Ben Neal is currently Assistant Director of Bands/Director of Percussion at East
Mississippi Community College in Scooba, MS. He teaches private lessons, instructs the Mighty
Lion Drumline, coaches Percussion Ensemble, assists the marching band, and teaches
sophomore music theories. Mr. Neal also was Adjunct Instructor of Percussion at Mississippi
State University from 2021 to 2025, where he taught private lessons and served on jury panels.
Mr. Neal has extensive performing experience with the New Mexico State University
Philharmonic as a soloist, The Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, Las Cruces Symphony
Orchestra , North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, Meridian Symphony, and the Starkville
Symphony Orchestra, where he was Assistant Principal Percussion. In addition to orchestral
performances, he maintains an active performance schedule as a drumset player in local
musical productions. In 2023, Mr. Neal founded the Golden Triangle Area Percussion
Symposium (GTAPS), which provides a free opportunity for teachers and students to enrich
themselves in percussion education with various director clinics, student clinics, and
performance opportunities for local high schools and colleges where they can receive feedback
from world class clinicians. In 2025, EMCC started the EMPACT Indoor Percussion Ensemble,
where in its inaugural year, placed first in the Mississippi Indoor Association (MIA) Finals
Competition in Class A. In 2026, the ensemble competed at Dayton, Ohio in WGI World
Championships and was a Class A Finalist. Mr. Neal has presented at the Percussive Arts
Society International Convention (PASIC) in Indianapolis, IN on “The Opportunities of Teaching
at a Community College.” Mr. Neal’s students have also competed in international solo
competitions at PASIC. He proudly endorses Dynasty drums/keyboards, Artifact sticks/mallets,
and SABIAN Cymbals.
Ben holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Delta State University in
Cleveland, MS, and a Master’s Degree in Percussion Performance from New Mexico State
University in Las Cruces, NM. His teachers include Fred Bugbee, Josh Armstrong, Bryan
Mitchell, Will Curry, and Ronnie Mckeown.
