Bio

"You've really found your purpose in this teaching thing!"

--Bruce Graves

A native of Fort Worth, TX, Lamon Lawhorn graduated from Eastern Hills HS where he now has a percussion award named in his honor.  He received his Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education from Prairie View A&M University, where he studied under Professor Larry Jones. While at Prairie View, Lamon was a member of the Marching Band known as the “Marching Storm”, Principal Percussionist in the University Symphonic Band, Principal Percussionist in the University Marimba Ensemble, and also served as Student Conductor for the University Symphonic Band. Upon graduation, Lamon attended the University of Mississippi, where he received his Master of Music Degree in Percussion Performance and was a Percussion Graduate student of Professor Ricky Burkhead.  While at Ole Miss, he was the Principal Percussionist in the UM Wind Ensemble, and Drummer for the “Mississippians” Jazz Ensemble.  In 2008, he won the UM Department of Music Concerto Competition with his performance of Paul Creston’s Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra becoming the first African-American and percussionist to win the competition. Under the direction of Dr. Kris Keeton, Lamon received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Percussion Performance, where his dissertation was entitled, "The Evolution of Contemporary Gospel Drumming." Additional teachers throughout his schooling include Dr. Neeraj Mehta, Dr. Eric Willie, Dr. David Carlisle, and Bruce Graves.

As a classical musician, Lamon has performed in various orchestral venues including Principal Percussionist for the L-O-U Symphony Orchestra, member of the Corinth Symphony Orchestra, Greensboro Symphony Orchestra, served as Artist in Residence at the FWISD Creative and Performing Arts Summer Music Camp, and performed in various theatre productions including "Cats", "Footloose," "Into the Woods" and many more. In addition to his orchestral experience, Lamon has performed with recording artist Matt MaGill, “Howlin’ Madd” Bill Perry, R.A. Hall, The Damnwells, toured with the Inner City All-Stars Brass Band, and the George Tisdale Band as a drum set artist. 

Active within the Percussive Arts Society, Lamon currently serves as President-Elect for the Executive Committee and a member of the Board of Directors. Lamon is a sought after clinician and adjudicator in drum set, marching and percussion ensemble performances. An avid promoter of educational instruction, Lamon has conducted clinics at the Mississippi and North Carolina Days of Percussion, multiple PASIC Conventions and states such as North Carolina, Mississippi, Texas and Virginia. In addition, Lamon served on faculty at the Austrian Percussion Camp in Ossiach, Austria, teaching marching percussion and gospel drum set techniques. Lamon is a composer within C. Alan Publications, as well as an endorsee of Pearl-Adams, Black Swamp Percussion, Drum Dots, Remo Drumheads, Vic Firth Sticks, Prologix Percussion, and Zildjian Cymbals.

Currently, Lamon serves as Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Percussion Studies at Virginia State University, overseeing the comprehensive percussion curriculum within the department. His duties include teaching applied lessons, percussion ensemble as well as teaching percussion methods and percussion fundamentals and techniques. Previously, Lamon served as Assistant Director of Bands at North Carolina A&T State University.  His duties within the University Band Program included the coordination of all aspects of the University Band Percussion Ensembles in rehearsals and field instructions, including drumline and percussion ensembles. Lamon also taught courses within the music department, conducted the University Symphonic Band, oversaw the BGMM Media Team and recruitment activities of the University Band Program. The Cold Steel Drumline is an in-demand performing group, with performances all across the US, including a clinic presentation at the 2016 PASIC. Previously, Lamon served as Percussion Instructor at North Carolina Central University where his duties within the Department of Music included the oversight of Marching Percussion, conducting the MSM Percussion Ensemble, and providing additional private lesson instruction. In 2010, NCCU was rated as one of the Top 10 Best Drumlines in College Football by bleacherreport.com.

Lamon Lawhorn is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, Inc., Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity and the Alliance of Black Orchestral Percussionist. He currently lives in Moseley, Virginia with his wife Sheena, daughter Kollyns and son Layden. 

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