Percussion Ensembles
Percussion ensembles at the University of Tennessee provide students with immersive training as performers, composers, and improvisers, while building community through collaboration and innovation. From chamber settings to large-scale productions, these ensembles showcase the full creative range of drumming and percussion traditions.
UT Percussion Ensemble
The UT Percussion Ensemble (UTPE) is nationally recognized for its adventurous programming, artistry, and commitment to collaboration. Students in UTPE perform a wide range of repertoire spanning classics of the percussion canon, innovative new works, and interdisciplinary projects. The ensemble has been featured at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) on multiple occasions, including the 2015 New Literature Session, the 2017 and 2025 Focus Day concerts, and as winners of the 2018 International Call for Tapes. In addition to PASIC, UTPE has engaged in a wide variety of collaborations, including a fully improvised concert with multimedia artist Mike Gould; guest artist projects with Ivan Trevino, James Campbell, Susan Powell, Eric Willie, and Hector Gil; and close work with composers such as Jennifer Higdon, Marc Mellits, and Evan Chapman.
African Diasporic Percussion Ensemble
The African Diasporic Percussion Ensemble (ADPE) is home to the UT Steelband and explores drumming and musical traditions from across Africa and the African diaspora. Students gain immersive training in performance, improvisation, and cultural context, engaging deeply with the rhythmic practices of West Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America.
In addition to campus concerts, ADPE is a vital presence in the Knoxville community, presenting the annual Roots of Rhythm grade school assembly program, appearing regularly at the Dogwood Arts Festival, performing on Market Square, and collaborating with the Knoxville Symphony’s Children’s Concert Series. The ensemble has also worked with guest artists including composer and steel pan innovator Kendall Williams and percussionist Jason Koontz, among others, giving students direct access to leading voices in contemporary diasporic music. Together, ADPE and the UT Steelband celebrate cultural traditions while fostering performance excellence, creating opportunities for students to experience percussion as both artistry and community engagement.
Meet the Director
Andrew M. Bliss serves as Director of Percussion Studies and tenured Associate Professor of Percussion at the University of Tennessee , where he leads the Percussion Ensemble, the African-Diasporic Percussion Ensemble, and coordinates applied percussion and seminar/laboratory instruction across undergraduate and graduate levels. His work combines performance, curation, and mentorship, providing students with opportunities to engage deeply in both traditional and forward-looking percussion practices.