Benjamin B Runkel Percussionist
Runkel is the percussion specialist for Concord Community schools in Elkhart, Indiana where he directs and coordinates all aspects of instruction and performance for Concord percussion students in various ensembles at all grade levels. This includes three junior high bands, three high school concert bands, and the Marching Minutemen.
Runkel was a winner in the 2009 WAMSO Young Artist Competition and will continue his solo career with a concerto performance with the St. Paul Civic Symphony in the 2009-2010 concert season. He also is planning several programs to perform in 2010. Runkel recently graduated Summa Cum Laude from Northern Illinois University, where he was the winner of the annual concerto competition in 2008, as well as the recipient of the 2009 Dean’s Award in the College of Visual Performing Arts, the 2008 Sally Stevens Art Scholarship, and School of Music Tuition Dollar Award which earned him a full ride for 5 years. He has been a featured performer in solo recitals, honors convocations, and guest composers’ recitals such as Deqing Wen and Kevin Puts. Runkel has also been involved with One Way Ministries (www.owm.org). Through One Way, Runkel has recorded with musicians from overseas, and can be heard on several evangelistic albums that have been distributed worldwide. He was also a member of the Blue Stars and the Madison Scouts drum and bugle corps.
Constantly traveling throughout the Midwest, Runkel is in high demand as an educator, adjudicator, and clinician. He has taught with such groups as the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps,Pioneer Indoor Drumline, Naperville Central High School, Amos Alonzo Stagg High School, St. Charles North High School, and Kennedy Jr. High School. Aside from working with public schools, drum corps and marching percussion ensembles in the summer, Runkel is a teaching assistant at the Birch Creek Music Performance Center in Door County (WI).
As a performer, Ben Runkel has experience in classical, contemporary, and marching percussion, as well as jazz, world music, and chamber ensembles.
“The Church knew what the psalmist knew: Music praises God. Music is well or better able to praise him than the building of the church and all its decoration; it is the Church’s greatest ornament.” - Igor Stravinsky
*You are listening to an excerpt of my performance of “Veni, Veni, Emmanuel” with the NIU Philharmonic
Mr. Runkel earned his bachelor degrees in Music Education and Music Performance from Northern Illinois University where he studied closely with Robert Chappell, Greg Beyer, Rich Holly, Rodrigo Villanueva, and Liam Teague. Other teachers include Orlando Cotto and Vern Spevak. Runkel currently resides in Elkhart, IN and focuses his time on his students, boosting his performance repertoire and composition library, and ultimately glorifying God through his music. Runkel also proudly endorses Vic Firth sticks and mallets.
