The award winning Graduate Percussion Group is a fully funded fellowship program. Each member is awarded a fellowship for their studies at UD by co-directing and performing in this ensemble. Coached and mentored by the faculty ensemble in residence (Quey Percussion Duo), the Graduate Percussion Group is actively engaged in artistic creativity on a daily basis through rehearsing, performing, and administration of a self-sustaining ensemble that straddles the line between collegiate and professional performing experiences.

The Graduate Percussion Group presents regular programs throughout the year in addition to numerous projects related to audio recording, video production, outreach, recruiting, competitions, and composer-performer experiences. Graduate Percussion Group members also often perform side-by-side with guest and faculty artists. In addition to performances, as a self-sustaining ensemble, each student will assume administrative roles to guarantee the success of the ensemble such as scheduling, programming, recruiting, outreach, marketing and promotion, and social media management to name a few.

“Traditions 1. - THE WINNING NUMBER, beFORe John 7” is the centerpiece of this concert, containing the program’s most non-traditional instruments and set up. The piece is performed around a “coach”, built by one of our own members, Carl Tafoya, which contains every instrument that is used in the work. The instruments found on the coach are a mixture of non-western drums and gongs as well as found objects such as beer kegs, bicycle wheels, and cooking pans. The collection of instruments put to the interlocking music of John 7 creates a unique yet energizing experience for the audience and players alike.