About PHN Perc
PHN Perc is the home of percussionists in Port Huron Northern Bands. PHN Drumline is the marching battery percussion ensemble that performs on-field with the Northern Husky Marching Band using marching snare, tenors, bass and cymbals. PHN Front Ensemble is made of percussionists who play melodic, rhythmic, and electronic percussion instruments on the front sideline with the Northern Husky Marching Band. Northern Thunder is the competitive winter drumline made up of front ensemble and battery percussion and performs inside on gym floors from end of December to the beginning of April.
PHN Bands is made up of three different concert bands, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Northern Winds & Percussion. Each of these bands has a percussion section where students focus on the concert and classical outlets of percussion. All members of marching percussion ensembles are enrolled in one of these three main concert ensembles. While most of the performers play percussion as their main instrument, some students play another instrument by day, and are percussionists in one of our two marching ensembles. All Northern percussionists strive to be the best musicians possible while playing a wide variety of literature. Visit phnbands.org for more information on PHN Bands.
PHN Bands is made up of three different concert bands, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Northern Winds & Percussion. Each of these bands has a percussion section where students focus on the concert and classical outlets of percussion. All members of marching percussion ensembles are enrolled in one of these three main concert ensembles. While most of the performers play percussion as their main instrument, some students play another instrument by day, and are percussionists in one of our two marching ensembles. All Northern percussionists strive to be the best musicians possible while playing a wide variety of literature. Visit phnbands.org for more information on PHN Bands.
Auditions
Auditions for PHN Drumline are posted in early May. Auditions for Northern Thunder Winter Drumline are posted in late October/early November. Audition clinics will be available prior to audition. Details will be announced with audition materials.
Northern Husky Marching Band Drumline (PHN Drumline) operates as a sub-unit of the marching band. Auditions are for placement within the section to improve the likelihood of a good fit for skills and performance expectations. Please understand that the musical language that drumlines play and speak is *vastly* different than the language spoken and played by other musicians and even different than MS percussionists. Because of the limitations on the availability of instruments, priority for line membership must be given to auditionees based upon the following:
1) Originally a percussionist or plays a non-MB instrument (Bassoon, Oboe, or String Bass)
2) Those that have played in the MB drumline before
3) Those that have played in the winter line before ff
4) All others
Because of this, the PHN Drumline does not intend to "cut" anyone; however, we only have so many spots available every year. As a result, in rare occasions, we may be unable to offer a spot to someone who is not a percussionist or non-MB instrument.
Northern Husky Marching Band Drumline (PHN Drumline) operates as a sub-unit of the marching band. Auditions are for placement within the section to improve the likelihood of a good fit for skills and performance expectations. Please understand that the musical language that drumlines play and speak is *vastly* different than the language spoken and played by other musicians and even different than MS percussionists. Because of the limitations on the availability of instruments, priority for line membership must be given to auditionees based upon the following:
1) Originally a percussionist or plays a non-MB instrument (Bassoon, Oboe, or String Bass)
2) Those that have played in the MB drumline before
3) Those that have played in the winter line before ff
4) All others
Because of this, the PHN Drumline does not intend to "cut" anyone; however, we only have so many spots available every year. As a result, in rare occasions, we may be unable to offer a spot to someone who is not a percussionist or non-MB instrument.
PHN Perc Staff
Robert Krueger serves as the Assistant Director/Percussion Caption Head of the Port Huron Northern Marching Band, and the Director of PHN's competitive indoor percussion group, Port Huron Northern Thunder. His teaching responsibilities include overseeing all aspects of PHN's Marching Percussion Program. As a performer, Robert began is percussion career at Linden High School. In 2013, he served at Tenorline Section Leader for the competitive indoor percussion group Impact Percussion where they received 3rd place and the Bronze Medal for Percussion Regional A at State Finals. In 2013 and 2015, he was a member of the Eastern Michigan University Drumline where he served as Tenorline Section Leader in his final year.
Under his direction, the marching percussion program has had a variety of successful performances. In 2022, Port Huron Northern Thunder received 1st Place and the Gold Medal for Percussion Regional A in Michigan Alliance for the Performing Arts State Finals.
Mr. Krueger received his Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Eastern Michigan University in 2018 where he studied percussion with Professor John Dorsey and Jason Ihnat. Currently in addition to his role at PHN, Mr. Krueger is the Director of Bands at Fort Gratiot Middle School.
Under his direction, the marching percussion program has had a variety of successful performances. In 2022, Port Huron Northern Thunder received 1st Place and the Gold Medal for Percussion Regional A in Michigan Alliance for the Performing Arts State Finals.
Mr. Krueger received his Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Eastern Michigan University in 2018 where he studied percussion with Professor John Dorsey and Jason Ihnat. Currently in addition to his role at PHN, Mr. Krueger is the Director of Bands at Fort Gratiot Middle School.
Jaron Kirshenbaum is the Director of Bands at Holland Woods Middle School and the Assistant Director of the Port Huron Northern Thunder Winter Percussion. In the Summers he has been a clarinet and trombone instructor, as well as a drum major coach for the Bloomfield Hills High School marching band. In his free time Mr. Kirshenbaum likes to compose and arrange music. Some of his arrangements have been performed by the Western Michigan University Bronco Marching Band as well as the Otsego High School Pep Band.
Mr. Kirshenbaum is an avid supporter of student leadership and has worked at multiple student leadership camps including the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy and the Serviam Leadership Academy.
Prior to working in Port Huron, Mr. Kirshenbaum worked with many bands in Southeast Michigan. He took on the Interim Director of Orchestras position at West Hills and East Hills Middle Schools in Bloomfield Hills, MI, as well as being the principal clarinetist and a guest conductor of the Rochester Community Concert Band. In addition, he created an after-school youth ensemble for schools within and surrounding Oakland County called Take 2 Symphony.
Mr. Kirshenbaum received his B.M. in Secondary-Instrumental Music Education from Western Michigan University. While there he studied clarinet under Stephanie Hovnanian, conducting under Dr. David Montgomery and Dr. Scott Boerma, and was drum major of the WMU Bronco Marching Band.
Mr. Kirshenbaum is an avid supporter of student leadership and has worked at multiple student leadership camps including the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy and the Serviam Leadership Academy.
Prior to working in Port Huron, Mr. Kirshenbaum worked with many bands in Southeast Michigan. He took on the Interim Director of Orchestras position at West Hills and East Hills Middle Schools in Bloomfield Hills, MI, as well as being the principal clarinetist and a guest conductor of the Rochester Community Concert Band. In addition, he created an after-school youth ensemble for schools within and surrounding Oakland County called Take 2 Symphony.
Mr. Kirshenbaum received his B.M. in Secondary-Instrumental Music Education from Western Michigan University. While there he studied clarinet under Stephanie Hovnanian, conducting under Dr. David Montgomery and Dr. Scott Boerma, and was drum major of the WMU Bronco Marching Band.
Alex Jackson is the Front Ensemble Coordinator and Instructor for the Port Huron Northern Marching Band and the competitive indoor percussion group, Port Huron Northern Thunder.
An alumna of Port Huron Northern, Alex got her start with mallet percussion in 2013 when Northern Thunder first added a front ensemble to their winter line. From then, she went on to perform with the group for 3 years, becoming the front ensemble section leader for Northern Thunder in 2015. She also had the opportunity to perform as a featured xylophone soloist in 2015 with the “Specks of Blue” ensemble at the Michigan Music Conference’s Young Composers Competition Showcase.
Alex graduated from Central Michigan University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in music. In addition to working with the drumline, Alex teaches flute lessons in the Blue Water area.
An alumna of Port Huron Northern, Alex got her start with mallet percussion in 2013 when Northern Thunder first added a front ensemble to their winter line. From then, she went on to perform with the group for 3 years, becoming the front ensemble section leader for Northern Thunder in 2015. She also had the opportunity to perform as a featured xylophone soloist in 2015 with the “Specks of Blue” ensemble at the Michigan Music Conference’s Young Composers Competition Showcase.
Alex graduated from Central Michigan University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in music. In addition to working with the drumline, Alex teaches flute lessons in the Blue Water area.
PHN Band Booster Officers
Erick J. Senkmajer, Director of Bands
Heather Stein, President, PHN Band Boosters
Kelly Kleinstiver, Vice President, PHN Band Boosters
Alicia Hall, Secretary, PHN Band Boosters
Tim McCulloch, Treasurer, PHN Band Boosters
Heather Stein, President, PHN Band Boosters
Kelly Kleinstiver, Vice President, PHN Band Boosters
Alicia Hall, Secretary, PHN Band Boosters
Tim McCulloch, Treasurer, PHN Band Boosters
PHN Bands Staff
Questions? Contact us.
Robert Krueger, Percussion Caption Head: [email protected]
Erick Senkmajer, Director of Bands: [email protected]
Erick Senkmajer, Director of Bands: [email protected]