Percussion Ensemble

The Eastman Percussion Ensemble, directed by Michael Burritt, is an integral part of the curriculum. The chamber percussion experience is essential to the percussionists’ training and allows the students to experience repertoire from the contemporary genres to that of world music and improvisation. This coming summer the ensemble will release a CD in collaboration with Third Coast Percussion featuring the music of Alejandro Alejandro Viñao.

Professor Burritt has also commissioned New Zealand composer, John Psathas, to compose a new work for solo marimba, percussion quartet, and electronics to be premiered by Burritt and the Eastman Percussion Ensemble in 2020. This past September, the Eastman Percussion Ensemble performed Steve Reich’s Drumming coached by artist in residence and co-founder of NEXUS, Russell Hartenberger. This February, Eastman percussion students performed and

recorded Eastman alumnus, Baljinder Sekhon, Gradient 2.0 with guest saxophone of the “Pershing’s Own” Doug-O’Connor. The ensemble also premiered a new work by Eastman Professor Brad Lubman this past November.