About

Apricus Duo is a Massachusetts-based percussion ensemble consisting of Leah Dunbar and Sam Logan. The duo met during their time as performers with the Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps, where they were members for four years and now work for the organization. They first played as a duet in 2018, earning third place at the Drum Corps International Performer's Showcase with their performance of "Losa" by Emmanuel Sejourne. Following recital performances at their alma maters - Kenyon College (Leah) and UMass Lowell (Sam) - they continued to play after graduation, making their official premier as Apricus Duo in the winter of 2022. 

​

Sam and Leah love bringing the variety and musicality of the marimba to new audiences. They perform a mix of pieces composed for percussion, transcriptions, and arrangements (including their own). Performances at smaller and non-traditional venues are of particular interest to them, as they love to connect with the audience about their instruments.

​

​

About Sam

​

Sam Logan is a percussionist from Haverhill, Massachusetts known for her marimba performances.

She currently works as the Mallet Percussion Specialist for grades 5-8 at Everett Public Schools. She also has had the privilege of returning as the Front Ensemble Caption Head to the Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps, earning two World Championships and a Best Percussion title. Her job at Spartans means a lot to her, as she spent many years performing there and always strives to recreate the magic she felt as a member. Sam also has a passion for the marching arts, having taught several high school marching band ensembles, including Mansfield, Everett, Shepherd Hill, and Lowell High Schools. She has performed with Hinge, a contemporary quartet based out of Boston, as part of a highly selective apprenticeship program. She earned her music performance degree at UMass Lowell, studying under Jeff Fischer (Boston Ballet) and Andrew Fordyce.

​

​

​

About Leah

Leah Dunbar is a musician from Hillsboro, New Hampshire. She has taught numerous marching programs in Ohio and New England, and is currently the Assistant Director and arranger the Salem Blue Devils Percussion Ensemble. Leah was a 2022 Bluecoats Fellow for Front Ensemble Arranging and she also completed extensive arranging research analyzing drum corps front ensembles, now bringing that experience to several local percussion groups. In addition, Leah is a full-time Arts Administrator for Upbeat New Hampshire and the Assistant Director for the Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps. 

Leah earned her BA in Music from Kenyon College. There, she was taught by Cary Dactyl and enjoyed several solo performances, including with the Knox County Symphony as the winner of the 2018 Young Musician’s Competition and a recital during a term abroad in Vienna, Austria, under the instruction of Joachim Muring.