University of North Texas Percussion Ensemble, Mark Ford, Director

The University of North Texas (UNT) Percussion Ensemble directed by Mark Ford has performed at music festivals and conventions including previous PASICs, Texas Music Educators Association Conventions, and international concerts in France, Belgium, Poland and Croatia. Additionally, the ensemble has collaborated in performance with percussion virtuosos such as Keiko Abe, Bob Becker, Bill Cahn, Drew Lang, and Gregg Bissonette. The group’s recent CD, Marimba Heritage, features the music of Alejandro Viñao, David Skidmore, Matthew Coley, Dave Hall and Mark Ford. Both Marimba Heritage and the ensemble’s first CD recording Vespertine Formations are available on iTunes. To further enhance their educational offerings, UNT students also benefit from jazz ensembles and numerous ethnic percussion ensembles including gamelan, steel band, African, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, and South Indian ensembles. In addition to Ford, the UNT percussion faculty includes Gideon Alorwoyie (African), José Aponte (Latin drum set/Afro-Cuban/Brazilian), Christopher Deane (timpani/orchestral), Michael Drake (drumset), Mark Ford (coordinator/marimba), Stockton Helbing (drumset), Paul Rennick (applied lessons/percussion ensembles), Poovalur Sriji (South Indian), Ed Smith (vibraphone/gamelan), and Ed Soph (drumset).