Karl Olsen, percussion (Dekalb, IL) studies percussion and music education at Northern Illinois University. At NIU, Karl studies privately with Dr. Greg Beyer and plays in many different chamber and large ensembles. Karl aspires to share his passion for music with others in both education and performance. He teaches percussion and drum set lessons privately and is also engaged with music locally in his church and with his local cover band. Karl received the John Philip Sousa Award his senior year of high school and upon declaring his major received the 2021 DeKalb County Palmer Family Music Education Scholarship. Karl is in his second year at NIU and aims to continue growing as a musician throughout his life of music playing and teaching.