"As a private instructor and clinician, Mr. Spevak remains highly in demand with a large weekly roster of private students and is a percussion consultant to many schools throughout the Chicagoland and Northern Illinois area."

About Vernon A Spevak Jr.

Vern Spevak is a graduate of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Il. where he was awarded a Bachelor of Music degree in Percussion Performance, while on a four year, full tuition scholarship. Mr. Spevak was a member of the internationally acclaimed NIU Jazz Ensemble, where he performed and toured with jazz greats Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Bellson, Don Menza, Clark Terry, Carl Fontana and many others.

As a private instructor and clinician, Mr. Spevak remains highly in demand with a large weekly roster of private students and is a percussion consultant to many schools throughout the Chicagoland and Northern Illinois area. Vern Spevak is the former Director of Percussion Studies for Naperville Central High School, a position held from 1994 to 2005. Mr. Spevak is the founder and producer for the annual school event, entitled “Drumshow”, which has received widespread acclaim from education professionals at all levels.

Vern Spevak is the founder and head instructor for Spevak Percussion Concepts, Inc. , a percussion school located in Oswego, IL which offers semi-private instruction to students of all ages and ability levels. www.spevakpercussionconcepts.com

Mr. Spevak is much sought after as a performer, composer/arranger, studio musician, instructor and has been a repeat guest clinician for the IMEA Jazz Festival (Illinois Music Educators Association), and is the faculty drum set instructor for the prestigious Birch Creek Music Center, in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin. Mr. Spevak performs regularly with his own band throughout the Chicago metropolitan area and is a featured drum set soloist, arranger and lead vocalist. As a percussionist, Mr. Spevak has been a featured soloist and performer with Motown legend Mary Wilson (of the Supremes). Other percussion assignments include performances with NBC Tonight Show host Jay Leno.

As an adjudicator, Mr. Spevak was a member of the 1996 Drum Corps Midwest (DCM) judges guild. Other adjudication work includes a contest judge position at The Western Illinois University Jazz Festival, in February 2001, and a substitute percussion adjudicator for the Assemblies of God 51st General Council (Fine Arts Festival) National Convention held in Denver, CO., August of 2005.

Mr. Spevak’s current recording project features his talents as drummer, percussionist and lead vocalist in the contemporary Christian band Providence which has released its debut CD, titled “ Message To The World”. The album features 7 original compositions written by Mr. Spevak. In the summer of 2005, Mr. Spevak traveled to Africa (Kampala, Uganda), as a missionary, spreading the Gospel and working with orphaned African children. While in Africa, Mr. Spevak undertook an informal study of Ugandan music and drumming and also used his (Western) percussion skills to perform at many schools throughout the Kampala area.

Vern Spevak has won countless awards and high recognition for his percussion skills which include a Chicago Emmy Award for a performance on WTTW (Channel 11 Chicago), which was filmed and performed with drumming legend Louis Bellson.

Mr. Spevak’s current product endorsements include VicFirth Inc. (drumsticks and mallets) and Remo Inc. (drumheads and World percussion instruments).

Click here to view Vern's online photo Album.