IU Drumline members

Tenors | Snares | Basses | Cymbals

Director/Arranger:

Ben Handel

Entering his first year as head director and arranger for the IU Drumline, and 5^th year overall as a staff member, Ben Handel has a long history as a performer and educator in a variety of musical settings.

As a performer, Ben has been featured on stages across the United States, Canada, and Asia. His credits include the original Broadway cast, National and Japanese tours of “Blast!”, Off-Broadway with “Drumstruck”, The Dallas Brass, and as a featured performer and designer for the Aimachi Marching Band 50th anniversary celebration, and the 2012 Seoul Drum Festival His drum corps credits include the 1997 Bluecoats and the 1999 World Champion Blue Devils. Currently, he is performing with many local groups and artists, and maintains a varied and busy performance and recording schedule.

As an educator, in addition to the Marching Hundred, Ben is the percussion director, and an arranger and choreographer for “Blast! The Music Of Disney” as well as being active with local elementary, middle, high schools, community organizations, and students.

Assistant Director/Arranger:

Benjy Braude

After five years as a member of the IU Drumline, Benjy is incredibly excited to be returning to the Marching Hundred for his first year on staff.

Benjy attended IU as a student from 2012-2018, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in secondary education. As a performer, Benjy played bass drum with the Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps in 2013, 2014, and 2015, with Legacy Indoor in 2013 and 2014, with Rhythm X in 2015 and 2016, and with the IU Drumline from 2012 to 2016, ending his time the Hundred as drumline captain.

After aging out, Benjy has worked as a bass drum technician and drumline specialist with high schools across the Cincinnati and Indianapolis areas. Currently, Benjy works as a bass tech with Center Grove High School, Legacy Indoor Percussion, and with the Colts Drum & Bugle Corps.

Former Director/Arranger:

Joel Brainard

Joel Brainard was the director of the Marching Hundred Drumline from 2002 through 2018. Beginning as a four year member of this very ensemble he graduated IU with a music education undergrad and jazz studies masters degree. As a tenor player, Joel performed with DCI as a member of The Spartans, The Bluestars, and The Blue Knights. Joel went on to "tech" tenors at Capital Regiment and served as percussion caption head at Magic of Orlando. Joel has worked with many programs but is most known for his time teaching percussion at Bloomington HS North and the former WGI World Class ensemble, Indianapolis Independent (I-2). Currently, Joel is the band AND choir director at Batchelor Middle School (Bloomington, IN), is a drumset artist, and freelances as a marching percussion clinician. Joel is proud to be a member of the Vic Firth Educational Team and plays with Remo heads, Zildjian cymbals, and Yamaha drums.