Ben Cato

Ben Cato started his education career in Texas as both a drumline technician and concert ensemble teacher working with groups including but not limited to Flower Mound High School, Cedar Ridge High School, and Waxahachie High School in the Houston, Austin, and DFW areas. Under his instruction, he helped lead multiple percussion sections to successful placements including multiple top five appearances at the Lone Star Drumline Contest, and numerous high percussion scores at marching band contests across the nation. Ben has taught marching groups that placed in the BOA Grand National finals multiple times, and in 2022 helped bring the Waxahachie percussion section to a top 10 finish at the UIL 6A State Marching Band competition. Ben's background was also heavily shaped and inspired by his concert and percussion ensemble experience performing under Rick Rodriguez with the Spring HS percussion ensemble. As an educator, Ben's passion for concert literature and excellence behind the keyboard helped shape the standard of achievement for numerous percussion ensembles taping entries including successfully being selected for a prestigious Midwest Clinic percussion ensemble performance.

Ben has also been fortunate to teach as a music educator for many indoor groups including Redline indoor, Colleyville Heritage, and Vigilantes Indoor Percussion in 2016 where they achieved a gold medal in open class at the WGI World Championships. Ben has also worked with Drumcorps groups in varying roles including The Crossmen and The Guardians, and is currently Assistant Captionhead for The Crossmen Drum and Bugle corps.

Ben has studied under legends of the activity including Mike McIntosh, Rick Rodriguez, Ray Ulibarri, Brian Tinkel, Dr. Brian West, and countless others across groups including The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps, Redline Indoor, Gateway Indoor, and others. Ben is a published composer for the concert percussion ensemble setting and arranges for high school programs for both the Fall and Winter settings. When not teaching or writing, Ben enjoys his time with his fiancee Jessie, and their seven cats.