John Mark Reilly

John "Mark" Reilly, a student of Mr. Nick Attanasio, is a three-time Northeastern States Drum Corps Association snare drum champion, winning three consecutive titles between the years of 1994-1996. In 2003 Mark joined “The Old Guard” Fife and Drum Corps where he has served as the corps’ percussion arranger and currently serves as the snare drum section leader.

Early on in his career with the Old Guard Mark forged a relationship with Mr. Erik Julliard, producer of the Berlin and Basel Tattoos as well as the director of the Top Secret Drum Corps. Mark became a performing member of the Top Secret Drum Corps in 2005 for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo’s Salute to Australia and later arranged for the group until 2010.  His arrangements can be heard on recordings from the Edinburgh Military Tattoo (2006, 2009, 2010), South African International Tattoo (2008) and the Russian Military Tattoo (2011).

Mark is an active clinician and music educator. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Northwestern State University of Louisiana and is currently enrolled in the Master’s of Music Education program through Boston University while still serving on active duty. 

In 2012 he had the distinct honor of presenting along side percussion all stars Michael Burritt, Jeff Prosperie and Pat Petrillo during the Drummer’s Heritage Event sponsored by Robin Engleman at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC). Mark has also presented clinics or performed during multiple PASIC’s to include those held in 2007, 2008 (as a part of Dominick Cuccia’s Not-so-Traditional Players), and 2010. 

In addition to PAS sponsored events Mark has also presented at several prominent schools throughout the United States including Boston Conservatory, the University of Iowa, Marshall University, the University of Kentucky, and the University of Southern Mississippi. Mark's international performances and clinics have brought him to Canada, France, Switzerland, Holland, Germany, and Australia. Mark’s most recent clinic tour brought him to Europe once again, where he presented a series of clinics and instructed Pasveerkorps based in Leeuwarden, Holland and the Trommelgorp West Nederland (TWN) from Leiden as both groups prepared for the 2013 World Music Contest held in Kerkrade, Holland.

Mark has multiple articles published detailing research and development within the art of rudimental drumming for Les Tambours de 89 and Percussive Notes. His newest project, Cross Fade Percussion Duo with famed European Percussionist Peter Vulperhorst, is a percussion group that blends various forms of rudimental drumming with muli-percussion arrangements. 

Mark also serves as a member of the PASIC Marching Percussion Committee and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Company of Fifers and Drummers, a lifetime member of the National Association of Rudimental Drummers (NARD), and the United Stated Association of Rudimental Drummers (USARD). He still aids as a consultant to the Top Secret Drum Corps and is endorsed by Mapex Drums, Majestic Percussion, Offworld Percussion, Loyal Drums, Büchler Trommelbau, and Innovative Percussion.  Learn more about Mark Reilly on his official website at jmarkreilly.com.