Percussion Ensemble
The University of Tennessee at Martin Percussion Studio started in 1967 under the direction of Professor Nancy Matheson who directed the studio until 2005. Austin Shoupe is currently the Director of Percussion at UT Martin.
The UTM Percussion Ensemble has performed internationally at the Universidade Federal (UFBA) in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, the Universidade Federal (UFPE) and Conservatório Pernambucano de Música in Recife, Brazil, and the PercuSonidos International Percussion Festival in Tampico, Mexico. The group has also performed at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention as winners of the 2016 World Percussion Competition and regionally, with annual performances at the Discovery Park of America and frequent appearances at the Tennessee Music Educators Conference and Tennessee Day of Percussion.
Dedicated to community engagement, the UTM Percussion Studio provides regular educational clinics and concert opportunities to our community, including the "Roots of Rhythm" presentations, reaching over 6,000 students and community members annually.
The UTM Percussion Studio collaborates with world renowned artists each year. Past guests include Michael Burritt, So Percussion, The Percussion Collective, Robert Van Sice, Liam Teague, X4 Percussion, Caixa Trio, B. Michael Williams, N. Scott Robinson, Scott Kettner, Brian Rice, Anders Astrand, James Campbell, Michael Gould, Miles Osland, Steve Houghton, and many more.
The UT Martin Percussion Ensemble is active in promoting new works for percussion, including involvement in a number of commissions and consortiums with composers such as Adam Silverman, Steven Snowden, Cayenna Ponchione, Ivan Trevino, John Psathas, Halim El-Dahb, Gary Gibson, and Mark Zanter among others.
PE is open to non-majors with permission of the instructor. No audition required, just permission.
Contact
Austin Shoupe
(731) 881-7748
Woodwind Quintet
This ensemble needs more information.
Piano Ensemble
The UTM Piano Ensemble presents a concert of music for multiple pianists every semester. Works presented are for piano duet (one piano, four hands), piano duo (two pianos, four hands), and two pianos, eight hands. Performers include UTM piano students, faculty, and area pianists. Themed programs have included Holiday Music, Music about Children, Music of French Composers, Schubert’s Piano Duet Music, and Music by Women. Emphasis is on works originally written for piano ensemble. UTM’s piano ensemble is the oldest piano ensemble program in the state and was started by Dr. Allison Nelson of the Nelson-Neal Piano Duo. Dr. Elaine Harriss has directed the ensemble since 2001. Students with a strong background are encouraged to join the group. Skills at the upper intermediate or early advanced levels are required.
Contact
Dr. Elaine Harriss
(731) 881-7411
Small Jazz Group
The UTM Small Jazz Group is comprised of select players from the UTM Big Band to practice and cultivate the fine art of jazz improvisation. The ensemble holds jam sessions open to the community of UTM students and to the general public. For more information about performing with jazz ensembles at UTM or for information about upcoming events, please contact Dr. Kurt Gorman
The Auditions for placement into Jazz Band will take place concurrently with Wind Ensemble auditions. If you wish to be considered for a chair in the Jazz Band, please prepare the included Jazz excerpt.
Contact
Dr. Kurt Gorman
(731) 881-7404
Lyric Opera Theatre
Each spring semester, the Department of Music presents a full opera or scenes from the standard opera repertoire. Lyric Opera Theatre (MUEN 367) is open to all vocal majors. Any instrumental majors and other UTM students who possess adequate vocal skills are welcome to audition. Auditions usually take place during the end of fall semester (usually during voice juries) prior to the production semester. Please be advised, however, that the course will require that you learn and memorize music quickly and in a timely manner. You are encouraged to discuss your readiness for this course with your teacher. The goal of the course is to provide the opportunity for students to gain knowledge and experience in operatic/musical theater repertoire for the stage and development of techniques for role preparation and performance. After successful completion of the course, students will be able to think in character, to move on stage and to function as a singing actor. They will also have a working knowledge of stage directions and many of the technical aspects of producing a staged production.
Lyric Opera Theatre typically rehearses four days per week, one hour per day except Friday. Extra rehearsals might be called occasionally.
Contact
Dr. Amy Yeung
(731) 881-7408
Clarinet Choir
One of the primary goals of the UTM Clarinet Choir is to provide performance opportunities for clarinetists across the campus and throughout the community. Our membership includes clarinet majors and minors, students majoring in another instrument, campus musicians, and community members.
Clarinet Choir offers students the opportunity to take an active role in musical decisions during rehearsals and to familiarize themselves with the auxiliary clarinets. It also enhances section playing in large ensembles by providing clarinet-specific guidance in rehearsals.
The UTM Clarinet Choir rehearses for one hour per week and typically performs once or twice per semester. If you’re interested in joining, please email Dr. Aleksander or enroll in the corresponding section of MUEN 368.
Contact
Dr. Elizabeth Aleksander
(731) 881-7413
Contemporary Music Group
The Contemporary Music Group at the University of Tennessee at Martin is a flexible-instrumentation ensemble dedicated to performing works written since the turn of the twenty-first century. Since its formation in 2015, the ensemble has commissioned several works from composers such as Viet Cuong, John Supko, Sarah Wald, and others. Student composers at the University of Tennessee at Martin frequently have their works read or performed by the Contemporary Music Group. Past repertoire includes works by Louis Andriessen, Steve Reich, John Cage, Eve Beglarian, Christopher Cerrone, Dan Trueman, and many others.
The ensemble meets only in the spring semester, with rehearsals on Tuesday afternoons.
Contact
Dr. Michael Mathenia
(731) 881-7402