Long Bio:
In the 1990's, the Prechts began attending drum performances, notably Planet Drum with Mickey Hart. They also enjoyed listening to performances and experimenting with borrowed drums at the Baltimore International Rhythm and Drumming Society (BIRDS) festival every year. It was at BIRDS that they met Stephanie L., a woman who offered drum circles in Carroll County, Maryland. Finally, they found a place to play close to home! But because Stephanie's circle was outdoors, it didn't meet during the winter months.
In 2001, with Stephanie's blessings and working in conjunction with Walt Michael of Common Ground on the Hill, Laurie and Thomas founded the Westminster Drum Circle to provide a venue for year-round drumming. They met in Little Baker Chapel on the campus of McDaniel College in Westminster for several years.
During this time, they also began drumming at the Pour House Cafe and at Starry Night Bakery, both in Westminster. They were invited to provide community drum circles at the Westminster Fall Fest Midnight Madness every autumn and at the International Peace Festival at SERRV in New Windsor every spring.
Eventually, they outgrew the small spaces in which they had been meeting, so they moved to their current location in Finksburg: Cedarhurst Unitarian Universalists. This space easily accommodates everyone who wants to drum and dance! And the chairs are so cushy! For many years, this has been our home for rhythm.
As a drum circle facilitator, Laurie Precht has lead hundreds of drum circles. She has trained with Village Music Circles with Arthur Hull, with Music for People under the direction of David Darling, and with Rhythm Planet lead by Jonathan Murray (FunDrum Rhythm Circles) and Dave Holland (Beatin' Path). Laurie also attends the yearly Bumbada Weekend presented by Tammi Hessen. She learned how to play the djembe from years of study with nationally known drum teacher, Jaqui MacMillan, who directs Drum for Joy. In addition, she has taken many drumming and rhythm workshops at Common Ground on the Hill over the past twelve years. Currently, she is working towards her national certification in drum circle facilitation through Village Music Circles.
Laurie teaches drumming and drum circle facilitation on a weekly basis to at-risk teenagers at a special education facility in Reisterstown. She provides beginning hand drum lessons in six-week series. She also teaches drumming and drum circle facilitation every summer at Common Ground on the Hill in Westminster.
Thomas Precht has been building drums since 2001. As a skilled craftsman, his drums are often coveted by people who love the way they sound. Thomas has built drums using stave construction and also by carving solid logs. He reheads and repairs djembes, ashikos, djun djuns and other rope tension drums.
Thomas has trained with Village Music Circles, Rhythm Planet, and Common Ground on the Hill. In addition to drumming, he also plays the fiddle.
Short Bio:
Laurie Precht has provided rhythm events in Carroll County since 2001. She has trained with Arthur Hull, the pioneer of the facilitated drum circle, since 2005. She teaches the Drum Leadership Group at a special education facility in Reisterstown, Maryland. Laurie is a member of the Drum Circle Facilitators Guild.
Past rhythm events include:
-Midnight Madness in Westminster
-World Fair Trade Festival at SERRV in New Windsor
-Roots Music and Arts Festival at the Carroll County Farm Museum
-Drum circles at the Carroll Arts Center in Westminster
-Drum circles at Common Ground on the Hill in Westminster
-Drum circles at the Carroll County Public Library
-Drum circles at local businesses
