A champion of contemporary music, percussionist Dr. Francis Favis enjoys a multi-faceted and multi-national musical career. He has performed at prestigious venues and events such as PASIC, SXSW, the College Music Society, the Canadian Music Centre, & the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States (SEAMUS). As a founding member of both Less Than 10 Music and SoundMap Ensemble, Francis continues to be involved with the creation of new works by living composers. With a passion for collaboration, he has had the privilege of working closely with a number of acclaimed composers including Kelley Sheehan (Gaudeamus Prize winner).

An in-demand educator, Dr. Favis serves as Assistant Professor of Percussion at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He has previously held teaching positions at Tarleton State University and UT Austin. Francis earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The University of Texas at Austin. He holds additional degrees from George Mason University (MM) & Illinois State University (BM). Francis is a proud artist-endorser of Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets, and Sabian Cymbals.

Less Than 10 is an Austin-based new music ensemble of performers and composers, whose creative voice is formed by intersecting the boundaries between technology, concert music, songwriting, and experimental music. Community oriented, Less Than 10 is dedicated to collaboration with emerging artists and composers in the creation of impactful concerts that explore topics of equality, identity, and LGBTQ+ rights. In addition to performing original works by its members, Less Than 10 has premiered works written for them by composers such as David John Roche, Brandon Scott Rumsey, and Phong Tran. LT10 has performed at various events and venues around central Texas such as Pease Park Treehouse, HERE BE MONSTERS annual new-music festival, and in the studio of KMFA 89.5.