News

Mapex and Majestic Marching Percussion are thrilled to announce the addition of Kevin Kenney to their esteemed roster of artists. As a dynamic performer, clinician, arranger, and educator, Kevin brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the Mapex/Majestic family.

Kevin Boyle, a distinguished Georgia educator with nearly two decades of experience, is the newest affiliated educational artist within the KHS America Academic Alliance, representing Jupiter Winds, Mapex Marching Drums, and Majestic Percussion.

Waichi Champion, an internationally recognized percussionist and educator with performances alongside the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, and Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, is joining the Majestic Percussion artist roster.

KHS America is pleased to announce that John Richardson has joined their team as Artist & Educator Relations Manager. In this role, Richardson will guide artist relations activity for all brands, while also assuming direct responsibility for U.S. based artists representing Jupiter Band Instruments, XO Brass, Altus Flutes, and Majestic Percussion

Toronto Symphony Assistant Principal Timpani/Section Percussionist Joe Kelly, has joined the Majestic artist roster. With an impressive career spanning orchestral performances, education, and solo engagements, Joe Kelly brings a wealth of talent and experience to the Majestic Percussion family.

Oregon Symphony Assistant Principal Percussionist Stephen Kehner has joined the Majestic Percussion artist roster, adding his skill as a performer and his passion as an educator to the esteemed lineup.

The Majestic Opus One series of orchestral snare drums seamlessly combine classically inspired design elements with a carefully curated assortment of shell sizes, bearing edge refinements and select shell materials to create a family of instruments perfectly suited for orchestral stages, modern percussion ensembles, solo performances, and a variety of audition environments. Born of extensive research of prized heirloom instruments heard regularly in some of the finest symphony halls around the world, these drums faithfully recreate these coveted sound profiles while simultaneously offering the benefit of modern advancements in tuning stability, versatility and dynamic range.

Majestic Percussion is pleased to welcome world renowned artist Christopher Lamb to the Majestic family. Maintaining a diverse and unparalleled career as both a performer and educator for over three decades, Christopher currently holds the The Constance R. Hoguet Friends of the Philharmonic Chair of Principal Percussionist in the New York Philharmonic as well as Chair of the Percussion department at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music.

Majestic Percussion is proud to announce its partnership with The Percussion Conservatory. The Percussion Conservatory is an online education platform exclusively for classical percussionists that aims to make a career in percussion more accessible for passionate musicians all over the world. They offer a variety of different membership types, each tailored to individual players specific needs.

In addition to providing world-class instruments to their recording studio, Majestic is supporting The Percussion Conservatory’s mission to create the world's largest classical percussion scholarship. This year The PC Scholarship will award one student $2,000, a lifetime membership to the platform, and a beautiful Opus One snare drum by Majestic.

The KHS America Academic Alliance recently teamed up with two of their long-standing Drum Corps International partner ensembles to provide tickets for band students to attend DCI competitions in order to aid in school band program recruitment and retention. The Academic Alliance and its affiliated brands; Jupiter Winds, XO Brass, Mapex Drums and Majestic Percussion, supported this year’s Drums Across the Desert, hosted by The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps, as Presenting Sponsor and Drum Corps at the Rose Bowl, hosted by Pacific Crest as an Outreach Program Sponsor and Resource Partner.

Majestic Percussion announces the launch of the Opus One Orchestral Snare Drum series. Featuring the most desirable attributes of coveted vintage snare drums combined with modern design advancements, the new series was created over several years in collaboration with some of the percussion world's most notable players. Ranging in size from 14x4 to 14x7, the drums are offered in a variety of shell materials including brass, cherry, and even cast iron, which is thoughtfully reminiscent of famous vintage “sewer pipe” drums. The Opus One Orchestral Snare Drum series will be available at authorized Majestic retailers in April 2022, with the release of an additional model anticipated later this year.

The evolution of performance and repertoire demands instruments that mirror the times and allow the personality of the musician to shine through. After years of years of thoughtful research and input from top artists the culmination is the revolutionary design of The Reflection Series Marimba. Join the likes of She-E Wu and Thomas Burritt and bring this beautiful instrument into your homes.

Majestic Concert Black Series Marimbas combine a modern aesthetic and professional level appointments giving the player an unmatched level of control to blend with the ensemble or to express their own soloistic virtuosity. 

Majestic Percussion, one of the world’s most established percussion brands, is proud to be chosen as the presenting sponsor of the 2021 Modern Snare Drum Competition. Hosted by the Cleveland Institute of Music, this competition is open to ages 26 and under and will be held virtually with results announced on June 4, 2021.

In his new role, Mr. Andreas will oversee all Sales and Marketing activities for KHS America’s Educational Division including Jupiter, XO and Azumi Winds, Mapex and Majestic Concert and Marching Percussion, Sonor Orff, and the recent addition of Nuvo Instruments.

In an effort to continually provide useful free resources for band directors, KHS America has been working diligently to build upon their Virtual Education Series that was launched last spring. This new season of the series will focus on relevant topics and offer stimulating interaction with top experts. Free and easy access will allow band directors around the world convenient ways to participate, including the opportunity to receive a Professional Development Certificate for each session they attend live.

Majestic, one of the world's most established manufacturers of percussion instruments and a core brand of the KHS America Academic Alliance, is proud to announce that one Majestic M6543D Concert Marimba will be awarded to a school as the Grand Prize of its first Sweepstakes of 2021!

Majestic Percussion, one of the world’s most established percussion brands, is celebrating 60 years of dedication to crafting innovative and inspiring instruments for musicians around the globe. To mark its 60th anniversary this year, a limited-edition orchestral field drum has been produced.

In this rapidly changing, extremely challenging time in our market and society, Mapex Drums and Majestic Percussion are responding to drummers and percussionists who are now spending the bulk of their time at home. Touring players off the road, students home from school, weekend warriors without gigs, or hobbyists who just want to drum. We have something for all drummers regardless of skill level, professional status, or budget to fill your drumming needs and desires right in your own home.

Jupiter Winds, Mapex Drums, and Majestic Percussion are pleased to announce The Virtual Education Series for students and music teachers throughout the world, presented in partnership with the International Music Education Summit. As measures are taken to control the COVID-19 outbreak, many teachers are being asked to provide content virtually to their students, often without additional training and resources.  KHS America (Jupiter Winds, Mapex Drums & Majestic Percussion) wants to help music teachers provide weekly content to their students, direct from highly regarded professionals.

In partnership with the International Music Education Summit, Jupiter, Mapex and Majestic are proud to announce the 2020 Virtual Band Festival, allowing middle and high school bands throughout the United States to submit a video or audio recording to a panel of judges to receive quality feedback and a rating score.  Adjudicators include freelance recording artist and clinician Patrick Sheridan, Director of Bands Emeritus at Tennessee Tech University Dr. Joseph Hermann and Senior Band Conductor and Director of Wind Ensembles at Vanderbilt University Dr. Thomas Verrier. 

Majestic percussion is proud to introduce the new Concert Black series of marimbas packed with pro-level features. The Concert Black series is available with rosewood or Padauk bar models, each features black finished resonators, height adjustable frame, free floating bar posts, and 9 graduations within the bar geometry all at attractive price points.

KHS America, home of Jupiter Winds, Mapex Drums, and Majestic Percussion in the U.S. is proud to announce the extension and expansion of their partnership with River City Rhythm Drum & Bugle Corps and Indoor Drumline of Anoka, Minnesota.

Each year KHS America awards a college scholarship to a member of the United States Army All American Marching Band (USAAAMB).  There were 17 applicants this year and the winner was announced during the band’s banquet in San Antonio, TX on Saturday, January 6th.  The 2018 winner was Elissa Travis from Hamilton High School in Chandler, AZ.

As a result of the continuing growth and expansion of KHS Musical Instruments, President and CEO Karl Leong has announced that KHS America President Tabor Stamper has been appointed President Emeritus and KHS Global Advisor, supporting KHS’s global development efforts.

Replacing Stamper as President of KHS America is industry veteran Jerry Goldenson. Goldenson has been with KHS America since August, 2016.

After years of thoughtful research and input from top artists, making its USA debut at the Percussive Arts Society International Conference, Majestic launched the newest innovation in Mallet instrument design with the introduction of the Reflection Series Marimba.

With the echoes of left hand rimshots still ringing in the University of Dayton Arena, and the images of artful pageantry fresh in our minds, Jupiter, Mapex and Majestic salute the ensembles who took part in the WGI Sport of the Arts 2017 World Championships.

Brass, with its brilliant tone and sensitive warmth, is the new highlight of the Majestic Prophonic Series family of orchestral snare drums. Crafted entirely from 1mm brass, this incredibly responsive drum features the thinnest shell of its kind on the market today with a double beaded design for strength and a traditional orchestral metal drum look. The special fold-back of the formed bearing edge ensures shell integrity and the glancing snare bed is slightly deeper than most for optimum cable response.

KHS America, home of Jupiter Winds, Mapex Drums, Majestic Percussion, and XO Professional Brass in the U.S. is proud to announce the extension and expansion of their partnership with the Arizona Academy of the Performing Arts of Tempe, Arizona.

KHS America, home of Jupiter Winds, Mapex Drums, Majestic Percussion, and XO Professional Brass in the U.S. is proud to announce the extension and expansion of their partnership with the Pacific Crest Youth Arts Organization of Diamond Bar, California.

Mapex & Majestic Concert percussion is proud to welcome Scott Pollard to our roster of Artists.

Scott Pollard, a native of Raleigh, NC, has held full-time percussion/timpani positions with the Buffalo Philharmonic and the US Air Force Concert Band in Washington, D.C.