The University of Tennessee Percussion Ensemble will be performing at the annual Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Nashville on Nov. 13 at 1 p.m.
During the program the ensemble will perform what is called, “Drums Only,” and will feature every type of their drums. Performers will be playing a selection of contemporary music, some old standards and a variety of styles of pieces that are all written just for drums.
“It’s tremendous exposure for The University of Tennessee. People from all over the world, all over the country including high school, junior high students, professors of music and professional players will all come to the concert that The University of Tennessee (Percussion) Ensemble will be performing,” Professor F. Michael Combs, director of UT Percussion Ensemble, said.
Timothy Van Cleave, student assistant director of UT Percussion Ensemble, added, “It gives them a chance to take the hard work that we have been doing and put it out in front of a larger group of people … not just to students and professors at UT, but to show our face in front of a lot of percussionist from other places.”
The ensemble includes the drum line ensemble, which is the section from the UT marching band, a steel band and, at times, an ensemble of African drums or of Indian music. Combs began the Ensemble in 1968, when he became a professor at UT.
Combs said the members of the ensemble that is going to the convention are 10 of the strongest players of the UT Percussion Ensemble.
George Barrett will host the convention that runs from Nov. 10 through 13 at the Nashville Convention Center and Renaissance Nashville Hotel.
“It’s quite a showcase – there will be exhibitors with all kinds of instruments that people have never seen before,” Combs said. “The exhibit hall is totally sold out, with all kind of displays of percussion instruments.”
The Percussive Arts Society is the world’s largest percussion organization with 7,000 members and chapters in the United States, Canada and 15 other countries. PAS promotes percussion education, research, performance and appreciation throughout the world.
For more information about the convention visit http://www.pasic.org.
