William Schlitt, BA

Adjunct Professor, Percussion

Phone: (626) 533-0565
Photo of William Schlitt, BA

Biography

Bill Schlitt, BA, is an accomplished percussion performer and educator. Originally from Southern California, he has been active in the music industry for more than 40 years. His teachers include Hollywood studio legends Hal Rees, Earl Hatch, and Los
Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra Principal Percussionist Raynor Carroll. A member of APU's School of Music faculty at Azusa Pacific University for 25 years, Schlitt teaches percussion classes and directs the Percussion Ensemble. He also currently serves on the faculty at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; Concordia University in Irvine; University of Redlands; Vanguard University, and is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda and Percussive Arts Society.

Schlitt has performed 13 years as a freelance recording percussionist for various motion picture and television films as well as numerous audio recordings. He has performed as a freelance percussionist in various ensembles throughout Southern California. He served as principal percussionist with San Gabriel Civic Light Opera and Music Theater of Southern California for 10 years. He has performed as an extra percussionist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and is currently the principal timpanist with the Redlands Symphony Orchestra. He has performed under such conductors as Pierre Boulez, Robert Shaw, Christoph Eschenbach, Esa Pekka Solonen, and premiered a work by composer John Cage.

Schlitt is an accomplished educator, clinician, and author of various percussion textbooks. Prior to APU, he served as director of percussion for the Idyllwild Arts Summer Music Festival for 26 years where he coached students from around the world to perform at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.

Education

  • BA, Music, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
  • BS, Communication Arts, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Academic Area

  • School of Music (College of the Arts)

Expertise

  • Percussion Education
  • Percussion Ensemble
  • Percussion Performance

Courses Taught

  • MUS 1D1 – Applied Percussion
  • MUS 157, 258, 365, 470 – Chamber Ensemble - Percussion
  • MUS 334 – Percussion Instrument Techniques
  • MUS 440 – Instrumental Pedagogy - Percussion
  • MUS 452 – Instrumental Music Literature
  • MUS 491 – Senior Recital Percussion

Office Hours

Wednesdays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.