showcase ensemble in 2019, Missouri Day of Percussion Collegiate Percussion ensemble, and numerous other projects ranging from jazz bands to mixed instrumentation modern music ensembles. He is proud to be a percussionist who can perform in a wide range of settings. When he is not teaching students, Mr. Walling likes to spend his time with his partner Molly and their cat, Taco.