PERCUSSION

The Moores School Percussion Ensemble serves as the cornerstone of Percussion Studies area at the University of Houston. Established by Blake Wilkins in 1997, the ensemble’s selection as a winner in the 2003, 2006 and 2010 Percussive Arts Society Percussion Ensemble Competitions and its appearance at the Percussive Arts Society International Conventions established its reputation internationally as a leader in percussion performance.

The ensemble has also emerged as a leader in the promotion and performance of new music. Since 1997, the ensemble has given the world and U.S. premieres of numerous new works. Additionally, in fall 2002, the Moores School Percussion Ensemble initiated a New Works Project to encourage new compositions for large percussion ensemble. To date, the project has resulted in sixteen new works for large percussion ensemble by such composers as Donald Grantham, Pierre Jalbert, David Crumb, David Heuser, and UH faculty composers Rob Smith and Marcus Maroney. The ensemble has also recorded three critically acclaimed commercial CDs on the Albany Records Label. Surge was released in early 2006, Not Here But There followed in 2009, and Everywhere Entangled was released in 2011.

Our program currently offers two concert percussion ensembles—MSPE I is directed by Blake Wilkins and MSPE II by Professor Alec Warren—and includes The PANtagonists Steel Drum Band.