The Natalie L. Haslam College of Music is pleased to announce that the University of Tennessee Percussion Ensemble has been invited to perform at The Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago, Illinois this December. 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 UT Percussion Ensemble is the only collegiate percussion ensemble invited to perform this year.
The UT Percussion Ensemble 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. Percussion students regularly perform at national and international festivals, participate in performance tours, and engage with distinguished guest artists and faculty, shaping experiences that prepare them for meaningful careers in music.
This academic year has been especially exceptional for the UT Percussion Studies program. In September, the UT Percussion Ensemble served as the opening performance for Chancellor Plowman’s Flagship Address. Then in November, the entire studio traveled to Indianapolis to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) – one of the world’s largest drum and percussion gatherings – and to support Bliss, Professor Kevin Zetina, Professor Mike Mixtacki, and many UT percussion alumni on stage.
Zetina, Lecturer of Percussion and Assistant Director of UTPE, performed repertoire from his new book Polyrhythms Through Pop Music, while Bliss was selected to perform Thierry de Mey’s Pièces de gestes in collaboration with graduate students Peyton Stramel, Myles Thomas, Rudy Valero, and Freddy Morales.
“I am so incredibly proud of Professors Bliss and Zetina for their leadership, and to our percussion students for stepping up to the challenge and representing our College on such prestigious stages,” said Jeffrey Pappas, Founding Dean of the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music. “Being selected to perform in these high-profile events reflects the exceptional artistry and forward momentum defining our College and our percussion program.”
For the Midwest Clinic performance, the ensemble leans fully into the innovative spirit that has become part of the College’s culture. The seven-piece program was carefully curated to reflect one of the program’s core pedagogical beliefs: that curiosity is a discipline. “Each work invites the students not only to act as performers, but as interpreters,” said Bliss. The selected repertoire explores a wide spectrum of musical intersections: acoustic and electronic, structured and spontaneous, intimate and architectural. In a unique approach, the performance will be entirely student-led; Bliss and Zetina will not be on stage at all.
Each work invites the students not only to act as performers, but as interpreters.
ANDREW BLISS
Associate Professor of Percussion, Director of Percussion Studies
“This reflects 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 won’t be on stage during the performance, their influence will still be 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, will be the world premiere of a new arrangement for percussion by Zetina. Serving as a powerful finale, the piece brings all the students together on stage and underscores the collaborative, forward-thinking spirit of the entire program.
As the College sees growing interest from Midwestern states, this performance offers a powerful moment for UT to make its mark in a region where our visibility is rapidly increasing.
“Our students have worked so incredibly hard – they’ve truly earned this moment. I’m proud of how we’ve grown together artistically, and I’m excited for Chicago and for attendees to experience the caliber of musicianship happening at UT,” Bliss said.
For those interested in a special preview of the The Midwest Clinic performance, the UT Percussion Ensemble will be performing a “Midwest Send-Off” Concert on Sunday, December 14 at 4 p.m. in the Natalie L. Haslam Music Center (room 135).
