Ben Cato

Ben Cato started his education career in Texas as a percussion technician working with high school groups in the Houston, Austin, and DFW areas. He worked with groups including but not limited to Flower Mound High School, Cedar Ridge High School, Waxahachie High School, and many others. Under his instruction, he helped lead multiple percussion sections to successful placements including multiple top five appearances at the Lone Star Drumline Contest, and numerous high percussion scores at marching band contests across the nation. Ben has taught groups that placed in the BOA Grand National finals multiple times, and in 2022 brought the Waxahachie percussion section to a top 10 finish at the UIL 6A State Marching Band competition.

Ben has also been fortunate to teach as a music educator for many indoor groups including Redline indoor, Colleyville Heritage, and Vigilantes Indoor Percussion in 2016, where they achieved a gold medal in open class at the WGI World Championships. Ben has also worked with the percussion sections of Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps and Guardians Drum and Bugle Corps.

Ben has studied under legends of the activity including Mike McIntosh, Rick Rodriguez, Ray Ulibarri, Brian Tinkel, Dr. Brian West, and countless others across groups including The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps, Redline Indoor, Gateway Indoor, and others. Ben is a published composer, arranging for high school programs for both the Fall, Winter, and Concert percussion settings. When not teaching or writing, Ben enjoys his time with his partner Jessie, and their six cats.