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Olympic Drums & Percussion offers the finest and most beautiful percussion instruments. We specialize in American-made instruments from the early to mid 20th century from manufacturers such as Deagan, Ludwig & Ludwig, Leedy, Leedy & Ludwig, Slingerland, Rogers, and WFL among others.
We have been buying and restoring fine vintage percussion instruments on a custom basis for many years and began offering the same products/services through our online store in 2009. Our collective 40+ years of experience performing with major orchestras on instruments just like the ones on our site, developed our knowledge of, and appreciation for, quality vintage instruments. Over the years we have perfected the tuning and restoration of these fine instruments.
We offer instruments of “collector” quality, which are all original or as closely restored to original as possible. We also offer “player” instruments that may not have all original parts but meet a very high standard of sound quality suitable for professional performance.
Our goal is to locate and acquire vintage instruments that need TLC, bring them back to life, and put them into the hands of those who can appreciate their fine quality.
Bill Wanser retired from his position as principal percussion with The Phoenix Symphony in 2013. He began his orchestral studies with Randy Baunton, principal with the Seattle Symphony, and finished his master’s degree in timpani and percussion performance at the Manhattan School of Music as a student of Fred Hinger. The teaching and performance principles of Mr. Hinger have been a source of inspiration to Bill throughout his career.
In addition to his regular position in Phoenix, Bill was for several years a member of the adjunct faculty at Arizona State University in orchestral percussion and participated as a coach with the Phoenix Symphony Youth Orchestra. For 14 years he was a member of the faculty of the Marrowstone Music Festival in the Puget Sound area. Other professional activities have included the Grand Teton and San Salvador International music festivals as well as performances with the Seattle Symphony, Seattle Opera and Pacific Northwest Ballet. Bill is also an artist/clinician for Sabian Cymbals and for Aquarian Accessories, and he has taught private students on a limited basis.
He has performed and recorded with the Summit Brass as well as the contemporary music group Ensemble 21, directed by Arthur Weisburg. Recordings have also included those made with The Phoenix Symphony and the Canyon Symphony Orchestra.
Bill has been an avid collector of vintage percussion instruments for most of his career, consulting with other players and collectors and restoring instruments as warranted for correctness, authenticity and sound quality.
He lives with his wife Pam and an assortment of pets and other animals on the Wanser Family Farm, designated in 2006 a Centennial Farm of Snohomish County, Washington.
Scott began playing percussion at the age of 14. Over the years, he studied music at Manhattan School of Music, Yale University and Arizona State University with :
Scott performed with the San Francisco Opera and Ballet Orchestras, Oakland Symphony, Sacramento Symphony, and the Phoenix Symphony. Scott can be heard on: New Albion Records, Newport Classics, Nonesuch, and Musical Heritage. Although Scott no longer performs, his passion for percussion and vintage percussion instruments has never waned.
Scott lives with his wife Daria in Portland Oregon's historic Irvington district where they are active in the architectural preservation of the district and their Gustav Stickly designed home.
