John Max McFarland received his degrees in Composition (B.M.) and Percussion Performance (B.M., M.M.) from Western Michigan University. He studied percussion under Judy Moonet and composition under Curtis Curtis-Smith, Dr. Richard Adams, and Dr. Robert Ricci. John was also a marching member of the Kiwanis Kavaliers Drum &Bugle Corps as well as the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps. His compositions and arrangements have received international recognition with performances all over the United States as well as Taiwan. His percussion music is published through Tapspace Publications where he is also on staff as a music engraver. John is an active music educator and clinician in the Midwest were he instructs the Northcoast Academy indoor percussion ensemble, Legends Drum & Bugle Corps, and Westlake High School in Westlake Ohio. John is also the President of New Music Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and performance of new music by emerging composers.