Dr. Lonny Benoit

Dr. Lonny Benoit is Associate Professor and Head of the W.A. and Dorothy Hanna Department of Performing Arts at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. In addition to teaching music courses, Benoit is the director of the McNeese Steel Drum Band, Cowboy Bloco, and the McNeese West African Drum and Dance Ensemble.

Benoit has performed with the Lake Charles Symphony, Las Vegas Philharmonic, Rapides Symphony, Acadiana Wind Ensemble, and TAD Wind Symphony (Tokyo, Japan). Benoit regularly presents clinics and master classes throughout the United States and abroad and has been a featured clinician at several PAS State Days of Percussion.

Benoit has served as the Front Ensemble Caption Manager of the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps from Santa Clara, CA. Benoit is the former Percussion Caption Head of the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps from Rockford, Illinois. During his tenure with the Phantom Regiment, the group consistently placed in the top 6 at the DCI World Championships and members won the keyboard, snare drum, bass drum ensemble, and percussion ensemble titles at the DCI Individual and Ensemble Competition. Prior to working with Phantom Regiment, Benoit was a staff member for the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps (Denver, CO) and is a former member of the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps (Rosemont, IL).

Lonny Benoit received his Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas under the tutelage of Dr. Dean Gronemeier. Benoit endorses Pearl Drums and Adams Musical Instruments, Vic Firth sticks and mallets, Zildjian Cymbals, and Remo Drumheads.