Percussion Ensemble - Dr. Monte Coulter, Director
The UTC Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Monte Coulter, is the primary training ground is concert percussion techniques for students majoring in Music or Music Education at UTC. Although the majority of players in this group are pursuing degrees in Music or Music Education, often there is room for talented non-majors also, with the director's permission.
As representatives of the Music Department at UTC, Percussion Ensemble performances include the traditional "Beat Hunger" program just prior to Thanksgiving each year on the UTC campus, a concert which has become a Chattanooga tradition by raising donations for the local Community Kitchen, and is attended by huge audiences, as well as the "Catch the Groove" concert every April, which gives the ensemble a chance to perform more advanced chamber works for all types of drums and keyboard percussion instruments, as well as the more exotic iron pipes, saws, brake drums, and the like. Recent performances include the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, and the world premier of "Rite of Passage", by composer Dr. Jonathan McNair. This piece formed the soundtrack to an award-winning documentary film "One Road", about an original art commemoration of the "Trail of Tears" removal of the Western Band of the Cherokee Nation.
For information regarding concerts or admission to the group, contact Dr. Monte Coulter.
