richard wolfel

Dr. Richard Wolfel is currently the front ensemble designer, instructor and director for Aftermath Percussion. Dr. Wolfel is also the percussion designer for Northampton Area High School Marching Band and the front ensemble designer and arranger for the Kutztown University Marching Unit. 

He is a graduate of West Chester University, the University of Cincinnati and Indiana University. He studied Percussion under Jim Thoma while in high school and was instructed by Mark Thurston and Kevin Reimert at West Chester University and Dan Delong while a member of the Westshoremen Drum and Bugle Corps. Rick also marched under the direction of Dr. Terren Frenz while a member and cymbal instructor of the University of Cincinnati Marching Band. 

Rick has taught and consulted with numerous high school, college and independent percussion programs during his career, including Garnet Valley, PA, Phoenixville, PA, The University of Cincinnati, OH, Roger Bacon High School, OH, Morristown, NJ, Penncrest High School, PA, StarCross Percussion and Northampton, PA. 

Outside of percussion, Rick is an Associate Professor of Geography and Cross Cultural Competence at the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY. In that role, he serves as a chief developer of intercultural education, training and assessment and teaches courses in Geography. 

Rick proudly endorses Dynasty/Bergerault Percussion, Innovative Percussion, and Sabian Cymbals.