Stephen Tipping is a native from Delaware and an active performer and educator. Stephen completed his Bachelors of Music Education at the University of Delaware is 2008. During this time, Stephen performed with the Blue Hen Marching band on Bass drum and Front Ensemble, was a perennial member of the Percussion Ensemble, Steel Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Big Band II and Jazz Chamber groups, as well as being a chosen soloist with the Orchestra during the Concerto Winners concert in 2008. Stephen marched Bass with Aftermath during during the 2005 WGI and Mid-Atlantic Percussive Society (MAPS) indoor seasons. Aftermath placed 1st in the MAPS Championships and was the Independent Open Silver medalist in the WGI Championships in Dayton, Ohio. Stephen has worked with the Caesar Rodney “Riders” Marching band since 2004, and has served as Caption-head and lead arranger for the percussion section for the last several years, earning several Chapter Championships, High Percussion Awards, and scoring as high as 2nd place in Percussion at the Atlantic Coast Championships.
Stephen left Delaware in 2009 to study at the University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona. He served as the Director of UASteel, the University of Arizona's premier steel band, and a Graduate Teaching Assistant under Dr. Norman Weinberg. Stephen lead the band for its first ever live streaming concert, as well as many performances around the Tucson area. Stephen completed his Masters in Music Performance in 2011, during that time Stephen lead and arranged for the UASteel band, taught private lessons, performed as a soloist in the Biosphere 2, taught and conducted the UA Percussion Ensemble, and performed with the UA World Music Gang.
Stephen has performed across the East Coast, Arizona, Europe, and Israel. Most recently Stephen performed as a guest artist with the Rosewood Marimba Ensemble at the Conseratorio de Música de Puerto Rico International Percussion Festival, August 2011. Stephen is currently a member of Delaware Steel, as well as being an active free-lance percussionist in the tri-state region.--
