Jason Ihnat
Front Ensemble Arranger

Jason Ihnat holds concurrent careers as an active teacher, performer, composer and arranger. He currently serves as the Front Ensemble Coordinator for the Boston Crusader’s Front Ensemble, a position he’s held since 2017. Prior to his appointment at Boston, he was a member of The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps percussion staff from 2004-2016, and from 1998-1999 he was a member of the front ensemble. During his time with the Cadets, the corps received several honors including three D.C.I. World Championships and two Fred Sanford High-Percussion Trophies.

In the Winter Guard International (W.G.I.) activity, Jason was the director and co- founder of the Eastside Fury Percussion Ensemble from 2000-2014. They were honored with two World Championships in 2000 (A Class) and 2004 (Open Class) and several World Class finals appearances. He was also on staff with Spirit Winter Percussion from Orleans, MA from 2018-2020 and has taught and written for numerous high school percussion programs in Michigan and throughout the country. In 2019, he was inducted into the Michigan Color Guard Circuit Hall of Fame for his contribution to the winter percussion activity.

As a performer, Ihnat has recently won the second percussionist position with the Flint Symphony Orchestra. He has performed with the Detroit Opera Orchestra and continues to perform frequently with the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, Dearborn Symphony Orchestra, International Symphony Orchestra, Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra, and the Michigan Philharmonic.

Academically, Mr. Ihnat has served as a part-time lecturer of music theory and music composition at Eastern Michigan University since 2012. He has also been the percussion arranger and instructor for the EMU Marching Band since 2001. As an active educator he also maintains percussion lesson studios at Novi and L’Anse Creuse High Schools. Ihnat’s compositions and arrangements have been performed at universities and high schools in Michigan and across the country.

In addition to his involvement with DCI and WGI, Ihnat founded and directed the Detroit Lions Drumline from 2007-2016 and has continued as a performer with the “Honolulu Boom” through 2024. The drumline performs at every Detroit Lions home game in front of 65,000 fans.

Jason’s education includes a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Wayne State University, where he studied percussion under Keith Claeys, and a Master of Music Degree in Composition from Eastern Michigan University, where he studied percussion with Professor John Dorsey and composition with renowned composer Dr. Anthony Iannaccone.

When he is not pursuing his percussion interests, Jason enjoys spending time with his wife, Laura, and their two wonderful daughters.