Retired U.S. Air Force Concert Band principal percussionist and soloist, Randy Eyles has a long multifaceted career as a performer and educator. David Maslanka’s “Concerto for Marimba and Band” and Floyd Werle’s “Golden Age of the Xylophone” were written specifically for him. Both pieces were commissioned and premiered by the USAF Band. He soloed with the band throughout the U.S., Asia, and Europe.
His publications include “Golden Age of the Xylophone”, “Freckles Rag”, “Mallets for Young Beginners”, “Raggedy Ragtime Rags”, “Green Xylophone Rags”, and “Scales for Keyboard Percussion”.
Randy is currently Co-Principal Percussion for the Capital Wind Symphony, and Principal Percussion for the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic. Previously he has performed with the Contemporary Music Forum, Virginia Grand Military Band, Brass Band of Northern Virginia and was an occasional sub with the National Symphony Orchestra, Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, and Alexandria Symphony.
His teaching credits include teaching private students since seventh grade, two decades as the Head of the Percussion Department at the Catholic University of America and 15 years as Band Director and Director of Fine Arts at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, VA. On March 11, 2016, Dr. Eyles conducted the Bishop Ireton Symphonic Wind Ensemble in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. He also took this ensemble on 13 concert tours to Europe and two tours to Canada.
Eyles studied music education at the University of Illinois and completed his Masters and Doctorate in percussion performance at the Catholic University of America.
