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Welcome to percussion ensembles at the �������� College of Music!

CU Boulder percussion ensembles celebrate percussion in many ways, exploring the great works of the repertoire—Varèse’s “Ionisation,” Chavez’s “Toccata,” Cage’s “Amores” and “Constructions,” Lou Harrison’s “Suite” and Hovhaness’ “October Mountain,” among others. Works by sophisticated groove master Dan Levitan are featured on almost every concert and, since we perform chamber music, pieces range in size from duos to large conducted works.

Our percussion ensembles also improvise in jazz and free styles. A recent hit was Music for Percussion Quartet & 3 Jazz Players, Latin-Jazz works by Roland Vazquez. Many CU Boulder percussion students play jazz and the percussion ensembles provide them an opportunity to develop their improvisation skills.

Interpretation and depth of expression are stressed in our marimba ensemble which performs commissioned works, transcriptions from the masters, and Mexican and Guatemalan traditional works and improvisations.

Students are featured as soloists in every concert—playing solos, concertos and works they've composed.

Personnel

Douglas Walter
Professor of Percussion + Jazz

Carl Dixon
Lecturer, Percussion

Mike Tetreault
Teaching Assistant Professor, Percussion Specialist for Large Ensembles