PMC Honors Past Leaders at NAMM Show

Pictured at this year’s PMC/ PlayDrums.com Open House are PMC current and past board members (L-to-R): David Cywinski (Hal Leonard), Jennifer Paisley-Schuch (Alfred Music), Antoinette Follett (PMC Executive Director), David Jewell (Yamaha, retired), Matt Rudin (Yamaha Drums), Antonio Ferranti (Tamburo Drums), and Shane Kinney (Drum Center of Portsmouth). Absent: Stacey Montgomery-Clark (SABIAN) and Dendy Jarrett (Gibson Gives Foundation)

The Percussion Marketing Council (PMC) held a PlayDrums.com Open House during the NAMM Show at the Anaheim Hilton on Friday, June 3. It was the first official in-person PMC gathering of the full board, members, and potential members in more than two years.

This year’s event honored former PMC Executive Director Karl Dustman, who stepped down last spring, and long-time executive board member David Jewell, who retired from Yamaha Corporation of America in January.

“Karl devoted over 19 years to steering the PMC to make it what it is today,” said current PMC Executive Director Antoinette Follett. “David served on our executive board for 12 years and worked to create many of the PlayDrums.com programs that help the PMC promote drumming and percussion. Both are tireless music advocates.”

This gathering provided a space for those in the music industry to become better acquainted with other drum industry colleagues and learn more about the PMC and its programs. PMC’s annual initiatives include Experience Drumming! programs across the country, as well as monthly giveaways and the special International Drum Month Lesson with a Master promotion in May.

“I became Executive Director during the uncertainty of the challenging pandemic years when many of the hands-on, in-school PMC drum programs were abruptly postponed and canceled. We took this unique opportunity to re-invigorate our education and promotional programs,” said Follett. “We’re connecting our programs and facilitators in wider geographic areas and with more diverse populations. This momentum continues through the support and participation of our member organizations.”

The open house refreshments were co-sponsored by PMC members Tamburo Drums and Yamaha Drums.