ABOUT Blackman Middle School Percussion Ensemble

SESSION TITLE: Blackman Middle School

The Blackman Middle Percussion Ensemble is recognized as one of Tennessee’s finest middle school percussion ensembles receiving invitations to perform and present clinics at the Tennessee Music Educators Conference, the Tennessee Percussive Arts Society Day of Percussion, Percussion Fest, the MTSU Percussion Ensemble Showcase and others. Individual students from the group consistently stand out as some of the finest by being selected to participate in the TN All Mid-State Bands, TN Youth Symphony, Ethos Wind Ensemble and Jazz band, The Nashville African American Wind Symphony (NAAWS) and the Rutherford All-District Band. The group also hosts an annual regional percussion festival that has featured many great artists including Chester Thompson, Jim Rielly, Bill Bachman, Lalo Davila, Julie Davila, Charlie Adams, Keith Dudek, Dave Northrup and many others. The percussionists in the 7th and 8th grade band program reflect the quality and support of the 300-plus-member band at BMS. The band program has a tradition of excellence and has consistently placed many students in honor bands and received superior ratings at festivals. The percussion ensemble is under the direction of David England. The ensemble is supported by RowLoff Productions, Innovative Percussion, Mapex/Majestic Percussion, and Sabian Cymbals