pax duo
pax duo is a dynamic new percussion project created by Tristan Swihart and Micah Detweiler.
Based in Goshen, IN and Madison, WI. pax duo aims to break preconceptions of contemporary
percussion through collaboration and new creation of genre bending works.
Tristan and Micah first met in the fall of 2012 when Micah began working with the Northridge
Raider Marching Band in Middlebury, IN where Tristan was a student. The marching band show
that year was entitled Et in Terra Pax. Since then they have gone from student and teacher to
close friends and colleagues.

As an active performing ensemble, pax duo has more than 20 engagements yearly; including
community performances, clinics at secondary schools, and presentations for university
students. They continually work on new projects, commissions, and growing their list of
collaborators.

pax duo are Malletech performing artists and are proud to endorse their products.

Micah Detweiler
Micah Detweiler is an in-demand teacher and performer based in Northern Indiana. He has
taught at Northridge High School and Middle School, The University of Wisconsin-Madison, and
Goshen College.

As a performer, Micah has shared the stage with Third Coast Percussion, appeared on “A Prairie
Home Companion”, and played a solo concerto with the Goshen College Orchestra. Garrison
Keillor described his playing as, “An astonishing beautiful musical event. Everything. All of it.
Mesmerizing and Elegant.” He has performed in masterclasses with Leigh Howard Stevens,
Svet Stoyanov, and composer Elliot Cole.

Micah is a graduate of Goshen College and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His principal
teachers were Dr. Anthony DiSanza, and Dr. Christopher Fashun, with additional world
percussion study with Thomas Ross and Todd Hammes. Micah has also spent four summers
studying and instructing with Leigh Howard Stevens at the Indiana LHS Marimba Seminar.

Tristan Swihart
Tristan Swihart is a percussionist based in Madison, WI. Being equal parts performer, educator,
and arts administrator, Tristan keeps himself busy as a freelance artist. When not on the road
performing or teaching private lessons, Tristan enjoys reading, kayaking, and riding his bike.
He is also actively involved in the process of creating new works for percussion, having been a
part of multiple commissions and world premieres with several composers such as Austin Keck,
Elizabeth Gartman, and Victor LaBozzetta.

Tristan received a Bachelor of Music degree and Arts Leadership certificate from the Eastman
School of Music, where he studied with Professor Michael Burritt as well as adjunct professors
Brian Kushmaul, Chip Ross, Jim Ross, and Rich Thompson. Tristan previously studied with
Micah Detweiler.

In addition to his contemporary and classical music background from Eastman, Tristan also
studies Brazilian percussion with master drummer Jorge Alabê in both Brazil and the US. He
has performed with Grupo Samba Rio based in Oakland, California, and is an active member of
the Madison, WI based Handphibians and Saideira Pagode.

Goshen Theater, Inc. serves the Elkhart County community as a premiere performance and event venue promoting the arts and community to people of all ages.