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Percussion Ensembles at A-State

SOUND of the Natural State Drumline

As the pulse of The Sound of the Natural State, the A-State Drumline regularly gives energetic and entertaining performances around the Mid-South and in A-State's own 30,000+ capacity Centennial Bank Stadium.

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Drumline Auditions

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The 2024 Drumline Audition Camp took place from August 9-11 on the A-State campus, leading directly into the full summer marching band camp the following week. For more information about registering for the marching band in the future, please contact the A-State Director of Athletic Bands Dr. Allegra Fisher. For those students who wish to get a head start on NEXT year's auditions, you can view the 2023 Drumline Audition Packets can be found here (90% of the audition materials are expected to be the same):

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Snare Drum

Tenors

Bass Drum

Cymbals

Red Wolf Percussion Group

The Red Wolf Percussion Group is directed by Dr. Graiser and consists of a select group of the most advanced percussion majors (typically 5-8 members). Operating as a semi-professional chamber ensemble and holding itself to the highest artistic and organizational standards, RWPG has one 80-minute coaching session with Dr. Graiser every Thursday at 11:00am and otherwise rehearses under its own direction. RWPG's repertoire is unconducted (it's more likely to perform alongside Dr. Graiser than under his baton) and often at the bleeding edge of advanced contemporary percussion literature, with an emphasis on new works written by living composers (including world premieres written specifically for RWPG). Off-campus tours and runout concerts are a regular occurrence, as RWPG looks to expand its performance footprint each semester.

University Percussion Ensemble

The Arkansas State University Percussion Ensemble is directed by Mr. Hammer and Mr. Robinett, and is the larger and more conventional of the two percussion ensembles at A-State. UPE typically consists of 12+ members, including music and non-music majors (with Dr. Graiser's permission; please contact him for more information). UPE regularly meets from 12:00-12:50pm on Mondays and Wednesdays, and focuses on repertoire that includes conducted and unconducted works for large and small percussion ensemble, with an emphasis on historically significant percussion literature of the 20th- and 21st-centuries.

A-State Steel Band

The A-State Steel Band, directed by Dr. Graiser, is the Music Department's foremost world music ensemble, focusing on traditional soca and calypso steel pan music from Trinidad and Tobago as well as exciting arrangements of contemporary popular music. The Steel Band meets year-round on Thursdays from 5:00-5:50pm and is open to all A-State students, regardless of major. The ensemble is extremely friendly to beginners, and all interested students are encouraged to contact Dr. Graiser for more information.

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