Steve Yoder

Steve Yoder is the Percussion Director at Lawrence Central High School, Indianapolis, IN. and President of High Octane Entertainment which is an entertainment provider to the Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever (WNBA), Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the National Hot Rod Association.

The grandson of a percussionist, Steve comes by his skills naturally. His studies have put him with many of the finest and most recognized music educators in the country including: Jim Campbell (University of Kentucky), Dr. Doug Walter (University of Colorado), Dr. Allen McMurry (University of Colorado), Dr. Tom Caneva (Ball St. University), Mark Dorn (Colorado Christian University), Bret Kuhn (Cavaliers D&B Corps), and DCI Hall of Fame member Fred Sanford.

This teaching pedigree has allowed Steve's performance experience to become extremely diverse. As a marching percussionist, Steve was a member of The Cavaliers D&B Corps where he also earned two Multi-Tenor Individual Championships. Following his age out, he was Caption Head for the Emerald Knights D&B Corps which captured back-to-back DCI A-Class High Percussion Awards. As a drum set artist, Steve has been heard touring nationally with many groups including the "Par 3 Jazz Project", and the "Killin' Floor Blues Band".

To date, Steve has recorded more than 16 commercials and 5 albums to his credit, and he holds both a Gold and Platinum Record Sales Award from Geffen Records. In 2018 and 2019 Steve was responsible for writing and coordinating music for The Indianapolis 500 Driver Introductions which was seen and heard on worldwide television and all social media.

These various musical experiences show up in his music writing and many of his groups have achieved top honors using his arrangements. His approaches to teaching and performance have helped many groups achieve high awards. Highlights include:

•5- Colorado State Marching Band Championships,
•4- Indiana State Marching Band Championships,
•2- Wisconsin State Marching Championships,
•1- Florida State Marching Championship,
•1- National Indoor Marching Percussion Championship,
•2- D.C.I. High Percussion Championships,
•5-Indiana State Marching Band Runner Up finishes,
•1-ISSMA State Marching Band Championship,
•15 Bands of America Regional Championships,
•1 BOA Grand National Runner Up finish,
•2 Bands of America Grand National Championships.

It is this wealth of experience that Steve enjoys sharing with students, and has been recognized by the Indianapolis Star for his teaching excellence. His passion for playing and teaching excellence has become a trademark wherever he goes, and as a result he is a highly sought after clinician and judge. To date Steve has served at the highest levels of percussion adjudication in the country, including the Rocky Mountain Percussion Association, South Florida Percussion Association, the Gulf Coast Percussion Circuit, CWEA, the Southern CA Percussion Association, Indiana Percussion Association, the Percussive Arts Society, as well as Winter Guard International.

For his efforts, Steve enjoys endorsements from XL Specialty Percussion Products, Innovative Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, Meinl Percussion Products, and the TAMA Drum Company.