About Ron Carlisle.......
Ron is by training an archeologist and historian. He recieved his Ph.D. in anthropology in 1985. His interest in timpani and percussion dates back to the 1960s, but classical music, that was a constant in the Carlisle household. Ron's mother was a violinist and was concertmaster in numerous community and chamber orchestra groups in the Pittsburgh area. Ron studied timpani and percussion with William Schneiderman, former timpanist and percussionist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. From 1974 until 1988, Ron was timpanist of the McKeesport (Pennsylvania) Symphony Orchestra.He began making timpani sticks over 30 years ago and eventually developed Carlisle Percussion Products in response to requests from friends and colleagues for high-quality, custom-made timpani sticks. Over the years, Ron has crafted timpani mallets for many professionals now playing all over the world. He brings the same attention and care to the making of sticks for student performers as he does for professionals.
Ron makes and covers all his sticks himself.The current Carlisle Percussion line now includes bass drum and tam-tam mallets as well as a timpani stick case. Ron also collects and refurbishes or restores antique timpani and does historical research on the instrument.
"Every request I've made for a pair of mallets has come back to me gorgeously hand-crafted and impeccably conceived ....."
-Ed Stephan, Timpanist, The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra