Tennessee Honor Percussion Ensemble
The Tennessee Honor Percussion Ensemble (THPE) provides advanced high school and middle school percussionists with an exceptional opportunity to develop and refine their ensemble skills across a wide variety of instruments. Under the expert guidance of Professor Andrew Bliss, students will explore published percussion ensemble repertoire and even have the chance to compose their own works.
Our program offers a comprehensive musical experience, including:
- Performance opportunities in percussion ensembles of varying styles and traditions, expanding students’ knowledge and experience in diverse musical genres
- Weekly rehearsals every Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., which will culminate in 13 classes over the spring semester
- From 4:30 – 5:30 p.m., students can take advantage of Open Office Hours to practice and begin setting up early for the class.
- Collaboration with faculty and graduate students to engage in challenging percussion ensemble repertoire
- Hands-on experience with a variety of percussion instruments
- Multiple performance opportunities throughout the season
The Tennessee Honor Percussion Ensemble welcomes talented young percussionists from across the region, offering them a unique platform to hone their skills, expand their musical horizons, and perform in prestigious settings.
Meet the Director
Andy Bliss is a dynamic force in the world of drums and percussion, seamlessly blending roles as a virtuosic performer, innovative conductor, visionary curator, and inspiring mentor. Bliss’s expertise in percussion is highly sought after across the United States, leading to a diverse and impactful touring schedule. He is the Director of Percussion Studies at the University of Tennessee and he regularly shares his knowledge through recitals, lectures, master classes, and adjudication on various percussive traditions at prestigious events such as the Sewanee Summer Music Festival and Music for All Summer Symposium. His contributions to academic discourse are evident through his appearances at multiple Percussive Arts Society International Conventions, the Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic, the College Music Society’s National and International Conferences, the National Conference on Percussion Pedagogy (NCPP) and the Association for Technology in Music Instruction’s (ATMI) National Conference, where he explores innovative pedagogical methods and the intersection of diverse percussion traditions in music education.
His expertise has been utilized in adjudicating high-profile competitions like the Music for All National Percussion Festival, the PAS Concert Chamber Percussion Ensemble Competition, and the PAS International Percussion Ensemble Competition. These wide-ranging activities have established Andy as a true thought leader in the world of percussion, shaping the future of pedagogy and performance practices across various genres and traditions.
Audition Information
There are two audition options to join the Tennessee Honor Percussion Ensemble. You can either:
- Audition in-person on Thursday, January 16 at 5 p.m. in the Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, Room 133 (Percussion Suite) OR,
- Submit a video by Sunday, January 12 at 11:59 p.m.
In-Person Audition
Please register for your audition by Monday, January 13 at 5 p.m. All instruments will be provided. Students should bring a copy of their music for the adjudicators and their own sticks and mallets. We will have a brief meeting at 5 p.m., then proceed with auditions.
Parking: The Natalie L. Haslam Music Center (HMC) is located at 117 Volunteer Blvd., Knoxville, TN 37996. After 5 p.m., guests should be able to utilize the parking lot (S23) behind the HMC. To access this lot, turn onto Pat Head Summit Street (past The Rock), and you will see the S23 parking lot on your right. If for some reason parking is unavailable in this lot, please visit the Office of Parking & Transportation website to obtain visitor parking information.
Prepared Solo Materials
Students should prepare two solo selections for entrance into the Tennessee Honor Percussion Ensemble:
- Concert or rudimental snare drum etude.
- Examples include (but are not limited to) etudes from Anthony Cirone’s Portraits in Rhythm, Jacques Delecluse Douze Etudes, or various etudes by Mitchell Peters, Alexander Lepak, etc. Rudimental works may include (but are not limited to) etudes by Charles Wilcoxen, John Pratt, Joe Tompkins, or selections from books like the Rudimental Cookbook (Row-Loff) or the Blue Book (Tapspace) series.
- Keyboard Solo – Marimba or Vibraphone preferred. 2 or 4 mallets.
- Examples may include method book etudes, Bach transcriptions from works such as the Cello Suites, or more modern solos from the publishers mentioned below.
Though the above solo selections are strongly preferred, students may also use their ETSBOA or equivalent regional All-State audition music for the audition as long as they prepare both snare drum and keyboard selections.
How Do I Find Music?
For students needing help selecting literature, we recommend perusing publishers like Tapspace Publications, Row-loff Publications, or C. Alan Publications. Ordering can occur through their websites, through Steve Weiss Music, or through Knoxville area music stores such as Rush’s Music.
Tuition & Fees
- Audition Registration: $25. Register online to secure your audition spot!
- Tuition & Enrollment Fee: Upon a successful audition, students pay $300 per semester for tuition, plus a $75 instrument/equipment usage fee.
Participants will receive payment information upon acceptance of an offered position in the ensemble.
Spring Schedule
This ensemble takes place over the Spring 2025 semester, and will offer 13 class sessions with participants.
| Week | Date |
| 1 | January 23, 2025 |
| 2 | January 30, 2025 |
| 3 | February 6, 2025 |
| 4 | February 13, 2025 |
| 5 | February 20, 2025 |
| 6 | February 27, 2025 |
| 7 | March 6, 2025 |
| 8 | March 13, 2025 |
| 9 | March 27, 2025 |
| 10 | April 3, 2025 |
| 11 | April 10, 2025 |
| 12 | April 24, 2025 |
| 13 | May 1, 2025 |