Our Team.
Great percussion education takes great teachers. Seattle is full of incredible and passionate players and educators. We are excited to add them to our team as Seattle Percussion Works grows.
Follow
Storm Benjamin (he/him)
founded SPW in 2022
Storm Benjamin holds a Bachelors Degree in Percussion Performance from Central Washington University and Masters Degree from Central Michigan University. While attending university, he toured nationally with the Oregon Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corp, and performed in two years with the Oregon Crusaders Indoor Drumline.
​
As an educator, Storm is dedicated to creating life-long musicians. His teaching style centers on creating a strong emotional connection to music while building proficiency and knowledge.
​
As a performer, he has been featured as a contemporary percussion soloist across Seattle. His ensemble experience includes symphony orchestras, chamber orchestras, percussion ensembles, and opera companies. Storm also composes and performs with his collaborative, percussion-centered multimedia ensemble, Striking Music, and the alt-rock band Terra Nobody.
Jonathan Rodriguez (he/him)
joined the team in 2023
Jonathan Rodriguez is an interdisciplinary artist from the borderlands of Douglas, Arizona and Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico. Born and raised in the vibrant environment of the US-Mexico border, his artistic sensibilities are shaped by the dynamic interplay between diverse cultures, languages, and landscapes. He works (mostly) with composition, sound design, technology, and percussion in a diverse range of spaces, reflecting his deep-rooted curiosity and commitment to pushing his creative boundaries. Spanning various disciplines, his practice engages with dance, film, ethnography, sculpture and improvisation. Rodriguez holds a degree in History/Spanish and Music Performance from Millikin University, a master's in Performance from the University of New Mexico and a doctorate in Performance from the University of Washington. He currently teaches in the Interdisciplinary Visual Arts department at the University of Washington and Seattle Percussion works.
Rose Martin (she/her)
joined the team in 2023
Rose Martin is a sound artist and educator centered on percussion and voice. She is on the pathways of care, healing, and play within her creative practice and her community, including spaces of education, live performance, and the recording arts. Collaborative improvisation and solo song-making with vibraphone, voice, and found objects defines Rose’s current musical practice.
Rose grounds her pedagogy in empathy, creativity, and collaboration. She is honored to lead and learn alongside musicians, deepening a shared understanding of sound, silence, listening, and self-expression.
​
Rose holds a Master of Music from University of Massachusetts Amherst and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Denver, Lamont School of Music. She is almost finished with a doctorate in percussion performance at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Paulina Michels (she/her)
joined the team in 2023
Paulina Michels is a percussionist currently residing in the Pacific Northwest. Though her background is rooted in classical music, her curiosity and love of contemporary chamber music has driven her to find ways of combining improvisation and experimental ideas with new compositions.
​
She is a founding member of Troika, an all-female percussion trio with a focus on commissioning and performing works by women. Prior to moving to the PNW, she performed with Alia Musica, Uncommon Instruments Orchestra, the Dublin Silver Band, and regularly improvised as part of the Crucible Sound Series.
Paulina holds a degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (MM, 2017), where she studied with Rusty Burge, Allen Otte, and Jim Culley. While there she was actively involved in collaborations with the composition department, performing on both A View from the Edge and Sonic Explorations series as well as at Electronic Music Midwest.
Jesslyn Sene (she/her)
joined the team in 2024
Originally from Anchorage, Alaska, Jesslyn Sene moved to the Seattle area two years ago. She comes from a theatrical background with over five years of experience onstage and her love for music has only continued to expand to other areas of her life.
She is currently a music teacher at Seattle Percussion Works, as well as a vocalist in the band, Terra Nobody. For Jesslyn, music is an enriching opportunity to better understand people and their stories, which is why she strongly believes in teaching the next generations about music.
Introducing and fostering musicality within children's lives not only supports their personal development but also communities as a whole.
Sophie Chin (they/she)
joined the team in 2025
Sophie Chin is a percussionist, vocalist, pianist, improviser, and composer who loves to play! They enjoy incorporating aspects of whimsy, embodiment, and vulnerability into both their music and their teaching. They know that music comes from the body, and teach using practices of grounding, deep listening, movement, and joy. Their own music leans towards the emotional, the sentimental, and the weird.
Sophie believes in meeting students where they’re at, and honors their own teachers that did the same for them. They hold a Master’s in Music from Southern Oregon University and a Bachelor’s in Music from the University of Washington. They have experience playing in professional symphonies, taiko, Brazilian samba, steel pan, and solo and group percussion settings. Besides teaching, they host musical meditation workshops, perform solo and group experimental music, read science fiction, and love to hike and roller skate.
Abigail George (she/her)
joined the team in 2025
Abigail George is a percussionist, educator, and innovator with a passion for blending music, science, and creativity. In 2025, she graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in both Percussion Performance and Physics, bringing both artistry and analytical thinking into her musical journey.
​
Raised in a musical family, Abigail began on piano before expanding to guitar, ukulele, bass, voice, and eventually percussion. Her diverse experience spans symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles, pit orchestras, marching bands, and rock groups, giving her a unique perspective on music across various styles and settings.
​
As a teacher, Abigail strives to create a welcoming environment where students of all levels can feel comfortable exploring rhythm, technique, and musical expression. Her teaching style emphasizes both solid fundamentals and creative exploration, making lessons engaging, relevant, and fun
Syd Wilhelm (they/he)
joined the team in 2025
Syd Wilhelm moved to Seattle from the Tri-Cities area of Washington in 2021 to pursue a Bachelors of Music degree at Cornish College of the Arts at Seattle University. In his fourth year, Syd's focus is in percussive studies and composition. With a rock-based background, Syd's main instrument is drum set, and he is comfortable on mallets and in both classical repertoire and jazz styles.
Syd drums in multiple local bands throughout Seattle, such as; Kenshi Killzzz, Tapwire, Boy Heroine, and Dead Alder. Having been a drummer for ten years; Syd understands the importance of fostering creativity, curiosity, and passion with music regardless of skill level or technicality.
Everyone deserves to share in making music. Syd has been teaching in the Seattle area for 2 years and works hard to make sure his students feel seen, supported, and understood.
Joelle Moore (he/they)
joined the team in 2025
Joelle Moore graduated from Northwestern University in 2024 with a Bachelors degree in Psychology and a minor in Global Health Studies. Shortly after, he moved to Seattle and began teaching at Seattle Percussion Works.
Joelle has been playing percussion for over 13 years. He began taking private lessons at a local rock studio at age 12 and later received classical training throughout middle and high school. Since then, he has performed in a variety of settings — concert and jazz bands, rock groups, and an acoustic duo during college, where he discovered a love for the cajón. While his primary instrument is drum set, he enjoys exploring a wide range of percussion styles and sounds. He focuses on helping students build confidence and creativity through rhythm.
In addition to teaching, Joelle works in the Emergency Room at Seattle Children’s Hospital, an experience that has strengthened his ability to connect with and support young learners in meaningful ways. He loves working with children and is excited to share his passion for percussion with each student he teaches.
Sam Clemens (he/him)
joined the team in 2025
Sam Clewans began teaching music in 2020, and works within a wide range of styles, from rock to pop, jazz to Latin, and much more. He teaches across all ages, beginning with kids as young as 5 to retired adults looking to expand or nurture their musical capabilities. Sam has been an active member of the Seattle music scene since 2018. After graduating from Cornish College of the Arts with a degree in both Performance and Composition from the jazz department, he begin writing and performing with the band Type 85. They released their debut album in May 2024, and were featured in Earshot Magazine’s May 2024 issue. Sam has been the house drummer at Aslan Brewing’s Seattle location where he curates a weekly jazz night with his trio. He continues to perform around the Seattle area with various trios and quartets.
Sam is a patient and empathetic teacher. He combines his personal experience as a musician with his time as an educator to help people begin and foster their lifelong musical journey. His teaching style emphasizes functional understandings of music, improvisation, and curiosity. His students will learn how to decode the music they like, play like their idols, and interact with music in a holistic way.