Jason Hillegaart began his percussion education at the age of 10. He continued to develop his skills through High School and College, and has been taught by many talented percussion instructors.

Jason is currently an active instructor and designer of marching percussion. He is in his 18th year as the Head of Percussion for Temple City High School. There he works with both the Marching Band and Indoor Percussion Ensemble. Jason has had the privilege of working with Temple City High School to prepare them for marching in the 2004, and 2015 Tournament of Roses Parades. He has built Temple City’s program around the concept of family, and educates the students everyday about the importance of a percussion family bond.

Jason has experience composing music, and writing drill for high school ensembles. More recently, having an original composition arranged for a Drum and Bugle Corps. He has performed in many ensembles including the Temple City High School Marching Band, Pasadena City College Marching Band, Pasadena City College Indoor Percussion Ensemble, and the Tournament of Roses Honor Band. He has also played drums in many jazz groups, tracked drums on studio albums, recorded for television shows, and collaborated with various performance ensembles throughout Southern California.

Jason currently works full-time at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA, where he is the Quality Assurance Lead in Electronic Fabrication, and lives in the San Gabriel Valley with his Wife and their Son.