The Natalie L. Haslam College of Music’s ensembles continue to earn recognition at the highest levels, with invitations to perform at major regional, national, and international conferences, festivals, and venues.
While many student ensembles achieved notable milestones this year, the following highlights offer a closer look at two recent performances that exemplify the artistic excellence, leadership, and collaborative culture shaping music at UT.
UT WIND ENSEMBLE: A 155-YEAR LEGACY REACHES A NEW STAGE
For the first time in the University of Tennessee Band Program’s 155-year history, the UT Wind Ensemble was invited to perform at the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) National Conference in Spring 2025 in Fort Worth, Texas. The UT Wind Ensemble was one of only seven performing groups selected to perform on a national level.
“Being invited to perform at the CBDNA National Conference is the equivalent of performing at the Super Bowl as a concert band,” said Jeffrey Pappas, Founding Dean of the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music. “I am incredibly proud of our faculty and students for leading the UT Wind Ensemble into this season of growth and opportunity.”
To receive an invitation to perform at CBDNA, university ensembles must go through a competitive blind audition application process, which includes submitting high-quality performance recordings to a panel of distinguished band conductors. Because CBDNA is known for its high standards, selection to perform at the national conference is highly competitive and considered a tremendous honor as an indoor band at the collegiate level.
The invitation to CBDNA is emblematic of the growth that the UT Bands program has seen over the last few years under the leadership of John Zastoupil, director of the UT Bands and associate professor of music. Zastoupil also credits the culture and collaboration within the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music as another driving force behind the growth of the band program.
“It all goes back to building culture and having a growth-conscious mindset,” said Zastoupil. “Our faculty across the college have been incredibly supportive – challenging students in their studios and pushing them to elevate their skills. Our students have embraced that challenge, and their dedication is what makes this moment so special.”
Hear directly from our Wind Ensemble students and Professors Zastoupil and Fuller Lyon about what this tremendous achievement meant to them by watching the video below.
UT PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE: WHEN THE STUDENTS LEAD THE SOUND
In December 2025, the University of Tennessee Percussion Ensemble (UTPE) was invited to perform at The Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago, Illinois. With more than 18,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 40 countries, The Midwest Clinic is one of the world’s largest and most prestigious gatherings of music educators and musicians. Selection to perform at the clinic is highly competitive and considered a tremendous honor as an ensemble at the collegiate level. The UTPE was the only collegiate percussion ensemble invited to perform this year.
The UTPE is under the direction of Professor Andrew Bliss, who has served as Director of Percussion Studies at UT since 2011. During his tenure, Bliss has cultivated a percussion program that is now recognized nationally for its artistic vision, collaborative spirit, and commitment to contemporary music.
For the Midwest Clinic performance, the ensemble fully leaned into the innovative spirit that has become part of the College’s culture. The selected repertoire explored a wide spectrum of musical intersections: acoustic and electronic, structured and spontaneous, intimate and architectural. In a unique approach, the performance was entirely student-led; Bliss and Kevin Zetina, Lecturer of Percussion and Assistant Director of UTPE, were not on stage at all.
“This reflected our belief that the ultimate goal of our ensemble pedagogy is autonomy. Our percussion ensemble has reached a point where musical leadership is distributed and fortified, and the artistry and accountability are shared equally among the performers,” said Bliss.
Although the professors weren’t on stage during the performance, their influence was still felt – not only through the students’ artistic independence but also through one of the featured works. The closing piece, “Electric Sunrise,” written by Australian guitarist Plini, was the world premiere of a new arrangement for percussion by Zetina. Serving as a powerful finale, the piece brought all the students together on stage and underscored the collaborative, forward-thinking spirit of the entire program.
Hear directly from our UTPE students and Professors Bliss and Zetina about what this tremendous achievement meant to them by watching the video below.
ADDITIONAL ENSEMBLE HIGHLIGHTS FROM ACROSS THE COLLEGE
UT Chamber Singers
completed a 17-day residency in southern England and Wales, with performances at Westminster Abbey in London and St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle (July 2025).
UT Trombone Choir & UT Singers
performed the national anthem at multiple University of Tennessee athletic events, and the UT Singers also performed the national anthem at the Tennessee State Capitol (February 2026).
UT Symphony Orchestra
served as the East Tennessee School Band & Orchestra Association’s collegiate ensemble (February 2026).
UT Viola Studio
was invited to perform at the 50th International Viola Congress in Paris, France (January 2026).
UT Flute Studio
was invited to perform at the International Flute Festival (August 2025).
UT Men’s Chorale
was selected through a blind audition process to perform at the Southern Regional American Choral Directors Association Conference. This prestigious invitation marks the ensemble’s first appearance at the conference in many years (March 2026).