Jim Gist is a graduate of Northwestern State University, where he earned a bachelor of music education degree. He went on to earn a master of percussion performance degree at Texas A&M University-Commerce. He currently serves as Assistant Band Director and Percussion Instructor at North Forney High School in Forney, Texas, a position he has held since the school opened in 2009. Mr. Gist has previously served as the Drumline Instructor at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, Adjunct Professor of Percussion at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas, and Percussion Coordinator/Assistant Band Director at both Rockwall-Heath High School in Rockwall, Texas as well as North Lamar High School in Paris, Texas. Mr. Gist has performed with multiple groups including the Northeast Texas Symphony Orchestra and Lake Pointe Church. He enjoys arranging percussion music, writing marching band drill, and teaching percussion camps throughout Louisiana and Texas. Mr. Gist is a member of the Percussive Arts Society and Texas Music Educators Association. Jim and his wife Megan have one son, Jake, who is also a percussionist.