Bret Kuhn is a graduate of Truman State University. During college, he was a member of the Disney World All American band and has performed with artists like Bobby Shew and Rich Matteson. As a professional player in Chicago, he has played with The Chicago Big Band and the Mayo Tiana Big Band.
Bret is adjunct faculty at Northern Illinois University and Prospect High School. He is also a very active arranger for various high school’s and universities through out the US and Japan. He arranges for The Aimachi Marching Band and Indoor Drum line from Nagoya, Japan, both of which were Bronze medalists at WGI in 2006 and 2008.
Bret served as Caption Head and Percussion Arranger for the World Champion Cavaliers who won six World Championships and five High Percussion Awards during his tenure. He also consulted with the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps 2006-2008. In 2010, he served as Program Coordinator for the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps. He was the Battery Arranger with the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps from 2014-2016. Bret is currently on staff with the Cavaliers as an Ensemble Specialist.
He travels extensively, performing and presenting clinics across the United States, Japan and Europe for Yamaha, Zildjian, Remo and Innovative Percussion.
Bret has judged Effect Music for WGI since 2013 as well as many other indoor percussion circuits across the country.
Bret has written articles for publication in Percussive Notes Magazine and served on the Board of Directors for the Percussive Arts Society from 2005-2012. He is also a member of The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, known as ASCAP.
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